Arts/ Music

Take a look at Service Rendered's "Arts So Wonderful" mural projects in downtown Burlington. This video documents the behind the scenes action of the planning that goes into these murals. The murals shown in this program exist behind Handy's Service Center and at Smalley Park, both located in Burlington.

Hosts from Service Rendered Inc. Charlene Fu, Youth Board President, and Bruce Wilson, Executive Director, are joined by guests Charles Handy, President of Handy Enterprises, and Olivia Miller, Volunteer Coordinator with the City of Winooski.

Concert of John Lackard and the Left Eye Jump Band. from John Lackard's biography: "A sound and style that could easily have come from Memphis or Chicago is perhaps what makes John Lackard and his Green Mountain origin so unique. Not just another trip on the Blues Bandwagon” that is so ever popular today. This is the real thing. His apparent connection and understanding began when his father brought the Boogie Woogie piano and records into the household, and started a career that has lasted over a third of a century. John’s first real musical instrument at the age of five was a Hohner harmonica. Being only eight when he went to work selling greeting cards for points toward a plastic electric guitar. It was followed by a Silvertone “Stella” 12 string acoustic guitar when he was nine. During this time, John moved next door to Buddy Truax, jazz guitarist of “Buddy Truax And The Playboys”. This early influence was enhanced by Buddy’s sons who played bass and drums, providing a rhythm section to jam with in addition to Buddy’s informal “lessons”. By age fifteen he was ready for his first professional stage appearance. Touring New York and New England for a few years led to a stint with Sam the Sham, sit-ins with James Cotton, Jimmy Rogers and Bob Margolin, working with Cotton’s drummer as Ken Johnson and Co., in addition to opening shows for Jimmy and James as well as countless others. After which Jimmy declared “That boy kicks the hell out of the Blues!” James simply stated “The Blues is in Vermont”. Currently in process of recording a CD, one of the tracks titled “I Wanna Go Back” can be heard on the compilation album “Best of The Green Mountain Blues Vol. 1”. The future promises a continued extensive touring schedule that previously prompted a radio D.J. to proclaim the John Lackard Blues Band “The Hardest Working Blues Band in New England”."

Singing jazz, blues, and funk has been a central part of Jenni Johnson's life since her teenage days in New York City where she was born and raised. While finishing her undergraduate degree, Jenni partially financed her education singing in various settings including local clubs, private parties, and college campus events.

Soon after returning to Burlington, Vermont, Jenni Johnson and Friends and Jenni and the Jazz Junketeers were launched, allowing her to render jazz and blues standards by favorite artists such as Dinah, Billie, Bessie, Etta, Nat, and some swing and R&B tunes.

Since the debut, she has performed with numerous well-known locals, national musicians from New Orleans, as well as international jazz musicians from Yaroslavl and Rostov, Russia and Paris, France.

The diverse venues range from wedding receptions, local clubs and school concerts to major community festivals and special events such as the Burlington Blues Festival in 2005 sponsored by WCAX. Jenni is also a member of New England States touring programs and the Vermont Arts Council.

Your audience will be mesmerized by her versatile renditions. She'll have them smiling while their feet dance happily to the beat.

- From the bio of Jenni Johnson, found at www.jennijohnson.net/jenni