Blues prodigy performs his kind of music at high school

David Jacobs-Strain

Sisters High School auditorium reverbrated with the haunting tones of slide guitar and the anguished cries of the Delta blues on Thursday, September 6, as 18-year-old David Jacobs-Strain launched this year's Americana Project.

During an assembly that kicked off the program's second year, he delighted his listeners with his soulful voice and skillful picking.

"I didn't think high school kids liked country blues these days," commented Jacobs-Strain after his first song elicited enthusiastic applause. "I think this is the first time I've performed for an audience younger than me!"

During one particularly energetic number, he broke a guitar string. Without missing a beat, the teenager entertained his audience with an acapella rendition of "Poor Black Mattie" while replacing the string.

"One of the things that makes me weird," he informed the students, "is that I actually have acryllic nails on three of my fingers to pick with.

"But the lady who did my nails last week didn't do a very good job, and they just keep breaking off while I'm playing. That feels really strange."

Jacobs-Strain, who graduated from high school in Eugene last year, has been playing the guitar since he was eight.

He chose to pursue the blues when the musical preferences of his generation ran more to punk and rock.

"I've always liked blues music," explained Jacobs-Strain. "The music is intense, and dark, and emotional -- I love the way it makes me feel when I'm playing."

Jacobs-Strain was influenced in his younger days by blues artists such as Walker T. Ryan and Taj Mahal.

One of his first stage performances was at the 1994 Oregon State Fair, and he has since played at blues and folk festivals up and down the West Coast.

Two CDs of his solo acoustic performances are currently available -- "Skin and Bones" and "Longest Road I Know."

"My goals are to continue performing and learning as much as I can," said Jacobs-Strain.

His performance was followed by an American Project video, created by student Kelly Johnson. The video captured the highlights of last year's class, with clips of comments and performances by previous students.

After a short break, the audience enjoyed a mini-concert by folk artist, Don Conoscenti. The multi-talented musician worked with Americana students last winter and performed several times at the high school.

Project Director Brad Tisdel's goal in hosting the Americana Project assembly was to encourage students to keep learning and developing their skill in the area of American roots music.

"This Americana Project isn't happening anywhere else in this country," Tisdel informed the students. "You don't know how fortunate you are."

The Americana Project was the brainstorm of the Sisters Folk Festival Committee.

With the cooperation of the Sisters School District, the Americana Project has taught interested students to understand the cultural and historical significance of roots music.

Under Jody Henderson's tutelage, students have also had the opportunity to write, record, and perform their own songs.

The course is being offered all three trimesters this year.

For more information about The Americana Project, contact Brad Tisdel at: www.contemplato.com.

For more information about David Jacobs-Strain, visit his website at: www.efn.org/~dj_s.