Two Shows for Spring

April 12, 2015

The Springtails at Gopherwood in Cadillac

(Cadillac Elks Club)

April 18, 8pm, 231-846-8383 or www.facebook.com/GopherwoodConcerts for tickets and information.

Husband and wife duo Andy and Julianna Wilson lead the quartet known as The Springtails, an eclectic collective from Lansing, Michigan that blends the pair’s vocal and instrumental skills with sometime-bandmates Louis Rudner on double bass and Bob Bryan on percussion.

Their debut album, Because We’re In Love, explores all the emotion’s manifestations – "the thrill, looniness, regret, and lament of love," according to their bio. "Runnin’ Wild" features Julianna’s perfectly wavering, movie icon vocals, while the lyrics get cute within the encouraging melody of "Come On Out of That Rut."

Julianna Wilson’s journey to ukulele began when she saw Marilyn Monroe plinking away at the instrument in the classic late "˜50s film Some Like it Hot. Andy Wilson, a multiinstrumentalist who co-founded the popular local roots band Steppin’ In It, started performing as a kid, when he got his first harmonica. Today, their chemistry onstage is undeniable and their respective sounds form a perfect audio union that easily spans several different eras.

While their album speaks of love, their live show harkens back to the days of Vaudeville, albeit with a modern twist – swing, folk and pop get chucked into a blender and out pours The Springtails’ originals, seasoned with a careful selection of "˜40s-era standards, ready to get toes tapping in Cadillac and beyond.

John Jorgenson at Crooked Tree Arts Center in Petoskey

(Blissfest Winter Concert Series)

April 18, 8pm, 231-348-7047 or blissfest.org and ctac.org for tickets and information

He’s collaborated with a wide range of artists in an equally wide range of genres, from Bob Dylan to operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti, but Jorgenson’s own repertoire as a guitarist and multiinstrumentalist isn’t far behind in its breadth.

Jorgenson started his career in the mid- ’80s, founding country-rock outfit The Desert Rose Band, which led to him to studio work for Bonnie Raitt and Barbra Streisand. By the "˜90s, he’d moved on to form guitar trio The Hellecasters, which brought a touring gig with Elton John’s band. Jorgenson then spent six years with John, both onstage and in the studio.

On his own, he’s no less impressive. With his John Jorgenson Quintet – rhythm guitarist Doug Martin, bassist Simon Planting, percussionist Rick Reed and jazz violinist Jason Anick – he’s become the unofficial "U.S. Ambassador of Gypsy  Jazz," carrying on the traditions of Django Reinhardt and other Gypsy Jazz players. Jorgenson even portrayed Reinhardt in the movie Head in the Clouds (Charlize Theron/ Stuart Townsend). He tours both stateside and internationally, promoting this distinctive brand of music.

Live, his combo is a rich blend of dynamics with familiar rhythms and melodies. In some ways, he’s developed Gypsy Jazz beyond its own scope, adding flourishes of Eastern European sounds and even a dash of Nashville.

Front and center is Jorgenson himself, guiding the proceedings with his guitar and his uncanny sense of timing. With his skills, the talents of his band and his always-sharp live arrangements, CTAC and the Blissfest folks are in for a terrific show.