Reporter's Notebook: Blues People in South Orange

"If you're feeling kind of low, the blues will satisfy your soul," sang Michael Hill.

Yes, the blues can break your heart. The blues can mend your heart. The blues should make you cry and the blues should make you laugh.

Sunday, Sept. 12, the bluesmen and women of the South Orange International Blues Festival (SOIBF)—musicians, singers, lyricists, dancers, poets——delivered it all.

Hill's soulful lyrics broke and mended hearts. Dave Stryker's patter between his Blue to the Bone Band's tunes supplied  some of the humor: "That's a song I wrote, "Money Can't Buy You Love,' "he deadpanned.

"Well, Lennon-McCartney," Stryker allowed.

There were urban blues, rockabilly, funk, soul, pop, rock and jazz influences along with traditional, acoustic 12 bar blues.

The rain limited the size of the crowd, but not the spirit. For one day, everyone-- all ages, all ethnicities, all backgrounds-- were blues people.

Here were some voices—performers and fans-- from the crowd:

SOIBF producer and bassist Mike Griot: "This was two years in the making. We have a great team. The music's terrific; the fans are terrific."

Jennifer Howald and her son, Caldum, 10, of So. Orange:

"This is my first blues festival. It's cool in the rain, and the music is good," said Caldum. "The music has been terrific. The cupcakes and tacos are fabulous, and our local ice cream vendor is selling cones," added his mom.

Tracey and Cliff Flowers of West Orange and their 11 year old daughter, Kyndall:

"I'm actually the CFO—Chief Financial Officer-- of the SOIBF," said Cliff. "I'm a long time blues fan; it started with my getting a double CD of Bessie Smith for a contributing to NPR." [Bessie Smith was the 1920s Empress of the Blues.]

And today? "So far; so good. The diehard fans are here," Flowers said.

"I think it's pretty cool," said his daughter.

Phyllis Mesner of Hoboken, 42, "I'm originally from South Orange. The music is great."

Alvin Harrision, Englewood, 51, bass guitarist: "We love the opportunity to play. We were supposed to be at another stage but couldn't plug our instruments in because of the rain."

"So they plugged us in here, at the main stage," Harrison continued.

Rani, 42, and Tim, 45, Doyle, South Orange: "We have friends with us under our tent. We love the blues. There's great talent here. We're going to hang all day…"

John Brown, Newark, 25." I lived in South Orange and was always in the school bands. Right through graduation, I played bass trombone. And, I like the blues."

Josh Holden, Ridgewood, 37," I always loved the blues, especially John Lee Hooker; I think I liked this music since I was in the crib. I'm introducing my five and one year old sons to the blues today."

Roxanne Burrus, South Orange, 52, "I'm a big blues fan. It's wet out, but the music is excellent."

Zach Calluori, Nutley, 15, guitar student: "Juliana Jai just did a great cover of Led Zeppelin's 'When the Levees Break;' she has a nice even vibrato."  "It's cool, the sound is great," added Allaleries Palermo, also 15, Zach's friend from Montclair.  

Juliana Jai, LA, and Al Gold, West Orange, event vocalists:

Gold: "The Led Zeppelin 1970's version of 'When the Levees Break 'is a reworking of Memphis Minnies's old 1929 blues hit. We had to discover our own blues heritage via the Brits."

Jai: "I rewrote the Zeppelin version back, but with my own spin on it…"

"If you love the music, you give the same show whether it's 1 person or 1,000,"Jai  added.

The SOIBF did everything right. Next time out, let's hope it's 1,000.