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Monday, Nov. 18
The Indiana Daily Student

arts

Music groups prove ‘Tried and True’

Bloomington Parks and Recreation closed out the summer season on Sunday with its “Tried and True” concert featuring local groups such as Gordon Bonham Duet, The Dynamics and Craig and the Crawdads at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.

“The season has been great,” said Kristy LaVert, Bloomington Parks and Recreation Program and Facility coordinator. “We get a lot of community support.”

The opening act, Gordon Bonham Duet, made up of Gordon Bonham and Jim Richter, assured the audience it was okay for kids to play and dance during their simple acoustic performance.

“They are bands that have been a part of our program for years and have proved to be quite popular with the crowd,” LaVert said.

The three groups have grown roots and a loyal following in the Bloomington area.
The Bonham Duet plays Sunday shows at the Crazy Horse.

Craig Brenner of Craig and the Crawdads was dubbed the “fine and funky” pianist by “Living Blues Magazine.”

He was also voted “Best Musician” in Bloomington by the Bloomington Independent, and the Crawdads were voted “Best Band.”

The Dynamics also reside in the area, playing the occasional college party.

“A year hasn’t passed that we haven’t played,” Dynamics saxophonist Dennis Rhodes said. “We all have been playing this for a while.”

The soul and R&B group has been playing for 20 years and has won the National W.C. Handy Blues contest in Memphis, Tenn. Some of the members hail from New Orleans,
and the southern sound is appealing to the residents.

“It brings a different flavor from our area down south,” Vaughn Mitchell, bass player for The Dynamics, said. “All seem to enjoy the groove.”

Whether the crowd was attracted to the blues sounds of Gordon Bonham, the soul of The Dynamics or jazz piano of Craig and the Crawdads, local resident Josh Davis said he was impressed with the talent of his fellow locals.

“It’s great to have this caliber of performances, with this sort of variety, performing in one place,” he said. “It’s creating art.”

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