Combining the warm, evocative, passionate and moving tones of Jackie's violin with exquisite fingerstyle guitar work of Rich Caloggero and Paul Mageau, Jackie Damsky & String River creates a multi-genre sound all their own. From blues to bluegrass, from acoustic waltzes to gypsy jazz, Jackie Damsky & String River is guaranteed to touch and delight you.
~ Jackie Damsky & String River debuted January 15th, 2011 at the historic Nameless Coffeehouse in Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA. We were extremely fortunate to be reviewed by John Brisbin, longtime staff writer for Living Blues Magazine (bio following review).
Jackie Damsky and String River, first public performance, Nameless Coffeehouse at First Church, January 15th.
by Jon Brisbin
I tell my musician friends: “You are the heroes and, okay, the loons who rob yourselves of sleep ritually, who drive forever, who are seldom properly paid or recognized; but who make life in Boston --even serial blizzard Boston in January-- a nightly vacation. Oooh, you take us away,” I tell them. “You make us laugh out loud. You light up our dreams and salve our wounds. You give us grace we don’t have; even wings to fly home over the moon-mirroring Charles River and safely over all police cruisers lurking in the bushes between there and here!”
Ehh, something like that I tell them. I also pass the clipboard during intermission, getting people to sign their email lists and build up the fan base. That’s my special talent. I bug everybody but gently.
For several years, the secret weapon of many Boston bands has been Americana and jazz fiddler Jackie Damsky. She is the extra ingredient that makes all the good bands sound better. And when bands that are already three aces show up, she’s the fourth ace -- and watch out. You’d better hide behind furniture because they come out blazing. One and all of her musical partners are beneficiaries of the wit and heart that flow from her bow. She leaps in, builds melody, soars like a skyrocket, then returns to earth for a deft finish always respecting singer, song and group.
Now she could’ve been content with that. That’s hero enough, don’t you think? But no. Jackie’s been secretly rehearsing her own band for the past six months. On Saturday, January 15th she finally unveiled the acoustic trio at the Nameless Coffeehouse of First Church in Cambridge. Jackie Damsky and String River includes masterful guitarists Paul Mageau and Rich Caloggero along with herself. It’s extra hard to draw a crowd at Nameless because folk mecca Club Passim is (excuse me) across the street – and now sells wine and beer. But with a new group, a total question mark, it’s even harder to gather a good audience. Nevertheless Jackie and Co drew an enthusiastic full house for what turned out to be an amazingly well executed debut performance.
Shy Jackie never speaks onstage and has never sung in front of people. But she did both at Nameless as though it were characteristic. She engaged the crowd warmly and led them through the mix of tunes which couldn't have been more choice.
A furious pick and bow fest on the openers, Tennessee Hardwood by Aubrey Haynie and the traditional Whiskey Before Breakfast, was followed by a stunningly articulated homage to 1930s gypsy jazz guitarist "Django" Reinhardt -- and hey, that’s not easy to do! That piece, Gandhi’s Revenge, was composed by Jon Larsen & The Hot Club of Norvege. Jackie squeezed every drop out of Jay Unger’s plaintive Dilbert’s Tear before stepping into the vocalist’s spotlight herself for the wistfully clever jazz standard Comes Love (covered by both Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald). Her neat facial expressions and elegant gesturing with the fiddle bow formed a nice bit of jazz cabaret.
Comes a rainstorm, put your rubbers on your feet
Comes a snowstorm, you can get a little heat
Comes love, nothing can be done
Comes a heatwave, you can hurry to the shore
Comes a summons, you can hide behind the door
Comes love, nothing can be done
Vassar Clements’ Lonesome Fiddle Blues was followed by the tour de force Tchavolo Swing by Durado Schmidt. Going once more to the jazz well, Jackie returned with a powerful reading of Bill Evans’ Waltz For Debbie. Set closer was Jay Unger’s Ashokan Farewell, one of the most beautiful waltzes ever written. Able to rip and run with the best of the acoustic players, Jackie Damsky and String River are not shy about doing the slow, achingly pretty ones too, even back to back and boldly crossing genres.
The impromptu encore, with the crowd on its feet, was the evergreen Makin’ Whoopie. Guest vocalist Susan Cunniff did herself proud on that and shone earlier on Melody Gardot’s signature blues, Worrisome Heart.
So watch out. Jackie Damsky and String River is ready for prime time and prime gigs. Contact Jackie at http://jackiedamsky.com
Paul Mageau has been playing guitar since he was ten years old. He plays rock, funk, pop, jazz and blues. Influenced by Tommy Emmanuel, James Taylor, Pierre Bensusan, & Tuck Andress, Paul’s style ranges from rhythmic to richly melodic. Find out more at http://www.myspace.com/cunniffandmageau
Rich Caloggero has been playing guitar for 25 years. He is at home playing rock'n roll, blues, bluegrass, country, folk, and funk. Rich is an incredible and crowd pleasing lead player. His influences include Tony Rice, David Grisman, and dobro maestro Jerry Douglas.
Violinist and now bandleader and vocalist Jackie Damsky was trained as a classical violinist. She found her true calling in folk music, acoustic rock, jazz, and blues after joining the Cambridge music scene in 2001. She has performed with over 40 musical acts and has recorded with 2 dozen artists. She adds her passionate and evocative tones to a wide and nuanced range of styles. She’s performed in Spain, France and Italy with Rod MacDonald, has opened for the Goo Goo Dolls accompanying Adam Ezra at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas, and has a violin cameo appearance in the major motion picture Bride Wars with Kate Hudson. Visit Jackie at http://jackiedamsky.com
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John Anthony Brisbin is a freelance writer and regular newspaper columnist widely respected for his oral histories of jazz and blues musicians, also his live music reviews and CD liner notes. He was longtime staff writer for Living Blues Magazine until, in his words, "all my beloved blues fathers went to their glory." He wrote two chapters (one on Jimmy Rogers, one on Willie Johnson) in Jas Obrecht's compilation, "Rollin' and Tumblin': Postwar Blues Guitar."
