Musician and erstwhile Milwaukeean John Kruth has also carved out a second persona as a music writer, having penned "Bright Moments," a respected bio of jazz pioneer Rahsaan Roland Kirk.

In the latest issue of Waxpoetics, a 5-year-old bi-monthly magazine dedicated to soul, reggae, funk, jazz and hip-hop, Kruth has a paean to the late soul saxman King Curtis and the article's lead is set at Fuel Cafe.

"Back in the early '90s, I used to frequent a little smoky coffee shop called Fuel in the trendy River West (sic) neighborhood of Milwaukee," writes Kruth. "Famous for its killer coffee and lousy service, the place was a popular hangout for gangs of glum Generation Xers playing hooky while getting cranked on espresso and nicotine."

It was at Fuel that Kruth says he realized the impact of King Curtis.

The article appears in the December/January issue (No. 20) of Waxpoetics.

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