I have to admit that not all street performers are great musicians. Neither are they all exceptional performers.

But, if you’re going to measure a player’s worth by the effect that they have, Anthony Southgate is just perfect. Sitting in an unobtrusive spot on the side of 5th Avenue, his amplifier set at just loud enough to be heard if you’re in close proximity, and in the shade of an overhanging tree, I found Anthony just strumming along. At first I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to put him on the website, but after a couple of minutes of standing next to him I began to feel so relaxed…

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Really, really smooth. He says he’d been doing this for 18 years. And despite the lack of flair, his mellow tone has probably made thousands of people, just like me, stand still for a while in the Big Apple, smiling. If you get him into a conversation you’ll be chatting to him for a long time – he’s got a lot to say, and isn’t afraid of meeting people. Enjoy!

Medium: Blues
Location: MUNY
Email: fanmail@terraplaneblues.com
Phone: 732-212-9693
Website: www.terraplaneblues.com
Bio:

Terraplane Blues takes you back to the Delta with their juke joint flair.Dancing Fans at Long Branch Siummer Blues Series

In the words of the fans…

~ “Beyond the magnificent voice and fine musical craft there is great depth, honesty, and emotional openness.”
~ “…brilliant, graceful, Jennifer’s voice is absolutely stunning.”
~ “All I can say is WOW!”

Terraplane Blues defines diversity…Men and a woman, black and white, young and mature, electric and acoustic all meeting on a common ground … the blues. Seasoned to perfection and cookin’ just right, they take you back to those juke joint times. Formed in 1996, this six-piece band is comprised of well-respected musicians including a female vocalist, rhythm and lead/slide guitarists, bassist, harmonica player, and drummer, all based out of New Jersey. They have been featured in over 25 publications with performances in NJ, NY, PA, TN, NC and CA. When you hear this authentic blues band, you will hear many great influences such as Koko Taylor, Big Mama Thorton, Etta James, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson and Willie Dixon.

Jennifer Wright (formerly Sharif)
~Lead Vocals, Percussion, Booking Manager, Producer~

Jennifer’s musical history begins when she was a child. Singing since she can remember, her younger years were classically focused, both vocally and on the piano, with active involvement in musical theatre and renowned choral ensembles. She majored in music at James Madison University, and didn’t change her focus until she met her husband, Gary Wright, in 1996. At that time she was introduced to a genre that she lived all her life, the blues, and was thrilled to now have the opportunity to sing it.

Jennifer has hit the stage with many legends, sharing the microphone with Buddy Guy, Koko Taylor and Johnnie Bassett. Fans say her performances are moving, as her powerful voice booms to the heavens. She has been favorably compared to the greats Koko Taylor, Etta James and Janis Joplin. Jennifer has been nominated three times for the Asbury Music Awards as the “Top Female Vocalist”. She and her husband co-developed Terraplane Blues, co-produced the band’s 2 CDs under their own Roots Foundation label, and co-write most of the original material.

Gary Wright
~Lead/Rhythm/Slide Guitar, Lead/Background Vocals, Harmonica, Producer~

Gary has been playing blues and reggae professionally since 1973. He was inducted into the Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Hall of Fame and has been favorably compared to Howlin’ Wolf with his vocal style. Gary co-produced/mixed Terraplane Blues’ two CDs Yesterday’s Blues and Jubilee Stomp, with his wife Jennifer Wright.

He has played guitar with Guy Davis, Louisiana Red, Big Bill Morganfield, Jimmy Vivino and Hubert Sumlin, among many other guitar giants, as he gives a most authentic Delta blues feel. Gary served on the Board of Directors of the Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Foundation from 2000 – 2002 and is heavily involved in various Blues in the Schools programs. He has aspirations to start a Blues university for adults, with current ongoing presentations for a course at Rutgers University.

Dr. Philly Ray Proctor
~Harmonica~

Phil listened intently as a child while his parents played recordings by Nina Simone, Count Basie, Joe Williams, Ray Charles and Little Jr. Parker. Eight years ago, he began playing harmonica and since that time became a doctor of blowing his harps. Phil refers to his harps as his “girls”. He says, “My harps treat me better than any woman I know…and they kiss better too!”

Joe “Buck” Santora
~Rhythm/Lead Guitar~

Joe Buck has been playing guitar since the 60s. He is the glue of Terraplane Blues, with his solid rhythm guitar playing. When he is not on a gig (which is rare), the band knows it – he keeps it all together. Joe’s guitar collection consists of over 16 vintage guitars and he is the maker of some of the finest custom “Buckocasters”.

Darryl Walkowicz
~Drums~

Terraplane Blues’ newest addition, Darryl, brings a jazz style that no other has matched—Simple and in the pocket. He Resides in Toms River, NJ with his wife and two sons, and started playing drums at the age of 8 years old to Led Zeppelin and hero John Bonham. During his youngin’ years he played in many cover bands as well as school drum corp and competing jazz band. Darryl studied with the legendary jazz drummer Joe Morello.

Rich Downs
~Bass Guitar~

Close your eyes and you would think that Rich was playing an upright bass. The tone he brings to the stage is reminiscent of the traditional blues days in the 30s and 40s.

Bio:Pretty Good is an acoustic pop duo made up of Owa Brandstein and Brian Letiecq. Pretty Good is just the most recent collaboration for Owa and Brian. Together they have coached a basketball team, planned curricula for high school English classes on both coasts, driven cross country, hiked the Appalachian trail, and done a lot of push ups. It is their love of 80′s pop music and all things Michael Jackson that originally pushed Pretty Good underground and brought them up to fill the void left by the break-up of New Edition.

Bio: Born in New York City, played in the loft-jazz scene in the ’70s, an instructive force in the progress of America’s only original art form, Henry P. is an artist who honors the jazz masters, while recognizing family and community. His music combines African rhythms with jazz and can also freely improvise or create unique renditions of standards.

“Warner, who has been under-recorded and under the radar… backs up the image he presents—bereted, bearded, darkly shaded—with a commanding presence on alto saxophone and clarinet….” Jeff Stockton, All About Jazz, April 2005.

“….suggests how Coltrane might have sounded had he concentrated his energies on alto sax and clarinet ….shows rare command of post-Hemphill, post-Lake alto sax dynamics….” David Lewis, Cadence, Sept. 2004.

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Medium: Solo Guitar/vocal Roots music..Jazz, Blues, Bluegrass, Latin.
Location: MUNY
Email: thethumb2002@yahoo.com
Phone: 440-590-1328
Website: www.jasongreenguitar.com, myspace/jasongreenguitar

Bio:
Jason Green was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1973. He began playing guitar at the age of 15 and was immediately bitten by the blues and jazz bug. By the time he was 17, he was already playing professionally in local clubs, with guys more than twice his age.

After a few years in college studying music theory and composition, Jason decided that his education would be better achieved learning the business in bar rooms and through meeting elder jazz and blues men. It is a decision he does not regret. At 21 he decided to make music a full-time career and has been at it ever since.

In 1995, Jason joined the JIMMY LEY blues band (former piano/harp player and bandleader for Robert Lockwood Jr.) and for 4 years toured both regionally and nationally, as well as recording several Cd’s with Jimmy for SLIPPERY NOODLE RECORDS, an Indianapolis blues label. This was Jason’s first taste of the road, playing various blues clubs and festivals around the country.

In 1999, Jason formed the COALHOUSE WALKER band and became a first call guitar player in the Cleveland area doing recordings, weddings, clubs dates and lessons. Coalhouse Walker was led by Jason, who had not yet ventured into the world of singing, and therefore featured Jerome Hawk Freeman on vocals, as well as drummer Mike Ward and bassist Tony Fortuna. After Jerome and the band parted ways Coalhouse Walker used different front men including Ron Prince from the KINSEY REPORT, Tad Walters from STEADY ROLLIN BOB MARGOLIN and many other top Cleveland area vocalists.

But he missed the road and in 2000, he got the chance to go back out with blues legend BIG JACK JOHNSON from Clarksdale Mississippi. He had the honor of playing with Big Jack at the 2001 WC HANDY BLUES AWARDS sharing the stage with KIM WILSON from the FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS and SAM CARR, legendary Delta blues drummer. For the next 3 years Green practically lived on the road. During that time he played the NEW ORLEANS JAZZ FESTIVAL, the CHICAGO BLUES FESTIVAL, the KING BISCUIT BLUES FESTIVAL, the SAN FRANCISCO BLUES FESTIVAL and many more. Being with Big Jack and the Oilers took him through almost all 50 states, half of Canada, Japan and Australia as well. When not on the road with Big Jack, Jason performed and recorded with the popular Ohio jazz trio THE TRITONES, featuring Jason on guitar, Jim Wall on drumsand Mike Barrick on bass.

In the year 2004, Jason decided to relocate to New York City in hopes of finding bigger and better opportunities. He began playing solo in the subway to make some extra cash but soon realized it could actually be a fairly lucrative endeavor, in addition to being a great way to make contacts and get his music out to people that he would not normally come across. He is now a member of the prestigious MUSIC UNDER NEW YORK(MUNY) program.

Injust four years, Jason has become a part of the New York music scene. He works freelance with several different groups including the CHRISTINE SANTELLI, NIKKI ARMSTRONG, FRENCH COOKIN’ BLUES BAND, FELIX CABRERA,GINA FOX and many others. He also leads his own trio, JASON GREEN AND THE LABOR OF LOVE,does solo gigs, recordings, gives lessons and plays in the subway.

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Artist: P.K. Dwyer
Medium: Blues/Folk/Rock
Location: 96th Street 4-5-6 Subway
Format: Guitar and Harmonica
Website: http://www.pkdwyer.com
Emails: pkd2424@aol.com

Here’s a video of P.K. Dwyer, the “One Man Roadhouse,” framed by trains on the subway. Guitar and harmonica complete with blue John Lennon glasses, here’s something you don’t see every day. A more detailed profile, he says, will be up here soon.

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