Dan Chouinard, our SJA Concert Series Host, co-director and pianist, loves a great singer-songwriter and is one who first introduced Ann Reed to St. Joan's to perform awhile back. "This is a place that's a magnet for good musicians," he said introducing Reed to the stage for her third headlining SJA concert Where the Earth Is Round (the same title of her current CD) Sunday evening 4/11 to a 300 capacity audience.

So wonderful to have Reed back, she performed nine songs from her current album release of introspective reflections like self examination in mid-life and gratitude. Tonight she brought along her long time bass player Joan Griffith, Chouinard on keyboard and accordion, new drummer Corey Lessard and guest artist singer Leslie Ball.

Reed's spirited country tinged opener "Not Some Far-Away Place" suffered from over miked musicians drowning out this singer but things readily balanced in place by her second number, the eponymous title of the concert. This loving homage to souls departed and the value of our earth and recognizing that the two intertwine made for some stirring ruminations.

Reed recalled fond memories of her appearances on Minnesota Public Radio's morning show with Dale Connelly and Jim Ed Poole and addictively tuning in each day, too. Recounting quirky moments like the playing of an Ethel Merman song preceded by its friendly warning, the Merman alert. Once, Jim indicated that Reed had died. Unnerved, Ann responded when hearing of it, "Oh, he'll have a lot of fun back pedaling this one." Listening to this beloved program, whether you were driving to work or just brewing your coffee at home, became the AM elixir of routines for many a Minnesotan. Alas, eventually to be gone, Reed lamented this fate with her sublime song "Coffee Tasted Better When You Were Here." Oh, the sweet line "Only thing added is a little tear" now in that coffee.

Going back, Reed offered her 1993 Minnesotan valentine "Hole In the Day" and dissected the meaning of folk songs. "It sounds happy but its not. You'll see just how depressing these songs are," she explained as she strummed the strains of "You Are My Sunshine." Abandonment issues and revenge? Who knew? Great fun!

Reed followed with the soothing "My Grateful Heart" and put down her 12 string for a tad and beautifully crooned Patsy Cline's standard "Crazy" with Chouinard tinkling out a superb piano accompaniment as well as a brief sing along of "Que Sera."

Getting guest artist Leslie Ball to vocally accompany her, Reed turned up the twang for her pronto pup loving ode to Minnesota (the dark side of the Fare), "My Minnesota State Fair." She switched from her 12 string, cradling a daisy shaped bright pink guitar complete with a green cord, natch the stem, for the playful first act closer "Pink Guitar," a fast, just shy of cow punk like romp, quite unlike Ann's familiar folk style about keeping young at heart right into your elder years.

Returning from intermission, Reed picked up a sparkling rose colored electric guitar and took a journey down memory lane with one of her first compositions, "Jaynie" and the 1991 fan favorite "Road of the Heart." Chatting about various types of audiences, Reed recalled watching the great mime Marcel Marceau at the Pantages Theater and one couple with slurpies in hand sitting right behind her after a few minutes replied quite audibly, "Well, Is he gonna say something?" Looking out into the crowd this evening, Reed replied, "You people are a good audience." Playing her acoustic 12 string, Reed paid tribute to some of the great women who continue to inspire her, with "Heroes," her 1993 ballad.

With her bass player, Griffith, Reed delivered the poetic and tranquil "Loons On Calhoun" and then adding Chouinard on accordion and Ball for vocal harmony backup, delivered a warmly received Peter, Paul and Mary cover of "Blowin' In the Wind." Travers, who recently died, was one of Reed's biggest musical influences. Unlike Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell and the many others of the 1960s with higher singing registers, it was Travers with her distinctively low singing voice that related to the alto singing Reed the most: "Yup, yup yup. Come on in," responded Reed in relief when she first heard Travers.

After performing her 1995 penned "Life Gets Real," Reed, always a great story teller, talked about her first encounters when writing the Japanese art form of Haiku. "When we get a hold of it, it's no longer an art form," mused Reed. Starting to dabble with it herself on and off over the years, she recited a few of them including this gem:

left the door open
for our prophet Elijah
now our cat is gone

Trading verses with Ball, Reed and her sang the emotive Leonard Cohen 1971 composition "Joan of Arc," a powerfully poignant song that imagines the dialogue between Joan and the fire that is consuming her as she burns at the stake. Reed and Ball gave justice with their touching rendition. The melody of this composition just pierces the heart effortlessly too, along with that gorgeous 'La la la' refrain and lyrical content with lines like "If He was fire/She must be wood."

Reed continued with "Song By the End of  the Day" with Chouinard engaging the piano and then all were treated by about half of SJA Choir who individually gathered around the stage to accompany Ann, for her 'quite likely to become signature' anthem "We Will." Inspired by the First Universalist Church and their progressive mission of faith to become healers in their community, Reed wrote this song in honor of them as well as having them record it with her. Now for St. Joan's Choir to sing this anthem with her remains a blessed honor. You can check it out by clicking on this link

A standing ovation followed and Reed returned to the stage for the final encore, just her and her 12 string for "Friendsong," a blessed sendoff from her heart to us all.

 Written by Michael Reinbold, SJA Concert Reviewer and parishioner. Photos by Peg LaSota.

Ann Reed's Where the Earth Is Round CD release may be purchased on her website www.annreed.com. Ann Reed's concert completes SJA's 2009-2010 Concert Season. Please join us next fall for SJA's 16^th annual Cabaret and the start of next year's not to be missed concert season.