Area
Musicians Band Together
For Delta Housing Benefit CD
by Mitchell L. Hillman, Jr.
An eclectic selection of fifteen Central Pennsylvania
musicians can be found on the new compilation,
"PASSAGE", a CD tribute to DELTA Housing, Inc.
The CD is due to be released the week of December 1,
1996.
The CD celebrates the efforts of DELTA Housing, Inc., a
nonprofit charitable organization helping homeless
mothers and their children rise from homeless poverty
toward employment and housed self-sufficiency.
The DELTA Housing, Inc. program gives mothers a chance to
turn their lives around by teaching them, with an
emphasis placed on concepts such as time and money
management, decision making, and managing relationships.
They also assist with honing job, work, parenting and
homemaking skills. According to DELTA Housing, Inc.
"Young mothers come into the DELTA program out of
the emergency shelters in the Harrisburg Area. Each gets
her own subsidized apartment . . . DELTA gives her two
years to begin to learn the job and life skills necessary
to manage her personal and family life well."
The organization was founded in 1989 by James D. Ross,
Maurie Herman, Sharon Hankermeyer, Elinor Allison, and Ed
Trask. Since that time, 49 families have been served by
the program and 70% of DELTA Housing’s participants
have completed the program—all graduates are now
working and off welfare. The program started modestly
with assistance for six families. Now, seven years later,
there are sixteen families in the two year DELTA
Transitional Program and thirteen families in the
Post-Graduate Program. They soon expect to have twenty
families in the transitional program. The financial
support for DELTA Housing, Inc. is about 60% private and
40% public. Recently all the proceeds from the Strawberry
Ball went to DELTA HOUSING.
The idea for the new CD, "PASSAGE", was
developed by DELTA board member, Pam Barbush, who started
with DELTA’s fund raising committee a little over a
year ago. Barbush and musician, Forest Brown (of Blitz
Dynette), organized the project, calling upon the
resources and generosity of many talented individuals
from the Harrisburg music scene.
The CD begins with a spoken introduction by Alisha
Richards from WHTM—27 News. A broad spectrum of what
Harrisburg area music has to offer, follows.
"PASSAGE" features New World Parade,
Jellybricks, Pete Einstein, The Martini Brothers, Dan
Kibler, The Jason Timoll Band, Eaken Piano Trio, Blitz
Dynette, The Badlees, El Dorado, Bobbi Carmitchell, Rosey
& the Naturals, Jeffrey Gaines, Middleton Brothers,
and Steve Randolph.
Featuring the best variety of area talents, there is
rarely a dull moment found on "PASSAGE". After
sampling most of the tracks from the compilation, one
realizes that this is not only an album designed around
an honorable cause, but a solid collection of truly
enjoyable local music.
After the spoken introduction, the CD begins with a song,
appropriately titled, "Seeds", by New World
Parade. "Seeds" is a jazz fusion piece with
bold rhythms found somewhere between tribal beats and
streamlined funk. Jazz is highlighted on several tracks
throughout "PASSAGE", including the upbeat
fusion of Pete Einstein’s "Soul
Renovation" and Steve Randolph’s take on
"Estate (In Summer)" which ends the album with
a fine example of central PA’s burgeoning jazz
scene.
Straight ahead rock ‘n’ roll finds its home
with Rosie & the Naturals’ "My Babe,"
a smoky room, blues-ridden, roadhouse rocker. The Martini
Brothers slip their sly psychobilly sway onto this
collection with the live favorite,
"Smokin’," culled from their 7"
single, released earlier this year. Coasting on a soulful
groove, Blitz Dynette presents their version (horn
section and all) of the 1968 Sam & Dave hit "I
Thank You," which, if it isn’t better than the
original, certainly beats the lame version by ZZ Top to
smithereens.
Out of one groove and into another, Jellybricks expose
their jangling pop sensibility with sweet hooks and a
fast pace on "Growing Girl." Jellybricks have
found a sound reminiscent of tones that once propelled
the early days of 1980s college faves, R.E.M., the
Replacements and Soul Asylum. Within the parameters of
American power-pop, you can’t beat the Jellybricks
in this area. Major label locals, the Badlees, also
contributed to the pop element of the album with their
tune, "Laugh to Keep From Cryin’."
There are also moments on "PASSAGE" of warmth
and deep beauty. Among these are the deep textured soul
of the Jason Timall Band’s "Long Way Home"
and the beautiful acoustic balladry of Bobbi
Carmitchell’s "Just a Few Things." And for
classical fans, there is "Haydn Trio In C Major
Finale," performed by the Eaken Piano Trio.
For collectors of local music, there are a few area
rarities to make this disc worth owning. Major label
artist, Jeffrey Gaines, contributes the heretofore
unreleased, "What Is It" (co-written by former
band mate, Shea Quinn). Dan Kibler offers the unreleased
"Show A Little Kindness" and Blitz Dynette
offers the previously mentioned, "I Thank You."
There is something for everyone on this charity tribute.
Overall, "PASSAGE" is a hearty collection of
local nuggets that reflects, not only the talents of our
musicians, but also their compassion toward a tremendous
program like DELTA Housing.
"PASSAGE" will be available the first week of
December at a cost of $15, with all proceeds benefiting
DELTA Housing. The CD can be purchased at Encore Books
& Music in Mechanicsburg, Media Play in Harrisburg,
Music Emporium on Third Street in Harrisburg, Prodejas in
Carlisle, and at all Harris Savings Banks. All of the
aforementioned stores have agreed to retail the CD at no
charge to the charity. "PASSAGE" may also be
purchased by calling the DELTA Housing office at
717-232-2970. Be sure to watch for advertisements for
"PASSAGE" on cable ADCOM.
For additional information, please contact Pamela Barbush
at 761-4600 or Brenda Fryer at DELTA Housing, Inc.
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