It's been quite a good spring so far when it comes to new local music, with numerous Madison-based and -born musicians unveiling their latest releases over the last month. Nearly every weekend has seen a CD release party or two, the fresh tunes oftentimes the fruits of a long winter of recording and in anticipation of a busy summer of live shows and touring. One of the latest locally connected groups to celebrate with their fans is the Joel Paterson Trio, which kept the crowd swinging in a show at the High Noon Saloon last Thursday.
The occasion was the release of Steel is Real, a new steel guitar-focused album just released by the group from Chicago, which features Paterson on guitar and pedal steel, Beau Sample on vocals and string bass, and Alex Hall on drums, with all sharing vocal duties. The Trio, as it describes itself, "is dedicated to performing many styles of traditional American music, specializing in classic blues, hot jazz, western swing, rockabilly and everything in between."
Originally from Madison, Paterson is now based in Chicago, where he has performed with many bands over the years, and is now a member of Devil in a Woodpile and The Western Elstons in addition to the Trio. All three members of that group, meanwhile, are also collaborators on Ventrella Records. Steel is Real is the Trio's second recent release on the label, also playing alongside "the fabulous" pianist Carl Sonny Leyland in their recording of A Chicago Session last December.
All three visited Madison on Thursday, May 29 to mark their new release, bringing their steel guitar sound before fans at the High Noon. Much of the show was recorded and published online. A live concert video of the Trio performing "Pedal Madness" along with several other songs follows below.
This isn't the only song from the show that can be found online. The Joel Paterson Trio also played The Cats and The Fiddle classic "Stomp Stomp" (here), the Bob Wills classic "Maiden's Prayer" (here), the Benny Goodman sextet with Charlie Christian swing classic "AC/DC Current" (here), a medley of Peter Drake's "The Alley" and "When You're Smiling" (here), and finally, the vocals-led "Next Door Neighbor" (here). Selections from Steel is Real were also played last weekend on "Entertainment," the classic jazz, swing, and blues show on WORT hosted by John Kraniak on Saturday mornings.
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