THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 6, 1995 TAG: 9508050074
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Eric Feber
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
Time for another irregular update on one of Chesapeake's most famous sons, Clarence Clemons, saxophonist with the now defunct E Street Band, the legendary group that backed Bruce Springsteen for 18 years until he disbanded the ensemble a few years ago.
The son of Thelma and the late Clarence Clemons of Crestwood, the 53-year-old saxophonist and former semi-pro football player hasn't been sitting around lamenting the group's demise.
He just released his fourth solo album, ``Peacemaker,'' about a month and a half ago. The disc has delighted and surprised the critics.
Rather than offer his usual rhythm-and-blues or sax-soaked pop tunes, this time the Big Man, as he's been dubbed by his former boss, has released an instrumental recording full of third world rhythms featuring a hodgepodge of different ethnic music styles popularly known as world music.
One reviewer said Clemons' new album was a jazz influenced work with spiritual undercurrents and earthy music. On the disc, the tenor saxophonist surrounds himself with a slew of percussionists, helping bolster his horn stylings and frame them in lively rhythms.
Clemons himself called the songs his newest meditations, showing off his own quiet side.
``I've lived the rock 'n' roll life,'' he said several months ago in a newspaper feature story. ``But there's a calm element in me. I've never been a wild, flamboyant guy. I'm a regular person.''
One reviewer said ``the moods he evokes are evocative. They sound like the soundtrack to a spare and taut Clint Eastwood movie.''
While Clemons was busy at work on ``Peacemaker,'' he got back together with his E Street mates and The Boss early this year to record new songs for Springsteen's recent ``Greatest Hits'' collection, including the song ``Secret Garden.''
Clemons, who now lives in California, joined Bruce and boys for a spring appearance on ``The Late Show with David Letterman'' and for a video shoot for the Springsteen song ``Murder Incorporated'' at the famous Tramps Club in New York City. And there's still rumors and talk about a possible permanent re-organization of the E Street Band.
Last summer, Clemons joined Ringo Starr for his now annual All Starr Tour but he had to decline this summer's invitation from the former Beatles drummer because of possible E Street Band plans. Who knows? English garden
When it comes to creating an award-winning yard and garden, the prize goes to Elmer Sawyer of the 1400 block of St. Brides Road in Hickory.
Sawyer won the Chesapeake Environmental Improvement Council's ``Yard of the Month'' award for the Hickory section of the city for the 1995 season.
Because of his win, Sawyer will get the right to display a sign designating his property as the top yard in the community and a $50 gift certificate from White's Old Mill Garden Center.
Chesapeake Master Gardener judges were impressed with Sawyer's lush groupings of hollyhocks, black-eyed susans, hydrangeas, day lilies, daisies, pansies, hibiscus, daffodils, butterfly bushes, irises, camellias and crape myrtles.
Sawyer said he designs and plans his grounds based on ideas of classic English gardens as written by Gertrude Jekyll, well-known in horticultural circles for her writings on English cottage gardens.
``I love the gardens in Williamsburg,'' Sawyer said in a recent Chesapeake Environmental Improvement Council press release. ``And I enjoy other historical gardens.'' by CNB