Category: AJBlogs

Čači Vorba was one of the more cohesive and likable bands at this years Crossroads Festival, which takes place immediately preceding the huge Colours of Ostrava festival in Czech Republic. Violinist, singer and songwriter Maria Natanson definitely struts her stuff, and has a great grasp of Roma music.

After a prospective student played Maurice Ravel’s “Alborada del gracioso,” I asked the not-so-simple question: “What’s the melody?”

Sam Leak, Dan Tepfer, Adrift (Jellymould)
Pianists from opposite sides of the Atlantic met in a New York studio to collaborate in an engrossing performance of Sam Leak compositions as a suite called “Adrift.”

Here’s my list of recommended Broadway, off-Broadway, and out-of-town shows, updated weekly. In all cases, I gave these shows favorable reviews (if sometimes qualifiedly so) in The Wall Street Journal when they opened.

Jim Wilke tells us that his Jazz Northwest broadcast on Sunday will present Maria Schneider conducting the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra. The program comes from his recording of the second of Ms. Schneider’s concerts with the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra.

Atlantis Quartet, Hello Human (Shifting Paradigm Records)

Far from being bound by its time, Nuttall’s 1968 investigation of Britain’s underground political and literary protest culture was a prophetic critique, and applicable as well to the American scene.

In recent days, the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston has rehung a painting called Kitchen Maid (c. 1620) with a new label, “attributed to Velazquez.” The work used to hang in its decorative arts mansion, Rienzi, partially blocked by a door! At that point, it was labeled “in the style of Diego Velázquez.”

The supergroup Coven creates a surprise on the folk music scene in England.

Read any “quantifying” study of success in the arts with a skeptical eye.