Ollabelle Brings Roots Music to MASS MoCA's Alt Cabaret
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| Ollabelle, Photo Courtesy of MASS MoCA |
This multi-talented, democratic collective - who takes its name from North Carolina traditional singer Ola Belle Reed shares vocal and songwriting duties and gains strength from its members' shared sense of mission, as well as their diverse musical and personal backgrounds. The group originally grew out of an informal assemblage of singers and players who came together to perform traditional gospel songs at a weekly jam at the East Village bar 9C. That event became a welcome source of optimism and support amidst the darkness that hung over downtown Manhattan in the months following September 11, 2001.
All five Ollabelle members had come from varied backgrounds and geographical locations to make music in New York City, and had crossed paths or worked together in various combinations. Woodstock, NY-bred Amy Helm had a long history singing in blues combos. Byron Isaacs had worked as a bassist with a variety of artists while pursuing his own songwriting efforts. Tony Leone had an extensive resume as a jazz drummer. Fiona McBain had moved to New York from Sydney, Australia and had begun to win attention as a solo singer/songwriter. Canadian-born Glenn Patscha had long been active in the New Orleans music scene.
They recorded their debut album on spec at a local studio, and it won attention of renowned artist/producer T-Bone Burnett, the man behind the O' Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack. Burnett released Ollabelle on his Sony-distributed DMZ label. Burnett's involvement just made it more of a fairy tale, says Patscha. "O' Brother was a tremendous inspiration for this whole thing getting started at 9C. There was a real roots music movement in the East Village right then, and the interest in O' Brother really bolstered our interest in this music, and helped build us an audience that was excited to hear it."
T-Bone Burnett explains what drew him to the band: "Ollabelle came together because of these musicians' love of this music, without thought of success or career or any of the other trappings of the modern professional music business. It has great value to our culture, adding new life to a tradition that is an important part of who we are. But mostly, they sound great. They sing great and they play great, and they are wonderful people."
The debut disc won massive critical acclaim, as did tours with Diana Krall, Ryan Adams and Buddy Miller. Ollabelle also won new fans via a high-profile slot on the Burnett-organized Great High Mountain Tour, which saw Ollabelle share stages with such prestigious roots acts as Alison Krauss and Union Station, Ralph Stanley, and Norman and Nancy Blake.
The band continues to refine its rich, cross-referential take on American roots music. "We'll take a song that was done by the Carter Family, or Ola Belle Reed, do a reverse spin on it, and think,‘How would The Staple Singers treat this? How would Blind Willie Johnson treat this?'Or take a song by The Staple Singers and try to imagine it performed by Ralph Stanley," explains Patscha. "The band is still constantly changing, and we never play the songs the same way twice. We try our damndest to be honest with each other and to the music, and I like to think that people can hear that. We're still basically a group of friends who love to play music together. At the end of the day, the greatest reward for a musician is the feeling that people are truly listening, and returning a feeling to complete the cycle. What a gift it is that we get to experience that feeling through this band."
MASS MoCA's year round Alt Cabaret series features the best music, dance, theater and more from emerging artists in the cozy Club B-10. Lickety Split serves dinner and snacks as well as Herrell's Ice Cream. A full bar is available as well.
Tickets for Ollabelle are $14 in advance/ $18 day of show. MASS MoCA members receive a 10% discount. Tickets are available through the MASS MoCA Box Office located off Marshall Street in North Adams, open from 11 A.M. until 5 P.M., closed Tuesdays. Tickets can also be charged by phone by calling 413-662-2111 during Box Office hours or purchased on line at www.massmoca.org
