'Last Saturday at the Knead' features musical talents of Andre Floyd, David Griffith
Renowned blues guitarist Andre Floyd and longtime Flathead Valley musician David Griffith are combining their talents for a performance Saturday, Jan. 29, at the Knead Cafe in Kalispell.
Floyd will be hosting a new four-part music/dinner show series called "Last Saturday at The Knead Cafe." The first show will feature the multi-instrumental talent of David Griffith, who plays mandolin, dobro, keyboards and saxophone.
Andre Floyd, well-known regionally for his band, Mood Iguana, has played with such blues greats as Corky Seigel, Taj Mahal, Edgar Winter and The Fabulous Thunderbirds while working in Chicago in the 1980s and early '90s.
Fellow Mood Iguana band member Griffith is also an original member of Rob Quist's Great Northern Band. He is currently involved with Quist and Jack Gladstone's "Odyssey West" show which documents the Lewis and Clark expedition in song and story. He's toured across the country with the show and is currently performing weekly with them at Big Sky Resort. Griffith also manages his own Snoring Hound studio from his home in Somers, where he and Floyd have been busy collaborating on a new collection of original music.
"We play progressive, original blues," said Floyd in a recent interview. "Everything from Muddy Waters to Cat Stevens."
Floyd credits Griffith's extensive and diverse musical repertoire as key to the duo's freestyle approach to the blues.
The two forged their friendship in 1999 when they both appeared for a benefit in Missoula.
"I was looking for a project at the time," said Griffith. "Andre was appearing solo and I liked what I heard, so I gave him a call."
To their advantage Floyd had a recording label and a studio and their creative synergy took root along with their friendship.
In the summer of 2000, through a program sponsored by the Montana Arts Council, Floyd and Griffith traveled throughout eastern Montana to schools to lecture on the migration and history of the blues.
"It was a terrific experience," Griffith said. "We would teach during the days to a young audience that truly appreciated us coming to their classroom, and in the evening we'd play the blues for the community."
At the heart of their music is Floyd's gift for lyrics and Griffith's gift for intrumentation. With 15 tracks laid down to date, they hope to have a new CD out by late summer. Floyd and Griffith agree they are driven by their music and art, and are heading professionally into the new year with a "fire in the belly."
Dinner for "Last Saturday at the Knead" takes a Mediterranean flavor with a five course menu featuring roast stuffed pork loin, Greek dolmas, French saffron mussel soup and scallop salad from the coastal towns of Croatia.
Tickets are $30 in advance and $40 the day of the show for dinner and the two-hour concert. Seating is limited to 70. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. and the concert begins at 7 p.m. Call the Knead Cafe at 755-7510 for details.
SIDEBAR
You can get a taste of Floyd and Griffith's music next Tuesday on the Montana Radio Cafe, KXZI, 101.9 on your radio dial. Station owner Scott Johnston will host a live program with the duo playing a few of their original tunes beginning at 11 a.m.