Van Williamson Trio returns to Rehoboth Jazz Festival
After immersing itself in the mellifluous yet occasionally ear-wormy sounds of the 100-voice Peanut Choir ("...some of their music is just nuts..." - Bif Delmar, NY Times), the Van Williamson Trio with Bob Abbott and Wes Crawford will come crawling back to the 28th Annual Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival for a slate of performances around town.
"We loved the choir, especially with the current Yanni retrospective and the homage to the Cowsills' Taupe Period, but we just couldn't spend another night in a tent with that many people," explains guitarist Van Williamson from a concrete bunker near his home on Kent Island. "Plus we were only getting $200 for most gigs, and when you divide that by 100 ... well, you can see what I'm talking about."
The group recently returned from its Paean to Cacophony World Tour, which took the singers to North Korea, Iraq, Yemen, Venezuela and other spots on the State Department's Do Not Travel list. "It was a little dicey at times, but for the most part we were well received, except for that little incident in Pyongyang, which my lawyer says I can't talk about right now."
After a tearful ceremony at the Contemporary Museum of No-Stick Utensils in Omaha, the choir disbanded and returned to previous lives as inmates, triple-A ball players, political gadflies, resume burnishers, and the like.
"It's a fact of life as an artist," says Williamson. "What're ya gonna do?"
The trio will be performing at the following venues during the jazz festival:
• Thursday, Oct. 12, 6:50 to 7:50 p.m., Cape Henlopen High School, Lewes, before the opening concert (West Coast Jam) of the festival
• Friday, Oct. 13, 6 to 9 p.m., Mariachi Restaurant and Bar, 14 Wilmington Ave., Rehoboth Beach
• Saturday, Oct. 14, 6 to 9 p.m., Vineyard Wine Bar & Bistro, 28 Wilmington Ave., Rehoboth Beach
• Sunday, Oct. 15, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Back Porch Cafe, 59 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach
• Sunday, Oct. 15, 4:45 to 5:45 p.m., Cape Henlopen High School, Lewes before festival closing Grand Jam
Some venues require tickets or reservations, although the trio performances are free.
