Throughout the nine days of the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival, several other Rochester venues will take advantage of the wandering crowds still looking for more music, and will host their own mini-festivals. While they are not affiliated in any way with the XRIJF, Abilene Bar and Lounge (153 Liberty Pole Way), Bernunzio Uptown Music […]
DOWNSTAIRS CABARET
Posted inMusic
I Scene It: JD McPherson at Downstairs Cabaret
Is they is or is they ain’t? Well, it’s gotta be JD McPherson’s songs: tough little retro-fitted rock ‘n’ roll gems that come from the music’s red, white, black and blue early days of Chess or Sun. The days when Ike Turner still had some say in what was cool. If not, it’s definitely the […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
The gift of theater
There’s more to holiday-time entertainment than Hallmark Channel movies and antique animated specials. Instead of watching another Christmas movie marathon, why not get out of the house and see a holiday-themed play? The Rochester theater calendar is full of them this month, from old favorites like “A Christmas Carol” and “It’s A Wonderful Life” to […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Dream on
Downstairs Cabaret’s new offering, “Dream Lover,” really is nothing more than a nightclub act, but it’s a very good nightclub act. Singer Robert Shaw (definitely not to be confused with the actor or the choral conductor) simply salutes singer-actor-songwriter Bobby Darin, a huge star in the late 1950’s and early 60’s, known for songs like […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
A powerful “Protocol”
The sound of hollow wind rolls against the walls. Muted
urban noise rings eerily: muffled voices, brakes screeching, sirens wailing. It
is Music Concrete, real, found sounds incorporated with musical notes. This
disturbing composition sets the mood for an emotionally disruptive play.
