Terra Fermata
Stuart, Florida
by Michelle Wilson of Rock Legends Photographers
It's indeed a thrill when Tinsley Ellis embarks on a short tour of his native Florida, and when one of his stops is at Terra Fermata, it's even better. Backed by bassist Jonathan Holland and drummer Erik Kaszynski, the bluesman wowed the packed house with his ultra-smooth guitar licks and seasoned songwriting skills. He has an uncanny way of making eye contact with the audience that is rare in most musicians but quite appealing. The 100-minute set was over in the blink of an eye and was chock full of Ellis originals and a few covers. Fans were treated to three guitar appearances in the evening rotation: a 1967 Gibson ES-345 (affectionately named "Big Dog"), a 1959 Rosewood Fender Stratocaster and a 1982 Gibson Moderne reissue used for slide, and oh, how he made them sing!
