Southern Breeze 2007 Summer Issue - (Page 12) words & notes Turning the Page WITH A MODERN-DAY MINSTREL by DEB BURST SWEET CAROLINE by MARY-ALLISON LANCASTER Jennifer Paddock’s Point Clear is a novel for everyone who has second thoughts about the decisions they have made in their life. Caroline Berry, 27, is lost and living in New York. She no longer has the drive to write the novel she always dreamed of writing. To revitalize her passion she takes a sabbatical to Point Clear, Alabama and stays at the Grand Hotel. A few days into her trip she comes face-to-face with Ivan—a Category 4 hurricane that the Gulf Coast will never forget. The morning after the hurricane makes landfall she takes a walk on the beach and meets Walker Galloway, a champion swimmer, who she later learns has been reported missing. Seeking solace yet feeling a connection with the man, Caroline devotes herself to finding out what happened to the champion swimmer who is no stranger to the Mobile Bay. Along the way she meets several people who encourage her to write her novel and help her come to grips with the loss of her father and reconnect with her mother and brother. Point Clear paints the perfect picture of the town and surrounding cities. From her description of Chucky, the massive alligator lost during Ivan, to an eclectic café in Fairhope, Paddock takes readers along a nostalgic jaunt through a town full of spunk and literary authors. Paddock developed a fascinating main character that anyone in their mid-20s can relate to—someone unhappy with her career, unable to develop a solid relationship, and who can’t connect with family. Point Clear is a must read for those seeking to escape from their own inner turmoil or those who simply want to learn about one of the South’s quaintest towns. ith the poetic style of Cat Stevens and Bob Dylan, singer/songwriter, Gene Lipps spins the mysteries of life in sultry lyrics caressed by mesmerizing chords of clarinets, mandolins, and acoustic guitars in his second CD, “Turn of the Page.” A mix of talented musicians from college-age newbies to baby-booming hippies join Gene as the Little Bigger Band on stage and in the studio, driven by a passion for music. This is clearly a songwriter’s CD pulsating with original work in sensual melodies, jiving jazz, and bouncy bluegrass. Forget rock-n-roll or heavy metal, it’s not there. And on some scores the music takes a backseat to the center stage lyrics. But real music aficionados will appreciate the creative writing and a good production that weaves funky beats with soulful ballads. Grab the hanky and wipe the brow juking to Wonderin Why with Matthew Crumhorn’s gutsy guitar and Robert Sturcken’s sassy sax. David Crumhorn pumps up the bass while Joe Sanford joins Marc Holzenthal with an extra set of drums pounding a funky grove to Nightlife. Two-stepping crowds in Cajun Land toe-tap around the bayou with lead guitarist Eric Colwart in Fair Game. It’s Hot fires it up with a collection of horn-blowing troubadours with memories of a sweaty Jazz Fest and the aroma of Couchon de Lait and burning herbs. Be ready to shed a tear as Gene serenades listeners with an earthy, sincere voice in a romantic journey of empty nesters rediscovering each other in Just You and Me. Lovers whispering promises of devotion in I’m Right Here and lost loves in Call Me Anytime. In what Gene professes to be his best song, his daughter, Alison (Alie) sings Diamonds and Gold, a wedding song kissed with a Cajun waltz. Formerly a physics teacher, Gene left his career in mid-life, following his heart, taking risks. The band is steadily growing its audience playing the Southeast Louisiana circuit at festivals, special events, and nightclubs. From his title song, Turn of the Page, he captures the heartbreak and exhilaration in rebuilding a new Post-K world. “Moving on down this road/Partners in time/Finding the words/Completing the rhyme/Following the changes/ That seldom seem easily known.” For an in-depth interview as Gene reveals his passion for music and inspiration behind his new CD, Turn of the Page, watch your in-box for the next issue of e-Breeze. Visit www.genelipps.com for calendar and CD info. W 12 s o u t h e r n b re e z e . c o m http://www.genelipps.com http://southernbreeze.com
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