The Saakumu Dance Troupe hails from Ghana (Africa), performing spiritual, ceremonial, recreational, and contemporary African dance forms. It is led by Bernard Woma. According to the group’s Facebook page, Woma’s father handed him mallets as an infant and he began playing the “gyil” when he was only 2 years old. The gyil is a traditional […]
Paloma Capanna
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Spectrum of Sound: Aspects of Organ Music Since 1940
Professor David Higgs is a pretty smart guy. He’s a professor at the Eastman School of Music and he’s the chair of the Department of Organ, Sacred Music, and Keyboard Instruments. He’s an organist. He’s a jurist. And, he was smart enough to headline this year’s Eastman Rochester Organ Initiative Festival, based around modern organ […]
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Classical | Greentopia Classical Series 2013
Greentopia has the allure of Sir Thomas More’s “Utopia”: six days at High Falls packed with music, films, design, and summits on creating a sustainable future. Nestled in this programming is a three-day classical series, flying under program titles like Schubert’s “Trout Quartet” (featuring the Ying Quartet and friends from the Eastman School of Music) […]
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COUNTRY | Keith Urban
If you’ve got it as bad for country as I do, this has been a great summer of concerts at CMAC. Next up is Keith Urban with Little Big Town and Dustin Lynch. It’s the “Light the Fuse Tour 2013,” and Urban’s most recent “Little Bit of Everything” has me pushing up the volume and […]
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CLASSICAL: “Camelot”
Growing up in north Jersey, I thought of life as a musical. Julie Andrews and Doris Day at the movies. Yul Brynner and Rex Harrison on Broadway. It was a big deal when I got old enough to take the bus into the city on my own and head to TKTS for discounted same-day show […]
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POPS | Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
Every once in a while I’ll hear about an upcoming concert combination and just know it’s going to have that extra sparkle and snap. This Saturday night’s concert brings together the RPO, conductor Jeff Tyzik, and vocalist Matthew Morrison, and is just that kind of combination. Morrison is best known for playing Will Schuester on […]
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“Gypsy Strings and The Masque of the Red Death”
Anything written by Edgar Allan Poe is memorable, not the least of which is “The Masque of the Red Death.” First published in 1842 in Graham’s Lady’s and Gentleman’s Magazine, it has been adapted into everything from heavy metal by Crimson Glory to a film starring Vincent Price to the literary spice of Stephen King’s […]
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CLASSICAL PREVIEW: Summer road trip with the RPO
According to Ward Stare, the only place you’ll want to be on July 19 is at the Eastman Theatre, where he’ll lead the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra in “three of the greatest works by three of the greatest composers.” Stare, a 30-year-old Rochester native, speaks of Beethoven, Mozart, and Wagner the way that some speak of […]
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JAZZ FEST 2013, Day 8: Paloma reviews Frampton’s Guitar Circus
His hair may be grey, but his eyes still sparkle that Frampton blue and his voice still croons his ballad, “Baby, I Love Your Way.” Frampton’s Guitar Circus was the headliner show tonight at the Eastman Theatre, and for two hours Peter Frampton delivered a non-stop powerhouse show that brought the audience to its feet […]
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JAZZ FEST 2013, Day 7: Paloma reviews Carmen Souza and James/Sanborn/Gadd
Authentic music. It’s what jazz is. It’s this connection these musicians make when they are so good at their craft that they are released from reality and invite us to come along. It’s what happens when you listen to jazz musicians like Bob James, David Sanborn, Steve Gadd, and Carmen Souza. It was a truly […]
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JAZZ FEST 2013, Day 6: Paloma reviews Gretchen Parlato, Supertramp’s Roger Hodgson
There was something in her hands that was prayerful, especially as she tipped her head back, eyes closed, and just let her head rock side to side. Even before she sang a note, it was apparent that Gretchen Parlato would be worth every bit of the long line and the wait outside of Kilbourn Hall. […]
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JAZZ FEST 2013, Day 5: Paloma reviews Michael Wollny, John Nyerges Quartet, Eero Koivistoinen Quartet, Djabe
Repeat after me: Michael Wollny. There were no CDs for sale at a table on the way out, but there are more than a dozen albums since his first cut in 2005. There’s a smattering of European awards, but there were empty seats for his 10 p.m. at Max at Eastman Place Tuesday night. Wollny […]
