T.o.p. Bop Nonstop
"Top of the Park" is one of those summer happenings that makes Ann Arbor famous. Where else on earth can you dance to great music in the evening and then take in a movie after sunset - outdoors - all in the same place? For free? For 24 straight nights?
As part of the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, which runs June 18 through July 10, Top of the Park (T.O.P.) will feature free live music (and some dance performances) nightly beginning at 7 pm, preceding the free movies which start at 10 pm. The music happens seven days a week while the movies show Thursday through Sunday.
The site of all this hooplah is the roof of the parking structure on Fletcher St, adjacent to the Power Center on U-M's central campus. The Summer Festival folks have ingeniously utilized this bricks-and-cement landscape to suit the dual demands of presenting both music and movies in the same locale. The flat, open spaces of the parking structure roof (actually on ground level), provide a great dance floor and then double as a free-for-all space for the chairs, blankets, and paraphernelia of the movie-goers. The performance stage is at the base of a huge wall (the side of the Dental School) from which is hung a huge movie screen. Get the picture? Kind of like a high-school-gym dance (outdoors) followed by a drive-in movie (without the cars).
The music lineup for this year's Top of the Park was put together by impresario Eric Cole of Prism Productions. And what a lineup it is! From country to boogie, and jazz to blues - with a strong emphasis on good-time toe-tapping dance music- there will surely be some music suitable for all.
The season starts on June 17 with a Kick-Off Party. A fundraiser, this is the only T.O.P. event at which admission is charged. This dance party features the world sounds of swinging salsa big band the Sun Sounds Orchestra and the Caribbean beat sounds of Nite Flight, featuring Robert Valentino and his steel drum. Also included will be the tap dancing of Footloose Fancies. All three will compel you to dance, dance, dance.
On June 18 the Wild Sheep Riders, featuring Steve Newhouse, Chris Goerke, Kevin Brown, and Eric Nyhuif, will play traditional cry-in-your-beer country music. Bring your sweetheart and two-step.
On Father's Day, June 19, there will be a very big treat. Wally Duda's Polka Orchestra will be playing what Wally calls "the Bottom 40 - we don't play rock." Coming from Duda - who has played in big bands for over 50 years and whose current ensemble includes a trumpet, sax, accordion, and drums - that sentiment is understandable. What they do play is "that Glenn Miller stuff, a polka thrown in to keep it active, Latin, l-talian, you name it. The kids and their folks love it." Treat yourself and your dad.
The music on June 20 has a New Orleans slant. Milton Hill's Swamp-O-Rama Conservatory Orchestra features U-M Music School veteran Hill, pounding out the deep southern piano boogie found traditionally in the juke joints and dives of rural bayou country. The Motor City Brass Band will get you up as they play that "second-line" rhythm reminiscent of New Orleans. Yes, they will march. Also listen for Suzanne Magassy playing the Burton Tower Carillon.
On June 21, Al Hill & the Blue Collar Blues Band perform. Hill has been around Ann Arbor for years singing and playing guitar with the likes of the Headlights, Jeannie and the Dreams and most recently with The Jim Tate Band. Here he moves to piano and joins an outstanding blues outfit from Detroit. Vinny Scalabrino (drums), Kenny Welk (harmonica), and Tim Garrett (bass) and the Disorderly Homs form the nucleus of this revolving ensemble. The music is a bit more than just the blues. You'll hear 40s R&B swing, New Orleans funk with boogie blues, and sweaty roots rock originals, forming a sound which Hill calls "Funk-a-boogie."
On Wednesday June 22, the fabulous Sun Messengers will grace the stage. This group has long been an Ann Arbor favorite and has several times been recognized as the best R&B band in the Detroit Metro Times. With honking saxes, tight rhythmic harmonies, great arrangements, and occasionally jazzy overtones, their sound reaches well beyond our area. They are a first-rate ensemble well worth your listen.
Performing on June 23 will be the wildly wonderful Hypnotic Clambake. From Boston, this group describes their music alternatively as "bar mitzvah music on acid" or "post-Bulgarian neo-classic Klezmer funk." Either way it's frantic, upbeat, and compelling. The Ukulele Club is a group of area guitarists, banjo players and ukers doing mesmerizing covers of old and new familiar tunes. Warning: This music is infectious.
June 24 will feature Dig, a contemporary neo-hippy dance jam band. Don't let this tag scare you off. This music will remind you of why much of the 60s was fun and why much of the values from those days are (thank the heavens) permanently with us today. Visger Road Drum Band is an all-percussion, voice/sax ensemble that plays funk ala Sly and George Clinton. What a great Friday night attraction!
Saturday June 25 features Ann Arbor's own Mustard's Retreat. Michael Hough and David Tamulevich comprise this fun folk duo which focuses on traditional American music- ballads, folk songs, storytelling - that convey the complexities of the vagaries of life. Their repertoire reaches virtually every age group and is very appealing to younger audiences, although us oldsters will fit right in. (Their CD, 5 Miles or 50,000 Years, is an excellent example of their live material.)
The traditional American music theme continues on June 26 with the rollicking RFD Boys and The Raisin Pickers. This good-time music will entice you to sing along and whoop and holler. The Boys are from town while the Pickers are from the Manchester area. Bring the kids.
Monday June 27 will be the Ethnic Dance Night. The Malini Srirama's Dancers of India are an all-female ensemble featuring traditional dances of India. Troupe Habibat al-Fen and Troupe TaAmullat perform Middle Eastern dances. Yukiko Uchiyama will perform the Japanese Dragon Dance. Unlike the more familiar Chinese Dragon Dance this version is rarely performed and shouldn't be missed.
The Lunar Octet, the danceable pop/jazz band, will play on Tuesday, June 28. Their music is beautiful and intricate. Sit back and enjoy. The Calgary Fiddlers, who are playing at the Power Center on the 29th with fiddler extrordinaire Mark O'Connor, are an 11-member group of fiddling teens from Canada. They play original music that takes advantage of their unique size. The sound and power of this ensemble is both startling and wonderful. If you have any young fiddlers in your house they should see this!
PJ's No Kickdrum Acoustic Concert Series will entertain the crowd on June 29. P.J. Ryder of PJ's Used Records has long been supporting local music by putting on acoustic shows in his store. Stepping away from bombastic sound systems is an excellent way for a broad array of Ann Arbor musicians to demonstrate their musicianship in a format that hides nothing. Gerry Butterwick, a roots/folk troubadour, opens the show, followed by the Community High rockabilly trio, Lucky Haskins. Lollipop Guild, featuring Kristin Von Bernthal's strong Jefferson Airplane vocals, is next, with the tasty alternative rock of Verve Pipe capping the evening. (Note: if you like this acoustic format, catch the acoustic set of the blues band The Terraplanes at PJ's on June 10.)
On June 30, the Chisel Brothers featuring Thornetta Davis will play their brand of rock/rhythm and blues. Year in and year out this group is recognized as one of the best bands in Detroit. But the band's musical strength and the riveting vocal talent of Davis clearly show that they have the musical presence and professionalism to make it in the big time. This is a do-not-miss show.
The Deadbeat Society performs on Friday July 1 . Now that the Chenille Sisters have become too big for Ann Arbor, the Society finds itself approaching that position. The "next-group-that-should-make-it-big" sports a brand of acoustic guitar-banjo-mandolin-bass newgrass music that is enticing, appealing and just plain wonderful. This, too, is a must-see show. Check out their Schoolkids' Records CD, Before We Arrive.
July 2: The T.O.P. people are doing something right to have three exceptional shows in a row. The six-piece blues ensemble, Big Dave & The Ultrasonics, will melt your socks off with their blistering musicianship and great blues. Big Dave Steele's gritty voice is perfect for this genre. Dave Morris, the best blues harmonica player in town, augments Dave Farzalo's sparkling rhythm guitar, Todd Perkins' rock-solid bass bottom, Pete Struyk's powerful drumming, and Ben Wilson's extraordinary keyboards. Their Schoolkids' recording, Love & Money, is first rate. This show shouldn't be missed.
The incomparable Madcat & Kane will play on July 3. Harmonica virtuoso (Peter Ruth) and Delta blues guitarist (Shari Kane) play some of the most low-down tunes you'll ever hear. They make you want to holler, hoot, stomp, and they too have an excellent CD out of Ann Arbor's Schoolkids' Records.
The Ann Arbor Civic Band featuring vocalist Judy Dow will perform the perfunctory patriotic medley on the 4th of July. Of greater note will be a performance by a cappella gospel/spiritual group Highest Praise. They are wonderful. Their tight harmonies, great energy and a spirit of brethren-hood makes for a very uplifting experience. Much better than flag-waving! July 5 - Yes, the Bird of Paradise Orchestra does leave the Bird. Just because they are the house band at the jazz club, The Bird of Paradise, doesn't mean they don't play other gigs. This ensemble is as powerful and exciting as any band in town. This will be a great opportunity to hear them.
Lowen & Navarro, a professional songwriting duo with credits for Pat Benetar and The Bangles, bring their acoustic alternative adult music to town on July 6. These guys are good, and I wouldn't be surprised if they'll be playing at much larger venues very soon. The same goes for opener Catie Curtis. Her emotively personal sounds coupled with a sense of humor and extraordinary guitar skills also make her a candidate for the big times. Catch both these strong acts.
On July 7 Johnnie Basset & the Blues Insurgents featuring Basset on guitar and vocals, the marvelous Bill Heid on organ and vocals, R.J. Spangler on drums and Scott Petersen on sax, will perform their clean, cool, smooth, sweet, jazzy, bluesy, sophisticated music. It's great listening anytime but particularly on a warm July night.
On July 8, Montage, a five piece jazz/pop ensemble featuring Lisa Wolf (piano), Tim Twiss (guitar), Kathy Moore (vocals and flute), Aaron Kaufman (percussion) and Steve Osburn (Chapman Stick) will bring their eclectic brand of rhythm and jazz music to the TOP stage. An unusual element of their sound is the Chapman Stick, a string instrument that's played by pressing the strings against the sound board for a very rhythmic and distinctive sound. The extraordinary Paul Vornhagen Quartet will also perform. Vornhagen's sax tone is exquisite and his sense of musicality is first-rate. This is an excellent double-bill.
July 9 is the Big Band Spectacular featuring the modern sounds and arrangements of the II-V-l Orchestra and the more traditional swinging sounds of the area's premier big band, the Ambassadors. If you like the power and sophistication of larger ensembles, this is the show for you.
The Summer Festival ends on July 10 with roots rockers George Bedard & the Kingpins. Rockabilly, blues, and great guitar pickin' is the forte of this great trio. Schoolkids' Recording artist and winner of "Best Blues CD of the Year- 1993" by CD Review, Bedard, Randy Tessier (bass) and Rick Dishman (drums), like so many of the strong shows this season, shouldn't be missed.
For more information about T.O.P. or the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, call 764-2538.