CD Reviews: Katie Trautz showcases her diversityOne of the hardest-working and most dedicated musicians in central Vermont is Katie Trautz. This late-20-something performer plays fiddle, clawhammer banjo and guitar and sings. She is executive director of the Summit School of Folk Music in Montpelier and a member of three actively performing ensembles as well as being a solo performer. Published on: February 9, 2012 |
Nuance Gallery: ‘In Our Midst’Nuance Gallery is presenting “In Our Midst,” a two-person exhibition featuring recent work by Nancy Silliman and Redel Frometa, Saturday through April 14. The public is invited to the opening reception, with refreshments and live music, on Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m. Published on: February 9, 2012 |
The Movie Diary: Power corruptsI suppose everyone goes through a period when they spend an inordinate amount of time pondering the bigger questions in life. For me, it was during my 20s. Published on: February 9, 2012 |
Theater review: ‘In Absentia’ flawed by powerful‘In Absentia,” popular Canadian playwright Murray Panych’s new play, is a riveting, often humorous and deeply dramatic tale of a woman coming to grips with her husband’s disappearance. Published on: February 9, 2012 |
The Local Spin: You can't just play music …I'm gonna start this week a little differently with a tip of the hat to the guys at Be Music, Rutland's local music store. Whether it's dropping in as the doors are closing for a set of strings or trying to decide which guitar to buy (next), the staff at Be Music are there to help. Published on: February 9, 2012 |
Complicated nonsense: ‘Natural Wonders’ at BigTown GalleryThe collection “Les Fleurs du Mal,” meaning “The Flowers of Evil,” by the notoriously wretched and tragic French symbolist poet Charles Baudelaire, is one of the world’s quieter classics of lovesick, distressed longing. Published on: February 9, 2012 |
David Moats’ ‘An Afternoon in France’: Taking a crisis through the generationsWhen David Moats remembered his grandparents, he wondered if they were happy. Published on: February 9, 2012 |
Arts PreviewBalla Kouyaté Published on: February 9, 2012 |
Arts PreviewCommunity Cinema continues Published on: February 2, 2012 |
Montréal maintenant: Top theater and a religious experienceCanada has its own theater with a unique flavor. Although Canadian plays can be as gritty as any American theater, our brothers to the north lack the cynicism that makes so much of our contemporary theater uncomfortable and unrewarding. If there’s no hope, who cares? Published on: February 2, 2012 |
Reggae and Afrobeat's evolution: The possibility of a post-racial discussionIn Spike Lee's 1990 film about the underbelly of contemporary jazz, “Mo Betta Blues,” the character Bleek Gilliam, a New York hotshot trumpeter played by none other than that '90s celluloid embodiment of the black experience, Denzel Washington, says to Wesley Snipes' Shadow Henderson: Published on: February 2, 2012 |
The Local Spin: Grist Mill is hoppingIt’s a busy week, so I’m gonna get on to it. The Grist Mill in Killington sounds like a hopping spot for music this weekend. The Voodoo Alien Blues Band will be there tonight. The all-star cast of Jerry Dubeau, Jeff Peremski, Blake Gowan and Steve Audsley will be playing blues, funk and you never know what else. Published on: February 2, 2012 |
Pianist Charle Albright chooses passionFor Charlie Albright, it’s a question of passion vs. interests. The Washington-born 23-year-old has been making a big splash as a concert pianist in the classical music world, but he recently earned his bachelor’s degree in economics at Harvard, as well as satisfying most pre-med requirements. Published on: February 2, 2012 |
Masters of Illusion: Mystery and illusion come to the Paramount stageNational tour of stage magicians arrives at the Paramount next week. Published on: February 2, 2012 |
The Movie Diary: Your strength is your weaknessAs the coach of an eighth grade boys’ basketball team, I try to instill a broad set of values in my players. I emphasize the importance of sportsmanship, teamwork and respect. But more than anything, I try to make sure that the individual skills of each player improve during the season. Published on: February 2, 2012 |
Music Review: De Cormier, Mozart and Fauré pack the ParamountRUTLAND — Sunday's performance by the Vermont Symphony Orchestra and VSO Chorus was as much a celebration of the conductor as it was of the two choral masterpieces on the program. Published on: January 31, 2012 |
The Local Spin: Rubble your bucketIt’s rare that I really push a show or band (unless it’s mine) but this week I am going to highly recommend you make the trek to Higher Ground in South Burlington on Friday night to catch the band, Rubblebucket. I’ve been on their mailing list for a while now, but it’s not often they are up in this neck of the woods. Published on: January 26, 2012 |
Spellbinding singer-songwriter Meklit Hadero makes Vermont debutMeklit (pronounced meh-kleet) Hadero has only been making music since 2006, a fact that’s somewhat astonishing when listening to the San Francisco singer-songwriter’s stunning 2010 debut album, “On a Day Like This.” On Feb. Published on: January 26, 2012 |
Kristina Stykos: A musician creates her own recording studioKristina Stykos understands the need for a musician making a recording to feel comfortable in his or her surroundings. There are pressures to get the proper sound from instruments, to feel relaxed in the recording studio and to avoid the subliminal ticking of the expense clock. For indeed, in the recording studio, time is money. Published on: January 26, 2012 |
Arts PreviewExhibit focuses African art Published on: January 26, 2012 |
Northern Roots Traditional Music Festival champions heritageWhen asking Keith Murphy, artistic director of the fifth annual Northern Roots Traditional Music Festival on Saturday, Jan. 28, what had been his experience melding Celtic and Acadian folk with Brattleboro Music Center’s long-standing classical roots, he responded: Published on: January 26, 2012 |
The Movie Diary: Gone too soon…The first time I experienced shock was the day my father died. Published on: January 26, 2012 |
‘Push: Moving History Forward:’ Exploring American dance rootsAt a time when increasing numbers of collegians choose majors based on what would help them pay off student loans, there are still Middlebury College students who commit to careers or avocations in dance. Published on: January 26, 2012 |
Review: ‘Liaisons Dangereuses’ isn’t nice, but it is funAmid the elegance and manners of 18th century French court, a wicked and heartless game of sexual chess is being waged by two noble charmers who show no mercy — but it is their hearts that prove their undoing. Published on: January 22, 2012 |
Arts PreviewDarlingside, Dusty Neutrals Published on: January 19, 2012 |
Cider Mag Awards: Urban alien recaps proceedingsIn my realm, where skyscrapers brush the enamel of a sky that lingers blue and elusive above the din of human endeavor, there is the notion called “competition,” and it is as cold and unpredictable as the patterns in window frost. Published on: January 19, 2012 |
The Local Spin: Brothers Palluto!I would be remiss not to mention the inspiring event that was last week’s Cider Mag awards ceremony. While I’m affiliated, I take no credit for what was not only an impressive lineup of a wide variety of musicians and artists, but also a real show – one well-produced and run from beginning to end. Published on: January 19, 2012 |
The Movie Diary: Ain’t nothing like the real thingI am not a fan of reality television. I have never watched an episode of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” “The Biggest Loser,” “The Apprentice,” or “Survivor.” Published on: January 19, 2012 |
De Cormier to lead VSO in Mozart and Fauré RequiemsWhen Robert De Cormier decided to perform two of history’s greatest Requiem Masses, one by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the other by Gabriel Fauré, there was one big decision to make: Which first? De Cormier chose the Mozart, and not only because it was written earlier. Published on: January 19, 2012 |
‘The Clean House:’ New Vermont Stage director debuts with truly quirky comedyVermont Stage Company’s new producing artistic director has chosen for her directing debut a terribly quirky, terribly funny - and almost indescribable - comedy. Published on: January 19, 2012 |
10