Blues, boogie-woogie masters play Buskirk

Big Joe Duskin, Bob Seeley and Craig Brenner bring their distinct piano styles to Bloomington this Sunday in "An Afternoon of Blues and Boogie-Woogie Piano," at the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre. Doors open at 1:30 p.m., with a lecture at 2 p.m., and the music starting at 3 p.m. \nPresented by Jazz from Bloomington, tickets for the show are $11 in advance, or $7 for Jazz from Bloomington members. They can also be bought at the door for $14.\nThe show presents a style of music seldom heard around Bloomington.\n"I expect that the audience will have a great time listening to three regional masters of a great American musical art form, blues and boogie-woogie piano," said David Miller, a member of Jazz from Bloomington and creator of the Jazz Fables series at Bear's Place.\nComing from Detroit, Seeley also said that boogie-woogie is a great art form.\n"It is a dynamic, exciting form of blues, or, as I like to say, 'happy blues,'" Seeley said. "Blues is timeless, and much of American music has its foundation in blues."\nBrenner, who lives in Bloomington and studied at IU in the late seventies, is also excited about the show, particularly about playing with Duskin and Seeley.\n"I expect people will hear music that they don't get a chance to hear everyday, especially as played by the two guest artists," Brenner said. \nBrenner, who began playing piano as a child, has studied different instruments and musical styles.\nBut he will be more focused on boogie-woogie in his piano playing Sunday.\n"I like the range of the instrument -- from the lowest rumbling bass notes to the highest notes at the top of the keyboard," Brenner said.\nThe guest musicians have the reputation as being blues masters. Duskin will drive from Cincinnati to appear in the show.\n"Big Joe Duskin and Bob Seeley are acclaimed masters of this art form who have both played all over this country and Europe," Miller said. "This should be a wonderful chance to hear this classic American music at its finest."\nSeeley plans on trying to give more exposure to the music in his pre-concert lecture. He will talk about the origins of boogie, how to play it, what's happening with it in today's world, and other players both in the United States and in Europe.\nBrenner was one of the initiators of this Sunday's jazz program. He spoke with Jazz from Bloomington and IU music professor Pat Harbison about bringing both artists to the show.\n"Pat and I both knew we needed to have Joe Duskin here." Brenner said. "I suggested Bob Seeley. You've got to see him to believe him."\nBoth Harbison and Brenner were instrumental in presenting the idea of the show.\n"He had the same idea that it is important to expose younger musicians to this kind of blues and boogie-woogie music." Brenner said. "It's an important part of the tradition of American music and has been part of the development of not only jazz and blues but also rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and even some of the more contemporary styles in which rhythm plays a large part."\nSeeley also feels that the rhythm of the music is something people enjoy and need to experience.\n"Peace can feel the boogie beat," said Seeley. "It can make people happy"