Geoff Muldaur is an American original. “There are only three white blues singers,” guitar legend Richard Thompson once said, “and Geoff Muldaur is at least two of them.” The New York Times has praised his voice as “reedy, quavering, otherworldly,” which may not sound like praise, but the point is, when Geoff sings, you can’t help but listen, and you suddenly hear the music in a new way. Of course he’s more than a singer—he’s been known to play comb, kazoo, washboard, and jug, along with what the London Times called “his immaculate guitar picking”—and he’s a songwriter, classical composer, and song rescuer. His version of the song “Aquarela do Brasil,” which he called simply “Brazil,” became the title track and inspiration for the Terry Gilliam movie of he same name.
Geoff was a founding member of the Jim Kweskin Jug Band in the 1960s, a founding member of Paul Butterfield’s Better Days in the 1970s, and a founding member of the Texas Sheiks in the 2000s. He’s played with a Who’s Who of American music, including Bonnie Raitt, Jerry Garcia, Eric Von Schmidt, Bobby Charles, and Stephen Bruton. He’s also composed scores for film and television, and produced off-beat albums for the likes of Lenny Pickett and the Borneo Horns and the Richard Greene String Quartet. If you ever listen to NPR, you may have heard him on A Prairie Home Companion, Weekend Edition, All Things Considered, or Fresh Air. For an evening of uniquely crafted interpretations of classic, oftentimes obscure American roots music as well as Geoff’s own inimitable compositions, don’t miss tonight’s show at the Freight!
Suzy Thompson and Del Rey play blues and old time American roots music with flair and gusto. Suzy is an eloquent singer, an award-winning fiddler, and an accomplished accordion player who, over the past three decades, has been a leading force in such influential roots music groups as the California Cajun Orchestra, the Blue Flame String Band, Klezmorim, the Any Old Time String Band, the Aux Cajunals, and the Bluegrass Intentions, as well as in her down-home collaborations with husband Eric Thompson. Acoustic Guitar Magazine calls Del “one of the greatest modern players of the metal-bodied resonator guitar.” The renowned Barcelona radio program La Hora del Blues calls her “one of the most sublime modern guitarists.” Her ukulele playing is pretty dang entertaining as well. Suzy and Del collaborated on Hen Party in 2010, and rumor has it that they have a new album ready to go. Expect stellar musicianship and plenty of fun!
Visit Geoff Muldaur's website
Photo by Petra Hanisch
