By Greg Farrar
James "Curley" Cooke, director of Pacific Northwest Blues in the Schools (top left), leads kids at the Echo Glen Children's Center in a concert that crowned a three-week program of hands-on blues history..

By Sara Bader
The blues had never been so noticeably un-blue. The performers wore bright orange jumpsuits, and even their electric guitars were the same shocking hue. In the midst of regrettable circumstances, there was nothing but laughs - often big, unreserved belly laughs - and camaraderie.

And, at times, the sound was more amateur night than B.B. King.

But at Echo Glen Children's Center, nothing could have sounded sweeter than the culminating concert for the Pacific Northwest Blues in the Schools (PNBS) program two weeks ago.

For the fifth straight year, James "Curley" Cooke, director of PNBS, brought a group of professional musicians to the state-run juvenile detention facility in Snoqualmie to work with students for three weeks.

For the third year, the lucky group of about 14 participants was composed of residents of the maximum-security Toutle Cottage.

As Associate Superintendent Patti Berntsen explained, these are the kids who have committed the most serious types of crimes or who have tried to escape. No other detainees have to wear the orange jumpsuits or stick so closely to their living quarters with constant monitoring.

For PNBS musicians, who also conducted workshops at St. George Parish School and John Marshall High School this year, there were no reservations about working in a less typical school environment.

"There's a very unique need out here," Curley said. "It's really an outlet for these kids. Music is great medicine. We have worked with other kids out here, but the kids in maximum security respond the best because I think they need this the most."

Each participant got a harmonica and learned the fundamentals of playing the guitar, drums and bass. They also got to sing, shake tambourines and maracas, and move their bodies to the music.

The final performance, which was attended by Echo Glen teachers, staff, chaplains and administrators as well as a few of the performers' guardians, showcased rotating students on different instruments while the majority sang. Curley and the other pros handled the complex chords.

Afterward, all ate barbecued burgers.

In an introduction, one kid dubbed the band "Maximum Blues," but Curley suggested they also could be "Snapping Toutles."

Berntsen said there is little opportunity for Echo Glen students - especially those in maximum security - to be able to express themselves and think creatively.

The Issaquah School District runs the educational component, and when funding is cut staff members who run electives such as art are always the first to go. Plus, many kids at Echo Glen grew up with few or no opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities like music or sports.

So when Blues in the Schools is running, there is a remarkable transformation, according to Bernsten. The kids gain trust, build relationships, have more confidence and learn that they can do things they never thought possible. "These are big, bad kids - that's what the community thinks," Bernsten whispered in the middle of a zealous version of "Louie, Louie," pointing out the incongruity with the image of dancing and smiling kids who seemed just as goofy and carefree as any other young teenagers.

"They did bad things, definitely, but they're still kids. And we need to do everything we can to increase the likelihood that they won't be coming back here once they get out," she finished.

One 16-year-old resident said the program made her focus more on weighing the pros and cons of decisions so she would be able to keep participating. "The best part is the performance where you got to put all the skills to the test and show that you've learned something," said a 15-year-old performer who wore dazzling, captivatingly blue tennis shoes while he grooved. "I don't get embarrassed, so it didn't bother me."

Later, Bernsten explained that the boy recently had been moved out of maximum security, which is why he was allowed to wear non-issued shoes. It also exemplified his strong attachment to the program since he had insisted on returning for the concert.

For Jeremy Clement, a professional drummer and leader of the Tulalip Casino's band, being a part of PNBS this year has been a reward in itself. His favorite memory was when, in the middle of practicing "La Bamba," one student grabbed the maracas and started running around the room dancing and jumping, which had everyone laughing hysterically.

"Music really saved me in high school because I would have dropped out if it wasn't for my band director," Clement said. "It's just a real life-changing experience.

"It really breaks my heart that circumstances have happened in these kids' lives that have caused them to make such bad decisions," he added. "But it's just wonderful to see their minds turning around - music is a powerful, powerful thing."

PNBS was started in 1999 after Curley traveled to South Carolina to check out a similar program. It is a nonprofit organization that offers programs to local public and private school systems, community centers and institutions. Its mission is to teach American history and heritage through the indigenous African-American art form, the blues.

Curley's musical background is extensive: He was voted the Northwest's best acoustic blues guitarist by the music industry in 1995, was a founding member of the original Steve Miller Band, has performed and recorded with Jerry Garcia and Chuck Berry and teaches at the University of Washington and other local colleges.

The other PNBS musicians and board members have equally impressive credentials.

The King County Cultural Development Authority funded the majority of PNBS' recent work at Echo Glen through a $6,500 grant.

This year, after the last stretched-out note of "Lucile" and emphatic finger wagging in "Hit the Road Jack," two girls had asked to sing the popular R&B song "Angel."

"God send me an angel from the Heavens above," they belted out in strong, melodic voices. "Cuz all I do is cry, God send me an angel to wipe these tears from my eyes."

Although the lyrics could have been about these 16-year-olds' wayward paths in life, one later confided that it was typical teenage drama. A boy who was in attendance had broken her heart - but she is "sooooooooo" over it now.

She became choked up by the overwhelming support from the musicians and her friends as she tried to end the performance with levity.

"We'll be signing autographs after the show. Thank you ?" her voice tightened. "Thank you so much for being here."