Pat Martino in the ATL, Russell Haight and AU Jazz, Opera in Cinema and More

Legendary jazz guitarist Pat Martino is playing at Center Stage in Atlanta on Saturday (6/18). Here's the event page. At right is a kind of loud and fairly recent phone video (probably) of Martino playing a phenomenal solo on "Impressions." Here's another better-made but less interesting clip video with some interviewing and some playing. There's plenty on YouTube if you need more convincing. Here's his website.

AU Jazz, Piccolo and Ariccia Shows, Opera Simulcast Encore

On Monday (6/20), the second Auburn Summer Jazz Concert will play at Goodwin Hall. Here's the event page. If it's anything like the last one, which I accurately foreshadowed would be very good, this one will feature the inseparable AU student rhythm duo Sidney Simmons (bass) and Jonathan Lynn (piano) with faculty members Russell Haight on sax, Matt Wood on trombone and Doug Rosener on drums. However, I have not confirmed that roster. I'll post more details as I learn them.

Next Wednesday (6/22) an encore of the simulcast of Verdi's Macbeth from London's Royal Opera House will play at the Carmike Wynnsong 16 in Auburn at 7:30 PM. This is part of Emerging Pictures's Opera in Cinema series which I have discussed in a couple (1, 2) of recent posts.

Tonight (Thursday, 6/16) jazz vocalist Jane Drake will be joined at Piccolo by Columbus pianist Tom Chadwick. Quote from Jane: "Chadwick is an excellent pianist, composer and arranger who knows a huge amount of songs and can play them in any key, so he's fun to work with."

Then Friday (6/17), Troy saxophonist La'Roy Bodiford returns, as do Simmons and Lynn with drummer Tim Chambliss. Saturday's (6/18) headliner is Atlanta saxophonist Taylor Kennedy playing in the jazz-bass-trio format with Tim and Sidney. If you think you know a player, listen to them without the support and, conversely, the restraints of a chordal instrument. Kennedy's a good player so it should be interesting, and I'm happy to see this format presented. Among other things, I suspect we'll hear more of Simmons's good melodic bass solos.

Though the Saturday gig at Piccolo will be different personnel, here is a repost of some audio by the Taylor Kennedy Quintet.

Arricia's Sunday (6/19) jazz brunch will feature the Jack Dresher trio with Jack on bass, Troy drummer Sam Fredericks and pianist Joe Thomas.

Tuskegee, Columbus and Montgomery

Friday and Saturday nights (6/17-18), Sam Williams and the All Stars will be playing jazz at Tuskegee's Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center for its Jazz Jam Festival. Dinner will be served at 5:30 PM and the music starts at 7:00 both nights. I heard a little bit of Sam sitting in at Piccolo a few weeks ago. He has a great ear.

Also on Friday (6/17) at The Loft in Columbus, the Bill Perry Trio will perform from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM **EASTERN TIME**. That's Perry (from Tuskegee) on piano, Emory Kidd on bass and Ben Weldon on drums. Here's a link to a video I've shared before of Perry playing and being interviewed. I've cued the link up to one of the short samples of his playing.

Then Sunday (6/19) in Montgomery is the weekly jazz jam session at 1048 Jazz and Blues in Montgomery.

Shape-note Singing in Birmingham

This doesn't exactly fit into my normal subject matter, but the 32nd Annual National Sacred Harp Singing Convention takes place today through Saturday (6/16-18). I mention it because, though I don't know the music, I feel that it is culturally significant, and has deep, artistic value. Also, when I listen to recordings and watch videos online, it's as if I'm listening to people who have figured out a musical formula for piercing the veil that separates Earth from Heaven. Here is a page from the Ole Miss website that has a couple of video samples.

Events Coming Up in Auburn, Opelika
6/23 - Jane Drake Trio at Piccolo
6/24 - saxophonist Taylor Kennedy at Piccolo
6/25 - saxophonist Kenyon Carter at Piccolo
7/9 - Children of Paradise from the Paris Opera simulcast live at the Carmike Wynnsong 16 (Auburn)
7/22-23 - Auburn Knights Alumni Association Reunion at Opelika Marriott

...in Columbus, Montgomery, LaGrange
6/24 - Kevin Vannoy (sax, vocals) at The Loft (Columbus)
6/26 - Jazz jam session at 1048 Jazz and Blues (Montgomery)
9/24 - LaGrange Symphony Orchestra auditions (LaGrange)

...in Atlanta
6/30 - Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Youth Orchestra play Holst, Williams, Tchaikovsky, more
7/4 - Atlanta Symphony Orchestra's All-American Celebration
8/9, 8/11 - Atlanta Sacred Chorale holds 2011 auditions