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Bluesletter - Seattle, WA
The Herald - Everett, Washington - www.HeraldNet.com
Published: Friday, February 4, 2005
Singing blues helps Snohomish doctor stay healthy and happy
By Sharon Wootton
Special to The Herald
Kathy Hettel is singing the blues, but not about her day job, a doctor of physical medicine and rehabilitation for Providence Everett Medical Center.
The doctor sings the blues at night with the Hettel Street Blues Band which, in its current configuration, has been together for seven years. The group performs Saturday in Everett. Vocalist Hettel usually performs with two guitarists, a saxophonist, a bass player and a drummer, although a keyboardist or trumpeter joins in the mix. The Snohomish resident performed with singing groups in high school and college, and when she moved to Washington in 1992, joined the Shoreline Evening Jazz Choir. Introduced to blues and jazz, she frequented blues jams, and after a bit of jamming at a Halloween party at her house, put together a band. "I just love singing the blues," she said. "It's just so much fun to be able to emote. It's so expressive and I can let it all out. I'm rather fond of big, long, held-out notes, and the energy you get from a crowd and the other musicians. It just feels great." Hettel didn't decide what her medical specialty would be until relatively late in the process. On her orthopedics rotation, she helped release a little girl's joint contractures, allowing her to straighten out her legs all the way. "About six months later ... there she was on the parallel bars, walking! I got all choked up. What I do helps you to live rather than just keeping you alive and that appealed to me." As do the blues. "When I'm singing, I'm energized and happy. I have a ball. I'm pretty much of a ham. I'll keep the day job, though; it's hard to make a living in music, especially with the 'older woman band.' "But it's one of the things that makes me happiest, the creativity of it and being able to share something with other people. It's good for my soul." Memphis Radio Kings: The blues duo Hillstomp opens, followed by Moonshine Hangover with its new CD, and then the Kings kick in Saturday in Stanwood. Don't expect to carry on a conversation with friends when these bands play. James Carter: Due to a family emergency, Regina Carter had to pass on her Seattle gig, but saxophonist James Carter is filling in today and Saturday. Carter has won four baritone sax player of the year awards from Downbeat magazine's annual critics' poll.
Copyright ©1996-2005.
The Daily Herald Co.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Published: Friday, February 4, 2005
Singing blues helps Snohomish doctor stay healthy and happy
By Sharon Wootton
Special to The Herald
Kathy Hettel is singing the blues, but not about her day job, a doctor of physical medicine and rehabilitation for Providence Everett Medical Center.
The doctor sings the blues at night with the Hettel Street Blues Band which, in its current configuration, has been together for seven years. The group performs Saturday in Everett. Vocalist Hettel usually performs with two guitarists, a saxophonist, a bass player and a drummer, although a keyboardist or trumpeter joins in the mix. The Snohomish resident performed with singing groups in high school and college, and when she moved to Washington in 1992, joined the Shoreline Evening Jazz Choir. Introduced to blues and jazz, she frequented blues jams, and after a bit of jamming at a Halloween party at her house, put together a band. "I just love singing the blues," she said. "It's just so much fun to be able to emote. It's so expressive and I can let it all out. I'm rather fond of big, long, held-out notes, and the energy you get from a crowd and the other musicians. It just feels great." Hettel didn't decide what her medical specialty would be until relatively late in the process. On her orthopedics rotation, she helped release a little girl's joint contractures, allowing her to straighten out her legs all the way. "About six months later ... there she was on the parallel bars, walking! I got all choked up. What I do helps you to live rather than just keeping you alive and that appealed to me." As do the blues. "When I'm singing, I'm energized and happy. I have a ball. I'm pretty much of a ham. I'll keep the day job, though; it's hard to make a living in music, especially with the 'older woman band.' "But it's one of the things that makes me happiest, the creativity of it and being able to share something with other people. It's good for my soul." Memphis Radio Kings: The blues duo Hillstomp opens, followed by Moonshine Hangover with its new CD, and then the Kings kick in Saturday in Stanwood. Don't expect to carry on a conversation with friends when these bands play. James Carter: Due to a family emergency, Regina Carter had to pass on her Seattle gig, but saxophonist James Carter is filling in today and Saturday. Carter has won four baritone sax player of the year awards from Downbeat magazine's annual critics' poll.
Copyright ©1996-2005.
The Daily Herald Co.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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