Greenwoman: Yum! Does living in East Tennessee influence what you do musically as well?
DeCicco: The economy and history of this area are very linked to agriculture. There is also a strong musical tradi- tion here with a lot of different genres overlapping both today and in the past: delta blues, Appalachian old-time traditional fiddle tunes, classic country/honkytonk, gos- pel, bluegrass, ragtime, swing, jazz, even classical.
Greenwoman: So you’ve always been into the local traditional music?
DeCicco: When I was a young teenager first discover- ing music, I was influenced by Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Tori Amos, Ani Difranco, Gillian Welch. Then I went through a stage of listening to a lot of vintage jazz, especially Billie Holiday, Louis Arm- strong, Ella Fitzgerald, and Julie London. Now I’m going through a phase of listening to old honkytonk and classic country like Hank Williams,
Floyd Tillman, and Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. When we perform we do about half originals and half covers. Right now I’m really enjoying doing covers of those classic country singers I just mentioned.
Greenwoman: You certainly live a life of creativity. Can you imagine NOT performing or gardening?
DeCicco: No, but I can imagine doing other things. I started my own festival, Hilltop Dinner & Dance, and I’m enjoying all the new and challenging aspects of organiz- ing that project. I love to cook and entertain. Sometimes I daydream of how cool it would be to be a professionally trained chef. I also wouldn’t mind being a “kept woman” so I could just paint and sew and make quilts all day long!
38 Winter/Spring 2012
greenwomanmagazine.com
Greenwoman: [Laughs.] The second annual Hilltop Din- ner & Dance is scheduled for October. Tell me what that will be like.
DeCicco: I wanted to have an event that would showcase the things I love about living in the South, especially east Tennessee, and bring together my whole commu- nity for a big ol’ Appalachian-themed party. We have a lot of history and musical and culinary culture here, but not a lot of dancing! People say they are embarrassed by “not knowing how.” I really wanted to do something to bring traditional social dancing back to Knoxville. By that I am referring to three types of dances: square dance, two-step, and swing dance. So I choose bands that are highly ‘danceable’ and I hire dance instructors from the Knoxville Swing Dance Associa- tion to teach free beginner lessons between each band. I have an area set up for kids with games and tents in the woods they can romp around in. One of my best friends, Rita Cochran, is doing a full menu of south- ern food focusing on local seasonal ingredients, com- plete with her own homemade ice cream. And, yes
there are lots and lots of hay bales and fairy lights.
Greenwoman: It’s fascinating how gardeners’ and art- ists’ work evolves. It seems like your evolution has taken you back to your roots—pun intended.
DeCicco: I have evolved as a musician from wanting to travel and see the world to wanting to create something lasting and positive in my hometown. I hope that Hilltop will become my signature event, maybe even my legacy.
For more information about Christabel and the Jons visit
http://christabelmusic.com/
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