Welcome to new writer, Jacob Bases, co-founder of Triple Falls Productions and his new weekly column, Music Minute!
The Amy Manette Band, a jazz trio hailing from Rochester, performs a variety of Jazz standards and pop tunes.
The group is led by Amy Kuch, a soulful vocalist drawing influences from Etta James and Beth Hart. Pianist Ed “Doc” Thorpe brings more than 50 years of experience on the keys, having received a scholarship from Berkeley School of Music in Boston before sharing the stage with acts such as Al Jarreau, Buddy Holly, The Platters, Sherwin Linton, Sonny Bryant and Leroy Van Dyke. Percussionist Marvin Topp rounds out the group, also contributing to vocals, and has worked with the Mary Guentzel Jazz Quintet, Paddle Folk band, Echos Big Band and many others.
I reached out to Amy and asked her to share her experiences with a piece of music that has influenced her as a musician.
“Our band performs Beth Hart’s version of, ‘I’d Rather Go Blind,’ which was originally recorded by Etta James in 1967,” she said. “It is a song about heartache and pain. Unfortunately, everyone experiences heartache and pain in their lifetime, whether it is through a broken heart, loss, physical pain or disappointment.”
That is the beautiful thing about music… when it connects and reaches the very depth of your soul. It can enrich your mind and body. It can take you back to a favorite memory. It can entertain you. It can heal you.Amy Kuch
Amy went on to share about why music is important to her and how she hopes to connect to her listeners.
“I am inspired by musicians who can help their audience connect with music on so many different levels, that it can help the healing process, or just provide a moment for reflection,” she said. “That is the beautiful thing about music… when it connects and reaches the very depth of your soul. It can enrich your mind and body. It can take you back to a favorite memory. It can entertain you. It can heal you. That is my objective when I sing: to connect with each song, and put forth the energy with my vocals to touch our audience in some way.”
If you want to catch The Amy Manette band, you can find them performing at the Wow Zone in Mankato from 6-9 p.m. on Nov. 21. You can also keep up with them at www.amymanette.com.
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Music Minute is weekly column created in collaboration with Triple Falls Productions. TFP co-founder Jacob Bases will pick a southern Minnesota artist from our weekend calendar to give you a peek into the artist’s story and process before you go hear them for yourself!
