A musical interlude...
We interrupt this recap of my Western Trek extended birthday celebration with family.
With a musical note.
It's the second night of Charleston's
Spoleto, the city's 41st annual salute to the arts and music.
Jon Batiste, leader of the
Stay Human band, performed outdoors Friday and Saturday night on the campus of the College of Charleston.
I was there on Saturday, a terrific low-humidity, balmy night although an approaching tropical storm had threatened to make the show move indoors.
Jon leads his band on the CBS Late Show With Stephen Colbert. Unbeknown to most of the audience, Jon's boss Colbert was in the crowd with us.
Colbert is a Charleston native who spends a lot of his free time here in the Holy City
The band this evening was the
Dap-Kings, on their third outing with the talented young New Orleans native.
It was the first time I had seen the Dap-Kings without Sharon Jones, it's dynamic and VERY animated leader who sadly died recently.
I did not bring my camera and depended instead on my cell phone camera to capture some of the melodic action.
Times like this, I do miss the telephoto lens on my "real" camera. But, I settled in for an enjoyable show that was about 20 minutes longer than expected.
As usual for concerts here at the Cistern Yard, the sound was precise and the setting beautifully lit.
Even the folding seats seemed more comfortable.
Jon exhorted the audience to stand and dance.
"We don't play music like this for a crowd that's sitting down."
We stood. We clapped in rhythm. We sang along. And, I am sure, some were dancing.
(Click on the photos and links for more details.)
I hope many of you were there Saturday or the night before. Here is the City Paper review of the Friday show.
Support live music!
Labels: CBS The Late Show., Cistern Yard, College of Charleston campus, Jon Batiste, Stephen Colbert, The Dap-Kings, the Stay Human band
0 for 3 at Cistern Yard...
Arturo O'Farrill and The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra.
Originally planned as performing under the stars at the
Cistern Yard on the campus of the College of Charleston.
My first Spoleto event of this, the 40th annual Festival of the arts, unfortunately, saw the use of the festival's rain backup plan.
Twice.
Both nights, storms would have ruined the music event.
Oh, the
TD Arena is a nice venue.
And the sound was very good for a gym.
With an 18-piece orchestra - and a heavy grand piano - you can't just wait until the last minute to see if it really WAS going to rain.
I was going the second night and already knew it had been moved indoors the night before.
I salute the Festival staff for keeping a close watch on the weather.
It could have been a stirring outdoor evening but not at all feasible.
There is no covered bandstand over the Cistern and a thousand or so umbrellas and ponchos for the audience would have been challenging at best.
This was the right decision and the music was incredible!
On the left were 5 saxes (also clarinets and flutes), centered were 4 trumpets and on the right, four throaty trombones.
Leader O'Farrill played piano and stood to conduct several times, moving close to the bassist, two percussionists, and the drummer.
(Click on the photos and links for more details. The video clip is from another show, elsewhere.)
So far, at least one other Cistern act was moved to the TD Arena and the weather forecasters are warning us to expect more thunderstorms. Yikes.
Tonight I am indoors at Theater 99 for two improv comedy acts. More on that later.
Stay dry and enjoy Spoleto!
Labels: Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Cistern Yard, Congas and percussion., saxes and flutes, TD Arena, trombones and trumpets
First time to TD Arena...and the new Gaillard.
So, look's like I'm all set for 2014 (or is it December of 2015?)
The new
Gaillard will have less seats but better acoustics.
Fewer people will hear things better in the new place.
In the old one, I have chosen to be seated in the balcony, but also plopped down in the first row for the k.d.lang show last year.
Closer is better.
The Cistern Area for Spoleto events is another place where I usually buy a seat in the first row.
Yesterday, the weatherman convinced Spoleto to move the
J.D. McPherson Show from there.
Some fears of electric guitars being played outdoors in a thunderstorm.
As I thought would happen, all the stage setup was moved to the TD Arena. Naturally the sun shone brightly.
J.D.said they were pleased with the change and reminded us they play there again tonight (Saturday).
It was my first visit to the C of C basketball court but it felt just like a Cistern Show...with the bonus of air conditioning. Yeah!
It was an evening of great music with a passionate delivery.
The former school teacher from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, has a Punk resume. Mr. McPheron has found his Retro Sound musical calling.
He and the band mixed together elements of Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Led Zepplin and, yes, some punk roots from "The Pixies."
It was a rollicking time and, just past the halfway point, the gyrating dancers swiftly moved in front of the stage and the party was going on.
Chicago record producer - and superb bassist - Jimmy Sutton laid down a steady bass line to bring back the 1950s sound. Sax man Douglas Corcoran also came across the stage to play organ.
When the music is THAT strong, what heartless (or brave?) volunteer usher is going to stand in the way of all those dancing
Happy Feet?
The crowd was a mixture of young and old, hipsters and their granddads, locals and visitors.
I talked with city natives as well as Spoleto fans who came from out-of-state.
One couple had come year after year, took a four year break and now drive in again for the arts festival.
They explained to a couple from New York the differences between Spoleto and Piccolo.
I could not have done better and I grew up here.
Spoleto began 36 years ago and Piccolo just turned 25 this year.
If you plan to go there tonight, the officials have honored those who bought reserved seats.
You can choose any seat on the basketball court floor itself - first come, first served - and the others are in seats rising behind you and on two sides.
I have no idea where the dancers had been sitting but they slowly appeared, dancing off to the sides, until they surged to the middle.
Hard to resist the energetic thumping beat that was being laid down.
Little details caught my eye.
Raynier Jacildo played a "real" piano - an upright - and NOT the usual electronic keyboard. The organ also was a heavy monster that had been lugged onstage with wheels strapped to it.
Sorry keys players...you can't compete.
The beautiful arena lobby was well maintained. The floors shiny bright and all the windows sparkling clean.
You go past the
Cougar statue just before you enter into the lobby.
It reminded me of the black Panther statue up in Charlotte, outside the football stadium, but the internet link explains the differences between the two cats.
(Click on the photos for more details.)
I hope you go see J.D. McPherson tonight.
Get up and dance if you can.
Labels: Broken Arrow OK, Cistern Yard, Cougars, Douglas Corcoran, J.D. McPheron, Jason Smay, Jimmy Sutton, New Gaillard Auditorium, Raynier Jacildo
2013 Spoleto potpourri....
Back to the golden days of radio.
Voices and Foley sound effects.
A piano and small organ provides ALL the music. A pin-pricked balloon gives a "pop" when needed.
The earth is doomed. In fact, the whole galaxy will disappear.
Good Grief!
Sitting in the sold out Sottile Theater along with 600 captivated friends, we watched the live-action graphic novel develop with cartoons on the screen, clever sound effects and talented voices.
David Higgins is the voice of Timmy, Danu Uribe is the Pulitzer Prize winning authoress and Christopher Lee Gibson speaks as everybody else. Cami Alys is the Foley artists responsible for the correct sounds at the appropriate time.
Jason Neulander of Austin, Texas, is the writer/Director who created
The Intergalactic Nemesis.
He welcomed the audience and expressed his happiness at being in Charleston and part of the famed Spoleto Festival USA.
General Director Nigel Redden had called him with an invitation which he gladly accepted.
During the intermission of Part 1 last night, Nigel could be seen mingling, chatting with fans and friends as the crowd returned to their seats.
The fate of earth still hung in the balance at this point.
A few days ago, a Spoleto-Piccolo music event brought me to
Hall's Chophouse on King Street for an afternoon of Jazz.
Lead singer
Lyndsey Goodman Moynihan was joined by Jamie Harris on bass and "Uncle Joe" Wilson on guitar.
The banter between songs was humorous and showed the depth of their friendship.
And their love of music.
Leaving Hall's, I walked through Marion Square and saw a small crowd gathered to enjoy an impromptu bluegrass performance.
Spoleto does indeed bring together friends of the arts.
Did not interrupt the players to get their names but paused for a moment or two to listen and take a few pictures.
Hope they'll get in touch so I can credit them.
I'm scheduled tomorrow evening for a concert on the Cistern Yard area at the College of Charleston.
Andrea, first tropical storm of the 6-month storm season that just started, is also due to skim our coastline tomorrow.
My guess is the venue - to avoid a rain out - will switch to the
TD Arena This would be good as I have not been inside there yet.
Oh, TD stands for Toronto Dominion Bank, the new name after a local financial group was bought that had its name on the 5.100 seat venue. It opened in 2008 as home of the Cougars.
(Click on the photos for more details.)
The fire truck was heading elsewhere.
The TD Arena is fine!
Labels: Cistern Yard, Cougars, Foley sound effects, Hall's Chop House, Intergalactic Nemesis, Jamie Harris, Joe Wilson, Lyndsey Goodman Moynihan, Marion Square, Nigel Redden, TD Arena, Toronto Dominion Bank
Spoleto. A look back....
SPOLETO. A wonderful celebration-of-the-arts festival.
It's also very strict about photography and crowds.
This was a 2nd night performance by the New Orleans group "
Rebirth Brass Band."
Sitting in the first row at the Cistern Yard , I could see barricades on both sides of the stage. And the stairs in the center front were blocked with a velvet rope.
About an hour into the program, the barriers were dropped, the dancing crowds surged forward and cameras appeared everywhere.
Including mine as I snapped the nine performers and the happy party that had just erupted.
Sometimes cameras are ignored and sometimes they are not.
The audience at the Sottile Theater for
TRACES was amused when the announcer said "
Keep your cell phone on so you don't miss a call."
Then he added
"Take flash pictures although it might blind the acrobat and cripple him for life. "And
"Shoot videos to show your friends and family what you enjoyed here today."
Tongue was firmly in cheek so my camera remained dormant. Well, until the end as we filed out.
I wanted to have a reminder of the former Gloria Theater I remembered from my youth.
(Click on the photos to see more details.)
Piccolo Spoleto is a slightly different story.
Lots of acts and not too much concern about cameras.
I enjoyed quite a few this year and that'll be in another post.
Thanks for stopping by.
Labels: Cistern Yard, Gloria Theater, Please click http://photo.meetup.com/687., Rebirth Brass Band, Sottile Theater, Spoleto, TRACES
A Double "Two-fer" = 4 Biggies
My Piccolo Spoleto afternoon started well with
DUENDE! That was my first
two-fer of the day at Halls Chophouse on King Street.
This particular trio was new to me although I have enjoyed the music of jazz pianist
Tommy Gill many times.
He was joined by
Cristobal Cisneros, guitar & sax and
Gino Castillo, percusion, as their Latin sounds enthralled early diners at the upscale restaurant.
I had not been to Halls before so this was a bonus treat for me.
It was announced the intent was to place beautiful music in beautiful settings around Charleston.
What a great concept.
And, speaking of giving a brand new look to a familiar place, I was able to check out LEAF Restaurant, the former Vickery's on Beaufain Street.
Wow!
The doors and windows have been enlarged and the inside merges with the great outdoor patio.
It was on the way to the outdoor concert at the College so there was time for a drink at the HUGE bar.
The newly-opened place is bright and cheery and so different from the 20-year run of Vickery's in that location. Add another bonus to my day.
Toninho Ferragutti, noted jazz accordianist from Sao Paulo, may be short on English but his music speaks volumes. His talented playing capped the evening of my Spoleto Festival experience.
The 400 people in the College of Charleston's Cistern Yard audience were tapping their toes and swaying as the music flowed.
He was backed by a circle of strings - violin, cello, upright bass - and the sound system was spot on, every instrument crisp and separated in the balmy still night air.
A splendid way to spend the day.
(Please click on the photos to see more detail. The Canon S90 held its own with much larger SLRs and large lenses.
Oh well, I usually have it with me so
"light is right" for me.) Thanks for visiting.
Enjoy the Spoleto Festival and Piccolo-Spoleto events.
Labels: Cistern Yard, Cristobal Cisneros, Duende, Gino Castillo, Halls Chophouse, To, Tommy Gill, Toninho Ferragutti
No Cameras Allowed...
It's not really a "hidden" camera.
I mean, you can see it sitting in my lap, discretely aimed slightly upward.
I'm in the first row in the Cistern Yard, right on the center aisle and I'm hoping the Sao Paulo singing star Fabiana Cozza doesn't look directly at me and yell
"Security!"Or whatever that word would be in Portuguese.
Many shows and concerts dislike cameras and
"recording devices." People popping flashes are indeed disruptive. My camera does well in low light.
I think that restriction means those pesky cell phones that people hold over their heads while the music is playing.
Hey, they're not making a phone call.
They are recording a video!
I always smile when I see someone doing that ...and bouncing the phone (camera) along with the music. Yikes.
Life was easier a few night before in that same spot at Cistern Yard watching the New York City group
The Ebony Hillbillies.
This lively group had the audience up on its feet and they invited us all to come forward and dance.
Cameras appeared everywhere - and so did mine. One fellow had his on a large tripod.
This bouncy crowd shot would have been a tough picture to get using a
"hidden" camera.
[Click twice on the images for more detail. My
Canon S90 is the size of a deck of cards or a pack of cigarettes.]
Labels: Cistern Yard, Fabiana Cozza, Samba Street, Sao Paulo
We interrupt this recap of my Western Trek extended birthday celebration with family.
I was there on Saturday, a terrific low-humidity, balmy night although an approaching tropical storm had threatened to make the show move indoors.
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