Joni Tribute, Germantown, MD, May 19

Posted May 11, 2011

Local folk artists will band together in Germantown for a musical tribute to one of music’s most famous singer-songwriters.

Grace Griffith with Zan McLeod, Marcy Marxer and Tina Chancey, Sol & Funk Root, Cary Creed, and The Kennedys will interpret the work of Joni Mitchell during a concert Thursday, May 19, at BlackRock Center for the Arts.

Patch caught up with the Thursday’s performers ahead of the concert. They said they don’t intend to copy Mitchell’s sound, but plan to pay homage to her work, instead. Let’s meet a few of the musicians:

Celtic singer Grace Griffith has a reputation for melding musical genres when reinterpreting songs, though she also creates original work. Griffith, who is known for her 2003 Blix Street Records release, “Sands of Time,” has won numerous WAMMIE (Washington Area Music Association) awards for Best Album, Best Artist, Best Folk Album and Best Folk Artist.

At BlackRock, Griffith will perform with Zan McLeod, a multi-instrumentalist with musical roots in Appalachian folk and electric blues-rock. During the 1990s, McLeod released solo album “Highland Soul,” the success of which inspired him to enroll at the Omega Studios’ School of Applied Recording Arts and Sciences in Rockville. He eventually established Tonehouse Recording.

Also in the lineup is Marcy Marxer, whose collaboration with Cathy Fink earned Grammy wins for Best Musical Album For Children: “cELLAbration: A Tribute to Ella Jenkins” in 2004, and “Bon Appétit!” in 2003, according to the Grammy’s online database. Marxer will perform with Tina Chancey at BlackRock.

Sol & Funk Root is a guitar-bass-drum trio that blends rock, funk, blues and soul. Although the band’s music is rooted in blues, Sol dabbles with reggae, jazz, Latin, African music and R&B.

Pianist and guitarist Carey Creed taps her background in rock, Celtic music and gospel music. She named Stevie Wonder, Cheryl Wheeler and, of course, Joni Mitchell, as influences. She said Mitchell’s music inspired her to compose her own songs about social justice and love. Creed has won several vocalist WAMMIEs.

Husband-and-wife team Pete and Maura Kennedy are the two halves that make up The Kennedys --- with Maura on vocals and rhythm guitar, and Pete playing multiple instruments. The couple said they met in Austin, Texas, and had a first date at Buddy Holly’s grave, which according to their online bio, puts their relationship somewhere “between fate and a fairytale.”

If you go

WHAT: A musical tribute to Joni Mitchell, featuring Grace Griffith with Zan McLeod, Marcy Marxer and Tina Chancey, Sol & Funk Root, Cary Creed, and The Kennedys.
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 19
WHERE: BlackRock Center for the Arts, Germantown
COST: Tickets cost $28 and are available online, at the theater’s box office, or by calling 240-912-1058.