Karen Somerville returns to the Mainstay in Rock Hall, MD on Saturday May 24 at 8:00 pm for an evening of jazz, blues, gospel and more with friends old and new. Admission is $20.
“The Many Faces of Karen Somerville” are on display as she sings a bit of jazz, a bit of the blues, a bit of R&B, and a bit of gospel – all with the passion and grace that have made her a favorite with Mainstay audiences.
She will be joined by Stef Scaggiari on piano, Tom Anthony on bass, Ray Anthony on drums and her special guest Seth Kibel, the winner of 25 Washington Area Music Awards (Wammies), including “Best World Music Instrumentalist” (2003-11) and “Best Jazz Instrumentalist” (2005, 2007-8, 2011-13) on woodwinds. Also performing are Lester Barrett, Jr. and Jerome McKinney who, along with Karen, form the trio Sombarkin.
This will be an evening with an abundance of styles and style. When Karen Somerville sings, she inhabits the music, making each style, each song,
each nuance her own. Mainstay founder, Tom McHugh describes Somerville as “a jazz singer, par excellence,” and says that, “she is a master of so many styles, we are delighted to give her the Mainstay stage to display ‘the many faces of Karen’.”
Somerville is a favorite of regional audiences for her jazz vocals that are by turns sweet, sassy and sultry. She has received high praise for her gospel performances with Sombarkin’ and the New Gospelites and for her stunning performance as Bob Kaufman’s muse in Robert Earl Price’s play “The Golden Sardine.”
Somerville was born the second oldest of four children in rural Kent County, MD. She speaks proudly of the advantages of being reared in a small town; of close knit families, and everyone looking out for the other, of church services filled with praise.
Her love for music began at home, and was cultivated in church. She says, “Both of my parents played instruments and sang; that was how we entertained each other at home. It was our favorite pastime. My Pop Pop Emory played the accordion and harmonica though he called it a mouth-harp. He was awesome. He would sing and play for us, and make the sound of the train whistle blowing, the dogs barking, and would be telling a story all at the same time. That was my first experience with the sound of the Blues.”
“When I was barely in first grade, my Mom taught us to sing harmony; I remember it like yesterday. She would take us with her when she was asked to sing in churches around the County. My sister Cathy and brother Alton Jr. (Gary wasn’t born yet) and I would sing background for her as she played piano. I don’t know how we had the nerve, except she was so confident that we could do it well.”
Somerville’s recordings include “Love Cures” and “The New Gospelites, Every Day Is Sunday.” She is also a local historian who is the founder of the African American Schoolhouse Museum.
Special guest Seth Kibel is one of the Mid-Atlantic’s premier woodwind specialists, working with some of the best bands in jazz, swing, and more on saxophone, clarinet, and flute. He has made a name for himself in the Washington/Baltimore region, and beyond as featured performer with The Alexandria Kleztet, Bay Jazz Project, Music Pilgrim Trio, The Natty Beaux, and more and is the winner of 25 Washington Area Music Awards (Wammies), including “Best World Music Instrumentalist” (2003-11) and “Best Jazz Instrumentalist” (2005, 2007-8, 2011-13).
The Mainstay (Home of Musical Magic) is the friendly informal storefront performing arts center on Rock Hall’s old time Main Street. For information and reservations call the Mainstay at 410-639-9133. More information is also available at the Mainstay’s website https://www.mainstayrockhall.org.
Write a Letter to the Editor on this Article
We encourage readers to offer their point of view on this article by submitting the following form. Editing is sometimes necessary and is done at the discretion of the editorial staff.