Traverse City Record-Eagle

Arts & Entertainment

January 27, 2012

It's a mother-daughter, friend reunion

By MARTA HEPLER DRAHOS mdrahos@record-eagle.com

TRAVERSE CITY — When Mary Anne Rivers agreed to revive her old folk trio, Family Reunion, it was supposed to be for a single performance.

Instead, she and daughter Elizabeth Rivers — an occasional performer with the group since she was old enough to sing — rediscovered their love of harmonizing. Now they're appearing with fellow area musician and friend Pat Niemisto as a sort of "new" Family Reunion at places like Sleder's Family Tavern and elsewhere in the state.

"Our voices are so compatible. And she has such an ear for harmony," said Mary Anne Rivers, of her progeny, who went on to establish her own musical career in jazz. "And then Patrick jumps in with his harmonies and he's really great. And what can't he play?"

The trio will star in "Circle of Song" at 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, at Sleder's Family Tavern. The show — part of Sleder's On the Porch Concert Series — also will feature Niemisto's "power folk" trio, New Third Coast, with John Kumjian and Bryan Poirier.

Rivers, one of the founders of the Grand Rapids Folk Society and a retired Kingsley music teacher, said she and Niemisto have been friends for about 20 years — ever since he helped her with sound and song placement on one of her early tapes. Later he produced a couple of her CDs, playing on the last. And a few years ago the pair went on the road with singer-songwriter pal Jim Crockett.

"We called it the 'River Tour' because it was all about water," said Rivers, also a songwriter and storyteller who plays guitar, autoharp and lap dulcimer.

Both musicians have been active on the region's folk scene for many years.

Rivers, who formed the original Family Reunion with Nancy Landfair and Donna Probe, has performed at everything from festivals, schools and churches, to hospitals and nursing homes, to radio and TV.

Niemisto, who's best known for his "Leelanau County" sounds with New Third Coast, also plays with ensembles including Luunappi, a children's and family music and stories duo with Norm Wheeler. A recently retired Glen Lake Community Schools music teacher, he operates the Holy Wah! Recording Studio and Brewery in Maple City.

"He's a big part of what we do," said Elizabeth Rivers, of Niemisto's harmonies and backup work on guitar, mandolin and bass.

The younger Rivers began singing with her mother when she was 7. Now she focuses on standard jazz tunes, performing with the likes of Jeff Haas, Jay Weber, Jim Damberg, The Sultans of Swing, Lori Sears and Janice Keegan. She has recorded with Weber and Doug Hansen, and has written several original songs with David Chown.

Still, Mary Anne Rivers is glad her daughter has come full circle to folk again.

"You should hear her do 'Wayfaring Stranger.' It'll just knock your socks off," she said.

Tickets for the Sleder's show are $15 in advance, at Sleder's Family Tavern and Oryana Food Cooperative, and $20 at the door. For more information, call Sleder's at 947-9213.

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