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Corvallis Music History Project

MaryAnne Turner
The Commuter

Friday, June 5, 2009

This Friday and Saturday, June 5 and 6, taking place at the Old World Deli is the second Corvallis Music History Project. The project is an effort to recognize and document all of the past and present, up and coming musical talent that has made its mark on Corvallis’ well known musical scene.

It is said by many, though there is no way of knowing for sure, that perhaps Corvallis has the most musicians per-capita in possibly the whole United States. The multitude of shows and musical events are the best evidence to such claims.

Last year was the first Corvallis Music History Project and it featured 223 local performers, which is said to be an estimated one-fourth of the musicians in Corvallis history to still be alive. Last year’s event featured a wide variety of genres, styles and eras, and was also broken down into short sets. This year’s performance will be slightly different, in that there will be longer sets with slightly less groups.

The other factor setting this year apart from last year is the theme. Bands performing this year will have some form of immigrant influence. This means the project will showcase the music of those who immigrated to the Corvallis area in the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as those with roots in the same area. All the traditions featured this year will amaze you. Jake Duncan will play the didgeridoo, an Australian Native instrument, and he puts a new age spin on it with a “techno-sounding” style, using quick, smooth tempo changes and crazy fills. Jenny Chaio will give us a rare chance to hear the Chinese pipa, which is a stringed instrument, much like a lute, that dates back to the second century B.C. Others playing the first night will be The Little Bohemian Band, The Minors, Accordioso, which as you guessed is a band of accordion players, Poitin and Stout of the Celtic music scene, and Lewis and Clark who were formerly called the Viking Funeral.

Diversifying the scene on the second day will include several dance troupes. The Turkish Dance Troupe is a group of belly dancers that perform many different styles coming from the middle eastern part of the world. You may have seen many of these dancers on Wednesday night at the Old World Deli. Another group of dancers is the Chinese Children’s Folkdance Troupe. You can also see dancers of the Pacific Islands: the Yap Islands Dance Troupe.

Students from Waldorf school learned to fashion their own Japanese taiko drums and play them, and they will be performing as well. Among the many options for entertainment you can also catch Ted Cox on the accordion, Dan Gilmore and Amy Becker on Afro-Cuban drumming, the Celtic Jammers, Sila Cevikce Shaman and Dave Storrs bringing us some hot jazz, and Bullfinch’s Mythology. Also the Maharimbas, a marimba band, Anne Weiss, Sid Rosen, liturgical music from the Jewish religious community, the Scandinavian band Fossegrimen, the all-American Rusty Hinges, The French string band Bon Ton Roulet, and the reggae band Jesus Candy will finish the show.

Don’t miss out on part of your own local history. Friday and Saturday, June 5 and 6, the show starts at 6 p.m. on Friday and runs until 11 p.m., and Saturday at 1 p.m. until 11 p.m. Admission is free to all, and all donations will be divided equally and given to all of those who have donated their time for this event.

One of the many hard working coordinators, Kent Buys said, “What brings people together, makes things whole.” Music does indeed bring people together, so enjoy the show and become a part of history.

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