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ENLARGE
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — There’s “sugar doughnut” easy listening type of music, and then there’s “broccoli” flavored music — “brain food” — which needs more chewing, said local musician John Winn.
“The lyrics require thinking, they require a little more attention,” Winn said.
Winn and fellow troubadours Sandy Lind and Cullen Purser will each perform original songs with thoughtful lyrics Thursday night in the Roper Music Ballroom, upstairs of the Roper Music store, 136 N. Fifth St. — where every seat is close to the stage.
The minstrel troubadour tradition dates back to the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries in southern France and Italy where wandering minstrels would travel town to town singing songs of love and life, Winn said.
“Their music was known for its original poetry and lovely melodies,” Winn said.
While Winn no longer travels from town to town, he has performed from coast to coast, and all through Canada, starting in the late 1950s.
Winn was active in the early 1960s folk scene, first in Colorado where he met, befriended and performed with Judy Collins, and then in New York’s Greenwich Village where he hung out and performed with Bob Dylan, Tom Paxton and Peter, Paul and Mary. Winn is mentioned in at least four books about Dylan, one of them — “Chronicles” — written by the folk legend himself.
“Dylan was a troubadour who didn’t have a beautiful voice but he knew how to sing the poetry,” Winn said. “A lot of his poetry was influenced by early poets — particularly Italian Renaissance — really good-tasting broccoli music.”
Even pop star Sting has recently revisited the troubadour tradition, Winn said, by recording “Songs of the Labyrinth,” songs by Elizabethan era composer John Dowland. Sting accompanies the songs with a lute — a 16th century popular stringed instrument.
Winn said he, Lind and Purser are focusing on that troubadour tradition of fine poetry and melodies.
“Cullen really exemplifies carrying on the troubadour tradition,” Winn said. “He writes lyrical poetry and he has a wonderful voice.”
Purser will sing three of his original songs including a “wonderful ballad (called “Two-bedroom House”) about the trials of modern life — the continual changes in electronic gadgetry and people always wanting more,” Winn said. “It’s a great song.”
A handyman by trade, Purser will be playing his own handmade Whipple guitar during the show.
Lind will also sing three original songs — music influenced from her years living in Central America.
“Her songs have a Latin flavor,” Winn said. “She has a really wonderful, warm voice.”
“One of her finest songs is about a carnival celebration in Central America,” where entire streets are filled shoulder-to-shoulder with smiling people dressed in festival attire, Winn said.
“The song speaks to that celebration,” Winn said.
Lind’s new CD “Good-bye Ruby Lee” will be available at the concert.
Both Lind and Purser will each perform one of Winn’s songs as well. Lind will sing “Coffee Song,” and Purser will perform “Canyon Wind” a song Winn wrote while hiking Devils Canyon.
“When I heard him sing it, it was such a spectacular performance of it,” said Winn, who will play second guitar on that particular song with Purser.
“It’s exciting to hear other artists perform your work,” Winn said.
John James, owner of the small recording studio called The Shed, will help produce Thursday’s show. During much of the concert, a back screen video will display words of the songs, or photographic images illustrating where the songwriter got the inspiration for the song.
Thursday’s concert is also a CD release party for Winn’s fifth and newest CD, “The Lonely Minstrel.” The title song is about a minstrel’s observations on modern life. “The Dream” was written on the eve of the 40th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. The “Mountain Bike Song” is a humorous take on the “joys” of mountain biking, Winn said.
In addition to songs from his new CD, Winn will perform cuts from previous CDs, “Colorado Mountain Song,” “Wild Stallion,” “Canyon Wind,” and “Apple Pickin’ Time.”
A remastered release of “New York City 1964” will also be available for free with the purchase of “The Lonely Minstrel.”
One of the songs on “New York City 1964” is Ewan MacColl’s “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” a song later made famous by Roberta Flack.
Reach Sharon Sullivan at ssullivan@gjfreepress.com.
“The lyrics require thinking, they require a little more attention,” Winn said.
Winn and fellow troubadours Sandy Lind and Cullen Purser will each perform original songs with thoughtful lyrics Thursday night in the Roper Music Ballroom, upstairs of the Roper Music store, 136 N. Fifth St. — where every seat is close to the stage.
The minstrel troubadour tradition dates back to the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries in southern France and Italy where wandering minstrels would travel town to town singing songs of love and life, Winn said.
“Their music was known for its original poetry and lovely melodies,” Winn said.
While Winn no longer travels from town to town, he has performed from coast to coast, and all through Canada, starting in the late 1950s.
Winn was active in the early 1960s folk scene, first in Colorado where he met, befriended and performed with Judy Collins, and then in New York’s Greenwich Village where he hung out and performed with Bob Dylan, Tom Paxton and Peter, Paul and Mary. Winn is mentioned in at least four books about Dylan, one of them — “Chronicles” — written by the folk legend himself.
“Dylan was a troubadour who didn’t have a beautiful voice but he knew how to sing the poetry,” Winn said. “A lot of his poetry was influenced by early poets — particularly Italian Renaissance — really good-tasting broccoli music.”
Even pop star Sting has recently revisited the troubadour tradition, Winn said, by recording “Songs of the Labyrinth,” songs by Elizabethan era composer John Dowland. Sting accompanies the songs with a lute — a 16th century popular stringed instrument.
Winn said he, Lind and Purser are focusing on that troubadour tradition of fine poetry and melodies.
“Cullen really exemplifies carrying on the troubadour tradition,” Winn said. “He writes lyrical poetry and he has a wonderful voice.”
Purser will sing three of his original songs including a “wonderful ballad (called “Two-bedroom House”) about the trials of modern life — the continual changes in electronic gadgetry and people always wanting more,” Winn said. “It’s a great song.”
A handyman by trade, Purser will be playing his own handmade Whipple guitar during the show.
Lind will also sing three original songs — music influenced from her years living in Central America.
“Her songs have a Latin flavor,” Winn said. “She has a really wonderful, warm voice.”
“One of her finest songs is about a carnival celebration in Central America,” where entire streets are filled shoulder-to-shoulder with smiling people dressed in festival attire, Winn said.
“The song speaks to that celebration,” Winn said.
Lind’s new CD “Good-bye Ruby Lee” will be available at the concert.
Both Lind and Purser will each perform one of Winn’s songs as well. Lind will sing “Coffee Song,” and Purser will perform “Canyon Wind” a song Winn wrote while hiking Devils Canyon.
“When I heard him sing it, it was such a spectacular performance of it,” said Winn, who will play second guitar on that particular song with Purser.
“It’s exciting to hear other artists perform your work,” Winn said.
John James, owner of the small recording studio called The Shed, will help produce Thursday’s show. During much of the concert, a back screen video will display words of the songs, or photographic images illustrating where the songwriter got the inspiration for the song.
Thursday’s concert is also a CD release party for Winn’s fifth and newest CD, “The Lonely Minstrel.” The title song is about a minstrel’s observations on modern life. “The Dream” was written on the eve of the 40th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. The “Mountain Bike Song” is a humorous take on the “joys” of mountain biking, Winn said.
In addition to songs from his new CD, Winn will perform cuts from previous CDs, “Colorado Mountain Song,” “Wild Stallion,” “Canyon Wind,” and “Apple Pickin’ Time.”
A remastered release of “New York City 1964” will also be available for free with the purchase of “The Lonely Minstrel.”
One of the songs on “New York City 1964” is Ewan MacColl’s “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” a song later made famous by Roberta Flack.
Reach Sharon Sullivan at ssullivan@gjfreepress.com.
Go & Do
What: Concert and CD release party for John Winn, with Sandy Lind and Cullen Purser
When: Thursday, June 4, 7:30 p.m. Where: Roper Music Ballroom, 136 N. Fifth St. Cost: $8 in advance; $10 at door Info: 361-4584 |
