An inspirational evening:
Bibb and Maxx, in concert
By Bruce Mason, Gabriola Sounder
Monday, February 11 2008
What’s a white woman from Salt Spring doing at a “Black History Festival?” Plenty, if she happens to be Lisa Maxx.Her own story and music are inspirational and a debut CD Still Hold True is the realization of a long cherished dream, a collection of original compositions “through life’s joys and through adversities, determinedly navigating my way through all the curve balls life has thrown me.” Maxx is sharing the stage with Leon Bibb, an artist whose life’s work is a storehouse and beacon of black culture, Friday, February 22nd, at 7:30 pm, in the Phoenix Auditorium at the Haven. The event is one of a series of four which Gabriola’s Ken Capon is describing as a mini-festival, a celebration during Black History Month which also includes a workshop and another don’t miss concert by Eric Dozier and The One Human Family Gospel Choir, the following afternoon and eveningLisa Maxx first met Leon Bibb four years ago when he conducted a series of workshops on “The Art of the Spiritual” and immediately stuck a friendship that can only be described as beautiful and an artistic rapport and collaboration which are divine.
“It was incredible, even inspirational and very exciting,’ she recalled. “I realized that all North American music is rooted and flows from black spirituals: work songs, gospel, R&B, Rock and Roll, Jazz and everything else.”
She had grown up in a musical family and wrote her first song at nine years of age, took piano lessons and taught herself guitar.
“My family sang freedom songs around the camp fire, not “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad,” she said.
Growing up on Salt Spring she went to every dance at the Community Hall to study performers and as a teenager hung out with musicians, playing and singing back-up vocals.
Maxx developed her own musical style and opened for performers such as Rory McLeod and Buffy Sainte-Marie.
“In the 70s I was part of the Gulf Island hippie scene, including on Gabriola, with people such as Paul Gellman and his bands, Island and Medicine Wheel, and my music flourished,” Maxx reported.
Then in 1994 life took a dramatic turn with the onset of severe rheumatoid arthritis. For about 15 years she was bed-ridden, then confined to a wheel chair, gradually graduating to a walker and canes for mobility.
“Even when I had to be carried onstage I never let health challenges get in the way,” Maxx said, adding that the disease made her focus on writing. “You don’t want to waste your life by not doing what your passion is.”
Now primarily independently mobile, she lost the ability to play the guitar. ‘That was harder for me than losing the ability to walk,” she recalled. “When I needed to sort out my thoughts my feelings, my life, I went to my guitar.
“Music has been my solace, my outlet, and my best friend. My life now is shadowed by my disability, but creating music and art is definitely a bright light that, thankfully, continues to shine forth and lead me on in faith and in joy.”
Bibb’s workshop led to the composition of a song “Way Down in Louisiana,” about the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and based on the form of the spiritual.
Leon was impressed and invited her to sing it on-stage with him, Peter Yarrow of Peter Paul and Mary, and Sylvia Tyson at the Edmonton Folk Festival.
The song is one of many duets Maxx and Bibb will perform, along with individual sets, accompanied by veteran pianist Bill Sample.
A prolific songwriter with a powerful and very personal stage presence, her rich and powerful voice has been described as “an angelic songbird,” made even more amazing when coupled with Bibb.
“Leon is a very high-end professional, a legendary singer with a knack for blending musical styles and genres, making it work seamlessly and moving audiences deeply,” said Maxx, who asked him to accompany her on an “island hopping tour,” and was thrilled when he agreed.
Lisa is now heavily involved in what she calls the “next great grassroots movement and struggle for equality, and the art that comes from the physical, emotional and spiritual life of the disabled.”
She said there will be lots of opportunities to sing along and reminded people to bring along some extra money to purchase CDs so they can carry on what will be a memorable dynamic and inspiring evening of music.
Tickets for the concert are $18 and available at Artworks. A special $30 offer includes admission to the Eric Dozier and The One Human Family Gospel Choir on February 23rd, also at the Haven, with proceeds to the Commons.
For more information on Lisa Maxx visit: www.lisamaxx.com/index.html and to learn about the remarkable ongoing story and powerful message of Eric Dozier, see: web.mac.com/ericdozier/One_Human_Family/Blog/Blog.html. Be prepared to be truly inspired.
The Sounder will have an interview with Dozier next week. In the meantime, during this cold and grey month, for $30 you can purchase a two-night ticket out of here. Both concerts are highly recommended.
http://www.soundernews.com/fullstory/EkpkZuApAlUKAMoNvS.shtml
