The fifth annual Victory Heights Jokum Fest for 2007 was on Saturday, August 18 this year. The event once again took place at Schudie's Beer & Chicken Grotto in the Victory Heights neighborhood of North Seattle. Jokermania alumnus Gary Schudie graciously opened up his backyard to welcome a 125 plus all age crowd between the hours of 4:00 and 10:00pm. Co-organizers and neighbors Kern and Jan Kenrud likewise invited guests into their backyard. The festival featured Live Music, Manny's Pale Ale (Georgetown Brewery) and Ezell's Chicken, with donations going to Northwest Harvest. Jokum Fest almost got rained out but the weather cleared up in time for the music. The crowd arrived shortly afterwards.

The music was exceptional this year, providing a variety of styles. Young Dave Berghan returned to the Heights and opened with a solo set on the piano & vocals, laying down his own brand of Rhythm & Blues. He's fourteen now, almost six feet tall and his ever growing repertoire included a few Beatles' tunes. Hugh Sutton chimed in on backup vocals as Dave whisked through his own renditions of "Drive My Car", "Revolution", "Watermelon Man" and "A Chicken Ain't Nothin' But A Bird".

Reggie Miles made his second Jokum appearance, accompanied by Hugh Sutton on accordion/piano, Jack Cook on guitar and Dave Hudson on drums. Reggie played a handful of blues numbers on his homemade Nobro Resonator Guitar, presently in the key of Ab. Some of the songs were written by his mentor Robert "one man" Johnson and included "Stray Dog Blues" & "Hundred Dollar Woman". Reggie once again dazzled the Jokum audience with his stellar saw playing; singing a heartfelt version of "St James Infirmary" and confirming his title "The Sultan of Saw".

Al Farlow and his ensemble Super Slinky made their first appearance at Jokum, putting a little Jazz in everybody's salad. The group included Jokermania alumna Kathy Rice on piano, Rich Steveson on bass and house drummer Dave Hudson. Al's alto and baritone sax lines sailed through a string of slinky instrumentals, all charted by Al. The super group kicked off their set with the Axel Westheimer composition "Fringin'". Their songbook also included "Jazz Man In Nude Town", a tune that Al wrote for Raymond Barrow's bluesical "I Thought I Heard Elliott Bay".

Jangle Bones' first appearance in Victory Heights was welcomed by an enthusiastic crowd. Cort Armstrong was featured with his lead vocals and finger picking guitar style on a steel bodied resonator guitar. His song selections included Rev. Gary Davis' "Goin' To Sit Down On The Banks Of The River". Sean Divine's seasoned acoustic harmonica skills and vocal harmonies were well suited for the band's special breed of hard driven mountain blues. The tasty mandolin accompaniment of Ethan Lawton was a fine addition, as was the strong support of bassist Morgan Thompson and drummer Kevin Cook.

The Oxycontinentals not so surprising cancellation is reminiscent of Middle Walter's previous no shows from past Jokum Fests. The Phantoms of Soul filled in doing an almost entire non Joe & Okes set. The band featured Jokum music coordinator Jack Cook on guitar & vocals, Hugh Sutton on piano, Al Farlow on clarinet & saxes, Jokum sound engineer Steve Branca on bass & house drummer Dave Hudson. "Big Daddy's Back", "Mama Didn't Raise No Crazy Kids" and "Nearly Homeless Boogie" were some of this year's choices off the Phantom play list.

Dave Hudson's Syncopated Monkeys wrapped up the evening with a set of New Orleans and Northwest Rhythm & Blues. This band was initially put together for this year's Jokum Fest, introducing Billy Reed on piano and Tracy Hudson on bass, with the repeat appearances of Jack Cook, Al Farlow & bandleader Dave Hudson. Their upbeat and soulful set included such classics as "Mardi Gras Mambo, "Feel Alright" and "Down Home Girl". The Syncopated M's shuffled along fearlessly, laying down a variety of funky grooves, until the crowd dwindled as the persuasive mist took over.

Axel, the highjacker
Northwest Resonator correspondent