The O-town Scene

MUSIC PEOPLE Sal Salvaggio| Saturday’s show with So & So’s Rhythm ‘n’ Blues Revue at The Autumn Cafe is titled “R ‘n’ B and Beyond,” promising a wide range of musical stylings. So & So’s Rhythm ‘n’ Blues Revue con- sists of Kevin Corkery on percus- sion, Stan Fox on vocals and har- monica, Tom Ives on electric and acoustic bass, Jen Raphaelson on vocals and keyboards and Sal Salvaggio on vocals and electric/acoustic guitars. Adam Sisenwein of the O-Town Scene got a hold of Salvaggio to discuss what the group is all about, past experiences perform- ing in Oneonta and what this Sat- urday night holds. Music starts at 10 p.m. Cover is $5. THE O-TOWN SCENE: How did you all meet? SAL SALVAGGIO: We met each other socially, via day jobs and in various musical situations. Stan, Tom and Kevin got the ball rolling for the So & So’s last winter. OS: How did the idea of the So & So Band come up? SS: I think we all wanted to play the great old R&B tunes. Stan came up with the name of the group. I think it came to him in a dream ... OS: How did you end up joining the group? SS: Well, Kevin and I were in the pit orchestra for Orpheus Theatre’s production of “Rent” last Fall and talked about getting a rock band together, then we played a 1950s-style gig last December with some other people and liked playing together then. I got a call from Stan Fox last winter, who had talked to Tom and Kevin about the R&B concept. Then I called Jen, and the rest is history. OS: What type of musical experience do each of you have? SS: As individuals we have played classical, rock and jazz and have performed with and conducted concert bands, pit orchestras, choirs, operas, musicals, small combos. Also, as soloists, we have performed both locally and across the country. Contributed Sal Salvaggio of the So & So’s talked to the O-Town Scene about the group’s show Satur- day, July 23, at the Autumn Cafe. Recently, we have all been doing different things: Stan has played in a traditional blues group, Tom just finished reviving a sacred jazz- influenced work, Kevin plays in a lot of jazz groups, Jen does a solo act, and I have done a lot of classical recitals on period instruments. OS: What styles/eras of R&B does the band usually play? Early rock, Motown, funk/soul? SS: We cover most of that stuff, but also play folk and a few jazz standards. We also do an acoustic set. OS: How “beyond” R&B will this Saturday’s performance go? SS: Aside from Motown, Stax, etc., we will be doing tunes by Jimi Hendrix, Muddy Waters, Amy Winehouse, The Eagles, etc., as well as some acoustic stuff and things like “LuLu’s Back in Town.” OS: Does the band perform any original music as well as covers? SS: We are starting to introduce originals. We have been toying with tunes that we have written as individuals. We hope to have a few together for the Autumn gig. You can sit in your room and write tunes with your guitar or other electronic programs like GarageBand, etc., but it all really starts to happen when other people are in the mix. OS: How do you prepare/practice for a proj- ect like this? SS: I have been exploring not only the vari- ous harmonic and melodic possibilities in all the tunes we do but also a variety of guitar effects to try to create a sonic backdrop to it all. Sometimes it works, other times I have to rethink it. But that is the fun part. OS: What are band rehearsals like? Where do they usually take place? SS: Organic. Sometimes we do rehearsals with just the vocalists to get the harmonies down. We practice at some one’s house, usually Stan’s garage. For rehearsals It ‘s a collaborative effort. Someone brings a tune or two, we work out an arrangement and all add something. Three of us are local music teachers, and we have a doctor and local businessman ... it makes the mix interesting. OS: How long have you been involved with music in Oneonta? SS: About 20 or 30 years for some of us. We have all been around for a while, playing everything from classical music to jazz and rock. OS: What are the fondest memories you have of performing in Oneonta. SS: Playing the William Tell Overture with my trio, Puff ‘n’ Pluck (including Rene Prins and Marilyn Roper), at First Night Oneonta back in 2000. Another memorable moment would be watching the folks get up and dance to our music at So & So’s fundraising performance at Foothills last April. Now that was exciting. OS: What could people expect from the So & So’s Rhythm ‘n’ Blues Revue performance at The Autumn Cafe on Satur- day? SS: A great time with some hot vibes coming from the stage. We think we are pretty upbeat people, and that usually comes through in the performances. July 21, 2011 O-Town Scene 7

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