Traverse City Record-Eagle

Entertainment Update

November 20, 2009

Duo mixes in funny lyrics, blues piano

FROM STAFF REPORTS

TRAVERSE CITY -- Corky Siegel says you'll be dancing in your seat. Or hopefully in the aisles.

Siegel, a blues harmonica player, and jazz violinist Randy Sabien perform at the Dennos Museum Center at Northwestern Michigan College Saturday.

Siegel has earned an international reputation as one of the world's blues harmonica masters. He mixes the harp-playing with humorous lyrics and boogie woogie blues piano.

He's also a composer and recently won the Lila Wallace/Reader's Digest/Meet the Composers national award for chamber music composition.

He began touring with the Siegal-Schwall Band, playing major venues and clubs in the 1960s and '70s. He's performed with Willie Dixon, Little Walter, Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf.

He has 18 recordings and more than 35 reissues in his portfolio and has written and performed works with numerous symphonies. His work has been used for everything from ballets to skating competitions.

Together with Sabien, the duo says you'll be bopping your head, tapping your toes and dancing out your chair.

Sabien began in music by signing up to play the drums in the youth orchestra in Rockford, Ill. The director found himself short of string plays, so Sabien began studying classical violin.

Siegel is hosting a workshop for schools today. He'll also perform a family concert during the Dennos' Family Day Saturday.

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