“That’s Super Stuff!” “Make Stuff” “I Love Free Stuff” “The Good Stuff” “My Stuff” “Stuff in My Life” “Stuff That Works”
“The Right Stuff”
“How’s Your Stuff?”
There are so many variations on the use of the word stuff. This last May we attended the last “Ken and Mary’s Blues Project” house concert in Porter, Texas. Before the music started, Kenneth Harris told the story of how the Project came about from his listening to Sunday blues on Houston’s KPFT. One Sunday he was listening to Nuri Nuri’s Blues Brunch.
“. . . he [Nuri] was interviewing this guy, and they played some of his stuff, and I called Nuri on the phone, and I said Nuri do you know anybody in the Houston area that can do that type of stuff, and he told me you meet me at Billy Blue’s like next Saturday night.”
Long story short, Kenneth found that stuff in the form of the Moe Hansum Band.
As I listen to Kenneth’s story I couldn’t help but think of Guy Clark’s “Stuff that Works.”
Stuff that works, stuff that holds up The kind of stuff you don’ hang on the wall Stuff that’ real, stuff you feel The kind of stuff you reach for when you fall
Continuing on this theme of “Stuff,” in the 1970’s there was a jazz-funk band called “Stuff.” The members were Gordon Edwards (bass), Richard Tee (keyboards), Eric Gale (guitar), Cornell Dupree (guitar), Chris Parker (drums), and later Steve Gadd (drums).
There is good stuff and not so good stuff, because of what we do with our stuff. We have too much stuff. Earth’s beauty is being scarred by the stuff we throw away daily. As someone who spends a lot of time outdoors admiring nature’s beauty, I see stuff on our trails, hanging in trees, blowing in the wind, in our lakes and streams.
In December of 2007, a short documentary was released. The documentary was critical of excessive consumerism and promotes sustainability, which has gone from a movie to a movement over the last ten years — a Community of more than a million changemakers worldwide, working to build a more healthy and just planet. This land is our land! You can join the movement.
They called it a project, a Blues Project, but really,
it was a party — a party for
family and friends to share
happy times, talk about living life, and a love for good old blues music.
Once this party began there would be no stopping it, even when forced undercover
of rain, friends laugh and
talk about déjà vu the evening had become.
Just sitting on the front porch doing that front porch thing telling stories now embellished by all the good times dancing and singing the night away in the woods off Old Houston Road.
The Blues Project may be over so listen if the night will lead you to the music, the stories told and smile a smile one more time for each Project was just a rehearsal for what our tomorrows will bring.
— kenne
Kenneth Harris shares the story of how Ken & Mary’s Blues Project came about. (May 20, 2017)
Are we not all
standing in line
at heaven’s door?
Waiting,
watching,
wondering
who’s number
will be next.
Many are called
when they are ready,
most are not.
But, all are called before
others are ready
to pass through the door
to the big house of blues
that’s always rocking.
The house of the blues
where the music
goes on and on
at the house
with no last time around.
Charlie Parker,
your music
and images will remain.
Even as we
all wait to hear
our number called
to enter the ever-rocking
house of the blues,
the music goes on.
Until them,
we will miss you.
kenne
T99 Nelson, Charlie Parker & AJ Murphy – Image by kenne
As noted in an earlier posting, Ken & Mary’s Blues Project fall gathering had a great line-up, with the Moe Hansum Band, Sonny Boy Terry and Rich DelGrosso. For Rich, this October 25, 2008, Project event was his first time at Ken and Mary’s blues house party, and what a collaboration! One of the evening’s songs was Rich’s, “Get Your Nose Outta My Bizness.” Sonny Boy Terry and the band take the lead from Mr. “Blues Mandolin” delivering a classic country blues sound, proving once again, the more you see it, the more you like it.
October is the month that always reminds you why southeast Texas is a great place to live. Add some great blues musicians, friends of Ken and Mary, a pleasant campfire evening in the woods of east Montgomery County – it just doesn’t get any better!
The Ken & Mary’s Blues Project continues to age like good whiskey (or wine, you choose your spirit), and every so often, they invite friends to stop by to sample their great blues brew.
Although there have been Project events without the Moe Hansum Band (MHB), few have not included Mike Durbin in the mix. This time, Chuck and Stephan B were with Mike, adding Sonny Boy Terry and Rich DelGrosso to the street version of the MHB, making it no longer “street legal.” What an evening!
Click here to can see photos of the evening at Ken & Mary’s.
— kenne
p.s. Sonny Boy Terry is once again organizing the annual Blues for Food event at Shakespeare Pub. Click here for more information.
Kenneth Harris (May 20, 2017) — Image by kenne
Computer Painting by kenne
Becoming is Superior to Being 