Blues And Soul Move Out Of The Classroom And Onto The Stage

NEW MILFORD — Two of the instructors at the National Guitar Workshop, hosted this summer by Canterbury School in New Milford, will be taking their techniques beyond the classroom and onto the road.

The Rob Fletcher and Lou Manzi Duo will perform at Kaleidoscope, at 59 Bank Street in New Milford, on July 24 and 25, and August 1. Showtime will be at 9 pm each night. The duo will also be at the Bank Street Coffee House, 56 Bank Street in New Milford, on Friday, August 3, for a 9 pm show.

The teachers’ other group — The Fletcher & Manzi Electric Blues Band — will be playing at Clancy’s Chop House on Thursdays, July 26 and August 2 and 9. The restaurant is at 10 Railroad Street in New Milford.

Rob Fletcher and Lou Manzi play acoustic blues and rhythm and blues and have performed throughout New England and in New York City. Their original music blends blues, soul and folk styles in songs that run the gamut from deeply heartfelt to rip-roaringly funny.

Rob Fletcher is an exceptional singer, harmonica player and guitarist who has performed with Trey Anastasio of Phish, as well as blues great Ronnie Earl. He has opened for Crash Test Dummies and is a columnist for American Harmonica Newsletter. Mr Fletcher is also the author of Blues Harmonica for Beginners (Alfred Publications).

Lou Manzi has performed acoustic blues since the 1970s. He has written four fingerstyle guitar books, including Beginning Fingerstyle Guitar (Alfred Publications) and is known as a leading teacher of acoustic guitar. He has appeared as a speaker in various lecture/seminar presentations on blues music and guitar education.

As the Rob Fletcher & Lou Manzi Duo, the musicians’ goal is to put on a fun, upbeat show that combines their own originals with blues and soul standards.