There’s only one thing more terrifying than songwriting, where a musician lays his/her heart open, and that’s sharing the songs in a public forum, where strangers listen to every living beat. Come to The Redhouse for Songwriter Monday Nights when singer/songwriters share their stories through original music and lend your support to keep the music alive. You are guaranteed to enjoy a night of great music! This month’s line-up includes Patti Witten, Mark Nanni, Loren Barrigar and Richard DePaolo.
Patti Witten explores matters of the heart with a poignant blend of acceptance and longing. Her poetic folk-pop has been called the love child of Aimee Mann and Chris Isaak. Rosanne Cash is a fan and wrote liner notes for Patti’s latest CD, Sycamore Tryst. Patti has won top honors in a number of regional and international competitions, from Grand Prize in the Great American Song Contest to compilations alongside the likes of Steve Earle and Tom Waits. Witten is working on a new CD with producer Rich DePaolo, to be released this fall.
Keyboardist for zydeco, soul funk band, Los Blancos, Mark Nanni’s versatility is unmatchable, his passion on the keys, undeniable. From solo gigs, to band leader, to first-call side man, Nanni has done it all. Mark is equally at home on piano, churnin and burnin Leslie organ, or any other board including one stylin’ accordion! His jazz sensibility, intense vocals, and improvisational freedom add a heapin helping of color and spice to the Los Blancos stew.
The Ithaca Journal named Rich DePaolo Best Male Singer of 2003, saying, “The Ithaca music scene’s most valuable player of 2003 shows that he’s not just a great producer and player, but also a compelling vocalist on his solo debut, For the Loss of Divinity. The list of studio and touring projects he has worked on over the last decade reads like a who’s who of central NY music and musicians. Among them are The Burns Sisters, Patti Witten, Jennie Stearns, The Samples and Sons of Pitches.
Loren Barrigar has spent years honing his skills as a guitar picker, this multi-talented musician first inspired by master guitar-picker Tommy Emmanuel, is talent no to be missed. Today his rich country baritone voice, blended with a truly dynamic fingerstyle, has led to skillful passionate guitar playing that has drawn apt comparisons to the playing of a young Chet Atkins.
