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Saturday, January 7, 2012
Friday, January 6, 2012
Live Reviews Live review: Homewrecker
Posted By Jenny Lou Bement on Fri, Jan 6, 2012 at 3:28 PM
Live review: Homewrecker, Voice of Pizza
Snug Harbor
Jan. 4, 2012
Judging by the balance of people who walked out the door vs. the number who stayed up front and soaked up every note and nuance, Charlotte's Homewrecker hasn't broken the mold of music being a polarizing form of entertainment.
Philip Shive, a former booking agent for the Milestone, has found a way to incorporate his two loves — film and music — under one roof. He shared a few of his short films at a Snug Harbor pizza party on Jan. 4, before a performance from his main custom music outfit, Homewrecker. It's a strange scene to watch people pull out camping chairs and blankets at a music venue.
News / On TV / Awards Charlotte Symphony chorus director receives Grammy nomination
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Fri, Jan 6, 2012 at 3:17 PM
Scott Allen Jarrett, the Charlotte Symphony’s director of choruses and assistant conductor, received a Grammy Award nomination for "Best Choral Performance" as part of his performance with the Miami-based choral ensemble Seraphic Fire’s recording of "Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem."
The chorus’ performance of "Brahms’ Ein Deutches Requiem" debuted at number six on the Billboard Classical music charts last September. The recording, which uses Brahms’ own transcription for two pianos, features Jarrett as a pianist. He has been involved with Seraphic Fire since 2005 and maintains an active role within the ensemble as keyboard collaborator.
"I am so proud to be a part of such a fantastic project,” Jarrett said in a press release. “Seraphic Fire has grown over the years into one of the country's premier choral ensembles, and it's tremendously rewarding to know that our work is being recognized at such a high level."
Currently in his eighth season as director of the Charlotte oratorio singers, Jarrett is a Boston resident. He travels weekly to Charlotte.
CD Reviews Best jazz CDs of 2011
Posted By Perry Tannenbaum on Fri, Jan 6, 2012 at 3:06 PM
Instead of doing a best in jazz and classical for 2011, I’ve segregated and done two top fives. Considering that the two genres occasionally overlap, it’s not the soundest decision, but this is 2012 and I’m a blogger, for crissake. It’s about time I started flouting logic and reason like cool bloggers s’posed to do.
Here’s your link to my classical picks after you finish with these here:
Charles Lloyd/Maria Farantouri — Athens Concert (ECM) — The top contemporary quartet in jazz, fronted by Lloyd on sax and flute with Jason Moran at the keyboard, encounters Greek diva Farantouri, plus the odd lyra tossed in for good measure. What results isn’t a feel-good detour into folksy world music but a passionate synthesis of wailing post-bop jazz and soulful torch singing at the birthplace of drama, in the shadow of the Acropolis. Lloyd is as good as ever and Farantouri is the vocalist Morgana King wished she could be.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Live Reviews 10 memorable moments of 2011 — Concert edition
Posted By Jeff Hahne on Wed, Jan 4, 2012 at 11:24 AM
My initial intent was to give my thoughts on the highs and lows of 2011. However, out of the 116 concerts I attended last year, a large number of them were really good. Then I figured any shows that were that horrible didn't even need to be mentioned. So, instead, I'll focus on 10 memorable moments (in random order) of the last year that stood out to me:
Rodney Lanier Memorial — This event left me thinking, "If this is the way everyone's life is celebrated, there'd be no fear of dying." Featuring brief sets by Sunshone Still and Sea of Cortez, friends, family and fellow musicians gathered at the Chop Shop to celebrate the life of Rodney Lanier. It was all capped off by a New Orleans style parade to the Evening Muse. Words can't describe the emotions that poured through the streets that night...
Grids — No fanfare or bullshit. The hardcore-punk band threw down at its last show at The Milestone, with plenty of friends surrounding them. Keep an eye on Brain F=, No Power and Double Negative for your fix of the band members in the aftermath.
Dancing on the Darkside — Kudos to Eric Mullis and company for having the guts to put together an original project that combines dance, visuals and music. This event paid tribute to Pink Floyd and he's put together another series called the Telepresence Project that continues the idea with a more original soundscape.
Brandi Carlile — The folk singer performed a solo show at the Knight Theatre that showcased her vocals and was spotlighted by an in-total-darkness a capella version of "Amazing Grace." Amazing, indeed.
My Morning Jacket — The most memorable part of this show was the fact fans didn't move a muscle when the rains came pouring down. They stuck through it and waited until the band came out, even if it was an abbreviated set.
Hayes Carll — The country/folk artist performed for more than two hours at the Stage Door Theatre. When the show was over, he headed to the Thirsty Beaver for another impromptu set for a small crowd. Having fun is the best way to do it...
Manu Chao — The folk singer made his Charlotte debut at The Fillmore and brought an unending energy to the stage in several languages. The show wasn't sold out, but that only made more room for the crowd to dance their asses off.
Ronnie Burrage/Branford Marsalis — If it wasn't enough that Ronnie Burrage came to Petra's Piano Bar for a night of jazz, the fact that he brought along Branford Marsalis sealed the deal. Unfortunately, jazz like that doesn't come through town often enough.
Avett Brothers — The group returned home for a sold-out concert at Bojangles Coliseum. Hopefully they'll be back before too long — especially if it's for another release party.
Charlotte Identity Crisis — John Thomsen of Grown Up Avenger Stuff organized this show outside of Salvador Deli that featured Charlotte bands (The Spiveys, GUAS, The Between, HelloHandshake, The Chelsea Daggers and The Jupiter Tide) covering other Charlotte bands. A great inaugural event that I hope will continue in its efforts to bring the music scene closer together.
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Beloved Charlotte School of Rock Instructor Dies
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West Coast trio drops new mixtape after Church League Champions was one of 2009's best.
