Flanfire

Candlelight Ranch is a retreat founded in 1999 so that children struggling with terminal illness, disabilities, or economic and social challenges could experience the beautiful natural environment found just off SH 1431 between Lago Vista and Marble Falls. Last Sunday, supporters of the ranch got an early Christmas present -- the release of a CD produced by Stephen C. Meyer of The Lodge recording studio in Marble Falls entitled "A Texas Hill Country Christmas." Even better, several of the artists who lent their songs and voices to the CD were in the house at Threadgill's World Headquarters for three hours of heavenly music.

This CD is a MUST GET collector's edition - if only because it features TWO Christmas songs written and sung by the legendary Freddy Powers and Bill McDavid. Freddy is now 74 and has Parkinson's disease and does not perform any more without his band -- but he nevertheless showed up at the gig to sign autographs for CD buyers and to tell why he supports the ranch.

Just as exciting was the 45-minute plus set by Gary P. Nunn - which started with a tender rendition of "London Homesick Blues," aka "Home with the Armadillo" for those who only know the song and not its real title. The set included his contribution to the CD (a song he did not write) plus "Road Trip," "Friends for Life," and a whole bunch more. Gary P. had driven all the way from San Angelo for the gig.

As if that were not enough, we had three songs from Marble Falls' own John Arthur Martinez, including his rendition of "What Child Is This?," which he sings in English and Spanish, his own "What a Christmas It Was," which is autobiographical, and a song I got to see JAM do live on Nashville Star -- Big Old Armadillo - which he as always finished off with lightning speed.

The music started with an hour's worth of wonderful songs from Barbara Malteze and Kevin Higgins - the core of the Cosmic Dust Devils, who double as caretakers of the ranch property. Higgins has a song he does and a song she does on the CD -- both are excellent! A personal favorite was Kevin's "Monahans," another was Barbara's "One Good Heart from Two," but by far the highlight of the set (and perhaps the whole afternoon, from a power music viewpoint) was Barbara's scintillating "The Night Life Ain't a Good Life, But It's My Life." SMOKIN!!!

So it was almost an afterthought that we also got a very fine set by Shelley King and her band, featuring the amazing Clark Perry on percussion and snare (pretty talented for 1-1/2!). Shelley told of a Christmas adventure that included sleeping in the van during a snowstorm out in the middle of nowhere between the Hill Country and El Paso on I-10 - and how the very next year she wrote, "Let's Stay Home for Christmas."

Other performers on the CD include Thomas Michael Riley, Mike Blakely, Ben Beckendorf (a Hill country blues and jazz hero), Walt Wilkins (whom I last saw on a bill with Bonnie Whitmore), saxophonist Elliott Fikes (who used to tour with Little Anthony and the Imperials but settled in the Hill Country a while back), and Debby Walton - plus a beautiful testimonial song by a girl named Jessa. If you are interested in the CD, you might call Stephen or Sue Ann Meyer at (512) 756-7128 - and you might even like their studio, which sits on a 260-acre ranch between Marble Falls and Burnet.

On Saturday night, we traveled out to La Grange to the Bugle Boy (again, a GREAT PLACE to really LISTEN to live music and interact with the players -- just take SH 71 to US 77 in LaGrange and turn right toward town and the place is just up on the right -- it's an old Army barracks that once sat in Bastrop but was purchased by the Sons of Hermann and moved). The occasion -- the Free Brass Cartel featuring for the first time the guitar work of (Michael John) BLAKE of the Illustrated Band - and as usual the keyboard pyrotechnics of Thomas Mann (who also wrote all of the songs not from legendary players - Theolonius Monk, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and others - plus a medley of Christmas songs that really swung). Of course, this band is all instrumental (well, almost) and features the rhythm section of Kyle Clayton (whose other gig is Violins, Etc.) and Travis Woodard (who also plays with the Gene Pool) and Travis' high school buddy Paul Luedke. This is a very creative band with guys who really enjoy playing real jazz --- and Mann's own songs stand up well against the classics. Blake, for the record, does not have a history of playing jazz but those who have heard him elsewhere would know that he has the chops -- and just imagine what could happen tomorrow with this quintet.

For the record, Jamie Blythe has been in town the past few days - she's been out in Burbank and is headed to Chicago where she may be doing voiceovers for big-time dollars -- but we will always enjoy her lovely vocals and bright-eyed smiles when she deigns to visit here again. Bonnie is working on putting together her own rock band, but after hearing "Ain't Misbehavin'" from her one more time, what can one say but she and Jamie together bring us back to a simpler era of great songs with big production numbers. These women belong in a 1950's movie set -- or alternatively in the most modern of environments. C.atch the duo - with Seth Hulbert on guitar - at Tavern in the Gruene on December 15