The final act of the 2013/14 Bragg Creek Performing Arts season will be boogie-woogie piano man, Michael Kaeshammer (pronounced case-hammer).
The eclectic singer/songwriter and piano player will be bringing his contagious performance to the Bragg Creek Centre for a May 3 evening performance that begins at 7:45 p.m.
He will be accompanied by Nick La Riviere (bass/trombone) and Roger Travassos (drums).
Folk/blues songstress and pianist, Jenie Thai, will open up for Kaeshammer.
The German-born, Canadian-raised Kaeshammer, 37, has long made his mark as a high-level performer, songwriter and instrumentalist, with seven full-length albums, a host of contributions to the works of other musicians and a tour schedule that has seen him cross Canada, the U.S. and Europe.
His fusion of influences spans the genre spectrum — from Ragtime to early jazz, blues to pop. It all works together to perhaps be best summed up as ‘boogie-woogie’.
His vocal chop and boyish charm is matched by his sophisticated style and seasoned skill level as a writer, composer, producer and pianist.
It was Kaeshammer’s father, Rolf, who introduced his five-year-old son to 12-bar blues on the piano, cultivating the budding pianist’s tastes for a bigger, bolder sound that reached beyond classical piano.
“For me, it was just the energy and in your face piano playing that attracted me,” said Kaeshammer, reminiscing on early jazz and blues influences – the overlooked side player for acts like Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong.
“I’m glad I was into the more obscure players, rather than the mainstream,” he said, citing Robert Palmer’s Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley (1974) as an example of that ‘New Orleans sound’ his own music encompasses.
The natural evolution of Kaeshammer’s music may be best attributed to growing up and realizing it’s about putting the music first.
“(The music now)…it’s less about showing off on the piano — I guess growing up had a little to do with it, too,” said the musician, who calls Vancouver Island home. “The music is an excuse to be in a room, connecting with the audience.”
Having pared down his current roster of 30 brand new originals to a decided 10 for the next album, Kaeshammer is currently deciding his production approach for his anticipated fall 2014 release.
“I’m a firm believer in recording live off the floor with the band…whatever serves the song — if the song needs horns or an elaborate arrangement or even changing musicians, which is something I didn’t used to believe in.”
Signed to eOne Music Canada, Kaeshammer will take the production reigns on his next album.
Learn more at kaeshammer.com.
Tickets to the show are available at braggcreekperformingarts.com.
