Croman: "Dan & Pals," excerpts: AllShookUp; U.GotAFriend; What's Goin' On; LovelyRita; A Day In The Life; Can'tFindMyWayHome (instrumental) progression or 2, Posting # 44

K.C.-based Danny Slade C., footage from the popular street performance side of his overall music/comedy entertainment there.
Danny Slade Croman & Friends, footage from righteous street performances, Country Club Plaza July 2003, in 100 degree heat. A few stretches of the V.H.S. tape wouldn't transfer to d.v.d., at least at the time of the effort to do so.("Danny & Friends" are: Danny's former partner, Bev Mendus:vocal (also key board on other videos); Danny: guitar, keys and vocal; and Gary Ammons: guitar and vocal). Bev (B.B.) had an uncanny feel for - and sense of the appropriate harmonies to fit the style of - these songs, from a wide variety of time periods in rock and roll. To find a non-overbearing niche in backing vocals, without knowing the exact lyrics in every case, is the sign of a performer with natural instincts. Though a little of this was the result of tutelage, the majority of it was just untaught talent. Considering the fact that B.B. was only 18 at the time of the partnership makes it all the more noteworthy. A true talent. This was recorded on a long hot day and in the case of some of the songs, the performers toiled on for love of performing and the freedom involved. Often stresses of everday life take even an added toll on artists voices. Artists toil on and in the midst they try to make certain associations of influence but realistic ones are cautious to not give away too much of their ideas at too early of a time to Big Music Companies, known for plucking chips of songs which artist, under the current system, are hard-pressed to get any credit for. Many try to find a few entities that seem trustworthy during the period of their progression, development and arrival at whatever notoriety is coming their way. For this reason, the author is a proponent of staying mainly with standards for public performing while one is trying to establish backing for record projects. The author feels more artists should begin to fight companies who steal individual lines which those companies often, in turn, put in otherwise mundane songs and take the credit for them. So, thus the more cautious strategy seems the best way to limit the number of your ideas which you even need to fight for. But the hope is that as time goes on, better and better opportunities present themselves from laying down the groundwork by having soldiered on through those lean or semi-lean times. On these videos the camera equipment used doesn't lend itself to a lot of shifting around. The process of taping was often done more for the audio portion of the session footage than anything else, though there are some entertaining moments visually here and throughout the postings. Among the more impressive stretches of this, audio-wise, is the brief excerpt of Danny's guitar adaptation, late on, of the Winwood tune. A good sound, though an unrehearsed take, was achieved on Rita..& others here, alng with other requested and barely rehearsed tunes, showing heart - as well. One special thing about freedom in street performances -not always there, elsewhere, is that in street performing, if one performer or an audience member has the notion to play or request a song, which he or she loves but the performers may not have exactly down pat, it is sometimes torn, nonetheless, impromptu, and enjoyed by those present, includng performer/s with their bad selves! It's often about the emotion in participating in the music, especially on a slow day when music appreciaters are enjoying the company of their own kind, knowing that there will be other busy profitable days, too, so they may as well enjoy the present, and just get lost in the feeling, which is often a reward in itself.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• working
• entertainer
• minimalist
• solo
• ad-lib
• boogie
• woogie
• rockabilly
• street
• jam
• private
• gigs
• public
• and
• coffee
• house
• folk