From: Thorsten Nickel Date: Fri, 13 Sep 96 13:18:26 +0200 Subject: A German Castle & The Blues
Indeed i went to see Steve Baker & Abi Wallenstein playing some good old fine Blues. to me it was the inofficial celebration party of "the 100th Year Anniverssary Marine Band 1896-1996). Because of the location , where the gig took place: It was a wonderful old castle of its very own charme. it was one of the non- bombastic one, not a Barock or Renaissence one ... Sadly i missed the first part of the set, because i thought it was club/pub and the gig was announced to 20.00 and as it is worldwide supposed to be the same, these gigs start almost 21.00, even not before 20.30... so, i arrived about 20.40 and the travel to that castle was a 'road movie" of its own, i felt a bit like a hokum. The gig took place in a very little village placed in a German landscape , we spoke of 'somewhere in the Wallachei", there was nothing more than woods and that small village with that castle ... i thought, oh dear ! how will get back home !? steve where are you playing ? the cost for a taxi will 'kill' me at midnight ... Well, i came in and my first impression was, that was probably the atmosphere when american folk blues festival came first time to Europe, Germany in mid-60's and gave many of these american Blues "Heroes" the respect and dignity the american denied for so many years ... (that's another duseful discusion) well, the audience was a acompletely different one to the normal one i almost meet on those gigs. A little academic and far older than me and 'better dressed" than me Steve and Abi...:-) But Steve and Abi knew how 'to take' that audience as well as a blues-expert audience... the sound was phantstic mixed by an assistant for both, the chamber was made for acoustic directed blues musicians ... They did many classics from leadbelly , robert johnston, muddy and and and ... Nothing to add to steve's absolutly incredible harp interpretion of that good old traditionals ... a MUST for a die-hard-harp -fan !!! (make me feel to give up my own playing, but i won't ;-)
a few notes to Abi Wallenstein: i could talk to both of them for a few minutes before the continued with 2nd part of their concert... but i must say i am a bit proud that i met Abi. He is far more than a blues musician, very friendly, a real gentleman, a true character, not one of these overskilled dominating musicians . One of these men i would say "he makes that world a better world". He is a living legend with his very old guitar (he might havestolen from R.J.) almost playing on hamburg's street as well as on festivals, concerts and pubs ... maybe there are a few guitarist with a slightly complcated technique, but none of these i ever heard before have such a warm tone in musical interpretation ...
whenever you got the chance to listen to abi Wallenstein : do it, you won't forget this man . i know i'll never do forget that very special evening ...
Thorsten, being very impressed bye some fine gentleman
------------------------------------------------------------------ "... The Harmonica is the mother of the band !" - Otis Spann - -------------------------------------------------------------------
