Saturday, May 08, 1999

Jammin' is balmy, high value

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BY LARRY NAGER
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Members of the Grammy-nominated B/J Mass Choir perform at Jammin' on Main. (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

        They tried something new this year at Pepsi Jammin' on Main — good weather. The downtown street festival opened Friday evening to clear skies and mild temperatures for the first time in its otherwise rainy six-year history.

        The crowds came early, with thousands scattered around Central Parkway and Court between Main and Walnut.

        The biggest draw, other than the weather, was local talent. Of the 11 live acts performing Friday, eight were area bands.

        It made Jammin' a musical version of Taste of Cincinnati, offering a chance to sample the area's sounds at a bargain price.

        The power of local music and the event itself was put to the test, since none of the three national headliners were major, mainstream draws.

Too cool for radio
        Bela Fleck & the Flecktones have gained a higher profile through their 1998 tour with the Dave Matthews Band. On its own, the group is a very adventurous instrumental quartet. On the Cinergy Stage, Mr. Fleck closed the evening spinning out improvisations on his five-string banjo, accom panied by virtuoso bassist Victor Wooten, drum synthesist/vocalist “Futureman” and saxophonist Jeff Coffin. Much of it was beautiful, and some was even danceable, but none of it was the stuff of Top 40 radio.

        Liquid Soul played the most infectious music of the night, mixing the loping rhythms of rap with pumping, ska-styled horns and jazzy rhythms. The Chicago-based band effortlessly swung from groove to groove, keeping the crowd in front of the smaller AirTouch Stage dancing from its beat.

        The Bud Stage closed with Nanci Griffith's gentle folk-country, bringing a touch of the Appalachian Festival.

        The local groups were equally diverse, including a gospel choir. The 25-voice B/J Mass Choir, with co-leader Bobby King singing lead, took the crowd at the AirTouch Stage to church with the Grammy-nominated “Been There Done That.”

        They were followed by jazz-rock trio Slant in an improvisatory set that had guitarist Lou Larson dueling with bassist Mike Georgin.

        The night began with Bucket, made up of local rock veterans Bob Nyswonger on bass, Bam Powell on drums, Lee Rolfes on guitar and Nashville's Mark Gillespie on lead guitar. The band's original repertoire veered from the funk of Mr. Powell's “Habits” to the pop-rock of Mr. Nyswonger's “Caveman,” but mostly stuck to Mr. Rolfes' soulful country.

        At the same time, the young trio Promenade opened the AirTouch with its fresh, melodic pop-rock.

Much, much more tonight
        The Bud Stage, after a shaky start with a karaoke competition, got rolling with the energetic hard rock of Circus of the Sun and the sharp and smart-alecky alterna-pop of Moth.

        The Bud Stage stayed down-home, following Bucket with roots-rocking Big In Iowa and the James Cole Band.

        The latter, featuring veterans of the Corryville punk scene, harkened back to that era with “Long Gone,” a 20-year-old song from guitarist Mr. Cole's old band the Customs.

        Tonight's lineup turns Jammin' back into a national rock festival, with the Goo Goo Dolls, Fastball, FrogPond and Peter Frampton, along with a host of local and regional performers from jazz to swing to blues to various brands of rock. The music starts at 6 p.m.

STREETS CLOSED
        Streets around the Hamilton County Courthouse will be shut today to make room for bands performing for Jammin' on Main '99.

        Streets will stay closed until 6 a.m. Sunday.

        From 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. today, traffic will be able to get down Court Street between Walnut and Main streets.

       

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