MONROE - Madison-based trio Harmonious Wail will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 15 at the Monroe Arts Center, 1315 11th St.
Drawing from the influence of American jazz, swing, and gypsy music, Harmonious Wail cuts through the normal boundaries of those genres with its blend of musical arrangements and vocals, each one executed on the mandolin, guitar and upright bass.
Sims Delaney-Potthoff, Harmonious Wail's founder, leader and mandolinist, credits Jethro Burns with the band's unique style of mandolin-driven gypsy-jazz. Delaney-Potthoff studied for seven years with Burns, a jazz mandolinist, laying the foundation for Harmonious Wail's acoustic string sound. He furthered his studies at Boston's Berklee College of Music, honing his skills while immersing himself in the "gypsy" music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. Delaney-Potthoff also sings, writes and arranges for the Wail.
Vocalist Maggie Delaney-Potthoff is known for being a captivating performer. Equally at home scatting over a bebop tune, soaring on a solo, or blending with the Wail's tight vocal harmonies, she delivers both powerhouse tunes and ballads with confidence and ease. Her sensual, sinuous movements (a product of her background in dance and theatre) and her use of a cardboard box played with brushes as a drum add to the charm she exudes onstage.
Bassist Jeff Weiss brings to the Wail a technical facility on the fretboard, a sophisticated and versatile style, and an ability to create musical ambiance and rapport. Weiss studied under Richard Davis for five years and was principle bassist for UW-Madison's Symphony Orchestra.
Harmonious Wail appears regularly on National Public Radio, as well as on the stages of performing arts centers, festivals and clubs around the world. As winners of multiple Madison Area Music Awards, including Best Jazz CD, Best Ensemble Vocalists of the Year, Favorite Jazz Band, Best World Artist, Best World Song and Best Instrumentalist, they continue to wow their fans during their more than 20-year history. The website JazzReview.com comments, "...no one does it any better than Harmonious Wail."
Along with a rigorous touring schedule, Sims and Maggie Delaney-Potthoff have consecutively organized and hosted the Midwest Gypsy Swing Fest for the past 12 years. The festival held on a weekend each September in rural Fitchburg, honors the gypsy swing style of jazz popularized by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grapelli.
Reserved seat tickets for Harmonious Wail are $25, $20 and $10 for students 18 years of age and under. Tickets may be purchased in person at the box office, 1315 11th St.; by calling the Monroe Arts Center at 608-325-5700 or 888-596-1249; or at www.monroeartscenter.com.
This event has been underwritten by Corporate Underwriter Colony Brands, Inc., and Media Underwriters Monroe Publishing, LLC, and Big Radio. Additional underwriting for this presentation has been provided by Kevin and Chris Callahan; Jan and Jackie Erlandson; Dave and Janeen Babler; Patt Carter/Hedeman Real Estate; and Deb Thompson.
Drawing from the influence of American jazz, swing, and gypsy music, Harmonious Wail cuts through the normal boundaries of those genres with its blend of musical arrangements and vocals, each one executed on the mandolin, guitar and upright bass.
Sims Delaney-Potthoff, Harmonious Wail's founder, leader and mandolinist, credits Jethro Burns with the band's unique style of mandolin-driven gypsy-jazz. Delaney-Potthoff studied for seven years with Burns, a jazz mandolinist, laying the foundation for Harmonious Wail's acoustic string sound. He furthered his studies at Boston's Berklee College of Music, honing his skills while immersing himself in the "gypsy" music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. Delaney-Potthoff also sings, writes and arranges for the Wail.
Vocalist Maggie Delaney-Potthoff is known for being a captivating performer. Equally at home scatting over a bebop tune, soaring on a solo, or blending with the Wail's tight vocal harmonies, she delivers both powerhouse tunes and ballads with confidence and ease. Her sensual, sinuous movements (a product of her background in dance and theatre) and her use of a cardboard box played with brushes as a drum add to the charm she exudes onstage.
Bassist Jeff Weiss brings to the Wail a technical facility on the fretboard, a sophisticated and versatile style, and an ability to create musical ambiance and rapport. Weiss studied under Richard Davis for five years and was principle bassist for UW-Madison's Symphony Orchestra.
Harmonious Wail appears regularly on National Public Radio, as well as on the stages of performing arts centers, festivals and clubs around the world. As winners of multiple Madison Area Music Awards, including Best Jazz CD, Best Ensemble Vocalists of the Year, Favorite Jazz Band, Best World Artist, Best World Song and Best Instrumentalist, they continue to wow their fans during their more than 20-year history. The website JazzReview.com comments, "...no one does it any better than Harmonious Wail."
Along with a rigorous touring schedule, Sims and Maggie Delaney-Potthoff have consecutively organized and hosted the Midwest Gypsy Swing Fest for the past 12 years. The festival held on a weekend each September in rural Fitchburg, honors the gypsy swing style of jazz popularized by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grapelli.
Reserved seat tickets for Harmonious Wail are $25, $20 and $10 for students 18 years of age and under. Tickets may be purchased in person at the box office, 1315 11th St.; by calling the Monroe Arts Center at 608-325-5700 or 888-596-1249; or at www.monroeartscenter.com.
This event has been underwritten by Corporate Underwriter Colony Brands, Inc., and Media Underwriters Monroe Publishing, LLC, and Big Radio. Additional underwriting for this presentation has been provided by Kevin and Chris Callahan; Jan and Jackie Erlandson; Dave and Janeen Babler; Patt Carter/Hedeman Real Estate; and Deb Thompson.