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Music echoes the photographer's voice
One late evening while driving through main street in Plymouth, I decided out of curiosity to visit this coffee house known as Kiskadee's. As I entered, four musician's and as many patrons stood gathered joking, obviously between sets. I was reluctant to stay, but I was taken with the atmosphere of the place; also I noticed the musician's were mature in age, most likely having talent. After returning for many weeks, I discovered that all these musicians made a living playing at various gigs with different musicians, but on tuesday nights they came together, just to jam for fun and to exchange ideas. Needless to say, that first curious night opened the door to my own creativity. This quartet was awesome, playing one great standard after the next. I was especially affected by the intimate setting, having musician's playing only several feet away. Eventually I became a fixture inside Kiskadee's, growing closer to these musicians. I began to record them with my camera as passionately as the music they themselves were creating. It is this kind of exchange that makes life worth living, the kind of exchange that gives meaning to the photographs. I was no longer a spectator. I was involved only a few feet away. Sometimes while photographing the tenor or guitar player, their instruments were barely inches from my ears. After each session, I could barely wind down and sleep at night. It was a great gift enabling me to take in such fabulous sounds while photographing the process. One evening while handing out photographs from a previous session, a very tall thin man, nearly my age, who wore a flashy loud Hawaiian shirt topped with an equally decorated bandanna hugged tightly to his head, approached me, introducing himself as tall Richard. Tall Richard's appearance is reminiscent of the hippie era. He is a unique character, one who intrigued me. He was a talented harmonica player in his heyday who travelled widely with many different bands making it his life’s work. He is also the host who attracts and encourages the local talent to participate every Thursday night in an open mike jam. Richard invited me to photograph one of these sessions, but having no real interest in this style of folk and blues music, my promise was merely to attend to check it out. For one year I have attended and photographed the variety of talent at this open mike. The wide range of musicians and poets in this warm friendly atmosphere put their heart and soul into the music they create. The euphoria, which permeates each week, is a special blend, where musicians of all ages combine with the spirit of music and mutual respect. This magic is addictive. It hovers in the air, all intoxicating, all electric and when the evening is concluded, this exhilarating air filters out the door. Then, this space once occupied remains waiting until these same musicians give this place meaning again. I see in all these musicians their personality, in some cases their poverty and hardship, in some their strength and confidence, but in all their bond to a purpose, to showcase their talent. I am sure throughout our great nation and beyond it's borders there are countless coffee houses offering on some night open doors to a tradition very much like Kiskadee's. My photographs are a tribute to that fact. My images are a document in time to a place where people gather to express themselves freely.
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