Masters of American Music - ROOTS & Bonnie Raitt

If you aren't following me on social media, it may be news to you that I took​ on a new position as the Executive Directot of Roots of American Music in December. Working with ROOTS as a Teaching Artist over the past years has been some of the most impactful and meaningful work that I have done in my professional life.

In classrooms, I've worked with middle and high school students to write songs that touch on the subjects that are closest to them. In kindergarten and second-grade classrooms, I've taught the fundamentals of music through the lens of early roots artists—connecting the next generation with the musicians who laid the foundational framework of all the music we listen to today.

In senior and medical care facilities, I've felt energy in rooms shift, watched memories and skills unlock as we sing, dance, and reminisce on favorite songs together.

This Wednesday I will play a show for ROOTS at one of the coolest venues I've ever walked into - Visible Voice. If you haven't been there, you NEED to make an excuse to walk into this bookstore/cafe/bar/workspace/theater. The care, community, and thoughtfully restorative approach to the architecture is stunning.

This show will be so special. Not only will I be joined by a few very cool guests (including Travis Haddix! Who I had the pleasure of first connecting with at the Robert Lockwood Jr Festivals.) But I've spent the last month digging into the work of Bonnie Raitt and I'm feeling so inspired by her approach to music and life. Listening to every interview I can, watching live performances, digging up podcasts, reading articles, and even getting my hands on a very cool Yale College thesis. My fingers are blistered in new ways, and I feel like I've unlocked so much understanding of my instrument as I hear Bonnie's takes on many classic songs.

Her fondness and attachment to the legends and lessons of roots music of all kinds is in every interview and every guitar lick. Reading her life story, I've felt like I've held a mirror up to my own and can more deeply examine and better understand who I am as a player.

There is undeniable value in taking the time to study the artists you admire in a deep and meaningful way. It's been a privilege to do that in preparation for this performance, and I hope my efforts do her music and story justice.​

Click here for Tickets and Details