14 B Times Herald-Record Friday, February 2, 2007 Times Herald-Record Friday, February 2, 2007 15 B

AMY HELM, DONALD ( FAGEN, PHOEBE SNOW and the intercon nectedness of it all (

THE CONNECTORS Ramble sessions, often also with n Donald Fagen, Phoebe Snow, YOU MIGHT THINK THAT DONALD FAGEN OF Fagen. But at one of those recent sessions, Amy Helm and Olabelle appear Steely Dan, Phoebe Snow of “Poetry Man” fame and AMY HELM LEVON HELM Levon chose the old Al Green clas- at the Bearsville Theater, Bears- ville, tonight and tomorrow Levon Helm’s daughter, Amy Helm, wouldn’t have a care sic “Take Me to the River,” which she hadn’t rehearsed. night. Both shows are sold out. in the world about their shows together this weekend. After ace guitarist Jimmy Vivino stepped up to the microphone and These folks are pros. example: Said Snow: sang the first verse, Amy looked Fagen has been crafting smart, sassy One night, Buddy Miles, who played “Honey, you shouldn’t sing backup around, decided she “sort of” knew tunes like “Rikki Don’t Lose That Num- drums and sang with Jimi Hendrix, for anyone.” the tune and gave it a shot. ber” and “Cousin Dupree” for nearly 40 called her on stage to jam. After every As for Amy? Her dad followed her – in that years. Snow has not only wowed audi- verse, he’d look at her and yell, “Take Well, she’s a fan of Snow’s. earthen voice heard on Band tunes ences with her rich and supple singing it.” But before Snow could sing, Miles “She could walk onstage, hum like “The Night They Drove Old Dixie since the ’70s, she teamed up with would launch into another verse. something and blow the roof off the Down” and “The Weight.” Fagen’s Rock and Soul Revue in the “I would like to do at least a teeny place,” she says about Snow. “Very And? ’90s. Helm has music bit of planning for Bearsville,” she adds, few people in the world have that “He totally smoked me,” she says. BY STEVE in her blood. She grew sounding like “a teeny bit” really means much talent.” “Totally.” up singing with both she’d like to know the whole set list. One person who does, they both ISRAEL Still, both Helm and Snow figure her dad, Levon, of the As for Helm, whose band Olabelle say, is Levon. He’s such an inspiration that if they’re going to take risks this Band, and her stepdad, Fagen. She still provides back up this weekend? How to both of them, his appearance could weekend, they might as well take performs with them. could she possibly say, “I hate jam- ease those jam jitters. them with each other – and with But ask Snow and Helm about the ming?” “No one sings like him,” says Amy. the man who might sit in with them, loosey-goosey feel of the shows at the After all, her stepdad, Fagen, would “It was fun getting smoked by a leg- Levon. Bearsville Theater, which only came to- sit her down at the family piano and end.” Snow recalls the one time they all gether a few weeks ago and didn’t have they’d fool around with Ray Charles “He is,” sums up Snow, “a genius.” a definite set list last week. They both tunes. Levon would teach her old sang together – at one of Levon’s sound downright insecure. Southern hymns at his Woodstock gigs at the Bearsville Theater. Amy, Steve Israel is a reporter for the Times “Jamming is always such a crap- home – hymns she still sings at Levon’s long a fan of Snow’s, told her, “I’ll Herald-Record. Reach him at sisrael@th- shoot,” says Snow. Then she gives this informal-as-your-living-room Midnight sing back up.” record.com. Record file photos THE CONNECTED LIBBY TITUS DONALD FAGEN JIMMY STURR WILLIE NELSON PETER GABRIEL LARRY CAMPBELL ELVIS COSTELLO PERFORMING HERE PERFORMING

n Mother of Amy Helm n Stepfather of Amy Helm n Played with Willie Nelson in n Played with Jimmy Sturr in n Plays with Tony Levin n Plays at Midnight Rambles n Plays at Levon Helm’s n Wife of Donald Fagen n Husband of Libby Titus Poughkeepsie, Farm Aid Poughkeepsie, Farm Aid n Played with Bob Dylan but Midnight Rambles n Ex-girlfriend of Dr. John n Plays at Levon Helm’s Midnight Rambles n Plays with Garth Hudson of the Band n Plays with Holmes Brothers mentioning it is like saying n Recorded with Allen n Performing tonight and tomorrow at n Playing at Poughkeepsie Elks Club n Toured with Dylan, played “Robbie Robertson” to Levon Toussaint LIVES LOCALLY LIVES Bearsville Theater March 24 and at Kutsher’s April 14-15 Dutchess Stadium with him n Recorded with Holmes Brothers DR. JOHN GARTH HUDSON HOLMES BROTHERS TONY LEVIN PHOEBE SNOW BOB DYLAN ALLEN TOUSSAINT RAMBLE MEMBER RAMBLE KEY: n Dated Libby Titus n Member of the Band with n Recorded with Amy and Levon Helm, Phoebe Snow, Peter n Plays at Levon Helm’s n Sings with Amy Helm, n Wrote, sang and recorded n Plays with Elvis Costello, Dr. n Plays with Allen Toussaint Levon Helm Gabriel, Allen Toussaint and Willie Nelson Midnight Rambles Donald Fagen and Holmes with Levon Helm John, Holmes Brothers and n Plays at Levon Helm’s n Played with Jimmy Sturr at n Play at Levon Helm’s Midnight Rambles n Plays with Peter Gabriel Brothers n Toured with Willie Nelson, Amy Helm Midnight Rambles “Star-Spangled Spectacular” n Performing tonight at the Towne Crier (see page 16) n Performing tonight and to- played Dutchess Stadium n Plays at Midnight Rambles morrow at Bearsville Theater with him Photos provided