Post by lar on Feb 2, 2017 20:44:40 GMT -5
I'm pleased to introduce a new Ijammer to the denizens of this forum (and you know who you are). She is none other than my friend Janice Hansen (known professionally as Jan Leman).
Jan began concertina lessons at age 7 and made her professional debut at 14 at the tavern next door to her parent's home. It wasn't long before she formed her own polka band and during the next several years Jan says she payed every VFW hall between Milwaukee and the Mississippi River. Eventually Jan became a wife and mother and 35 years ago she put away her concertinas for good, or so she thought.
This past summer Jan told me about her career as a musician and I asked if she ever thought about playing again. Not long after that she attended a beer garden at one of the Milwaukee County Parks. The concertina player that night remembered Janice from years ago and asked if she would like to sit in with them. She couldn't but it did start her to thinking. Finally, with more encouragement, she started playing again. A few weeks before Christmas she allowed me to talk her into playing for me. I was astonished! I was certain that she could play but I wasn't prepared for how well she played.
We got to talking about it and decided it might be time for Janice to form another polka band. She asked me to play guitar for her and the second version of the Jan Leman band was born. We did 6 songs together at my New Year's Eve gig. Later in the evening the owner of the venue asked us to let him know as soon as we're prepared to do a whole show. He wants to hire us.
Janice will also be performing with Todd, Roger Anderson (thanks to Castle Ridge for loaning Roger to us), and me on July 16 at the Farmers Mercantile in Garrison. Collectively we're known as the "Great Plains Desperadoes". In September we'll return for Ijam.
Here's Janice performing the "Silk Umbrella Polka" at the Milwaukee Accordion Club on January 23.
Jan began concertina lessons at age 7 and made her professional debut at 14 at the tavern next door to her parent's home. It wasn't long before she formed her own polka band and during the next several years Jan says she payed every VFW hall between Milwaukee and the Mississippi River. Eventually Jan became a wife and mother and 35 years ago she put away her concertinas for good, or so she thought.
This past summer Jan told me about her career as a musician and I asked if she ever thought about playing again. Not long after that she attended a beer garden at one of the Milwaukee County Parks. The concertina player that night remembered Janice from years ago and asked if she would like to sit in with them. She couldn't but it did start her to thinking. Finally, with more encouragement, she started playing again. A few weeks before Christmas she allowed me to talk her into playing for me. I was astonished! I was certain that she could play but I wasn't prepared for how well she played.
We got to talking about it and decided it might be time for Janice to form another polka band. She asked me to play guitar for her and the second version of the Jan Leman band was born. We did 6 songs together at my New Year's Eve gig. Later in the evening the owner of the venue asked us to let him know as soon as we're prepared to do a whole show. He wants to hire us.
Janice will also be performing with Todd, Roger Anderson (thanks to Castle Ridge for loaning Roger to us), and me on July 16 at the Farmers Mercantile in Garrison. Collectively we're known as the "Great Plains Desperadoes". In September we'll return for Ijam.
Here's Janice performing the "Silk Umbrella Polka" at the Milwaukee Accordion Club on January 23.
