O, To Be in 2, Perhaps, 3 Places at the Same Time: Arts on Saturday

Saturday October 17:
If you love music, many different kinds of music, this is one of those days that there are actually too many offerings. I dare you to stay away.

The Russell Library presents the duo (in the picture) of Emil Altschuler (violin) and Jerome Mouffe (guitar) at 2 p.m. in the Hubbard Room. Altschuler, a graduate of both the Juilliard School and the Yale School, has performed on concert stages around the world. The Belgian-born Mouffe is a splendid guitarist who has studied at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels and at the Mozarteum University of Salzburg and is now working with the legendary Eliot Fisk at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. The duo's repertoire includes music by Albeniz, Beaser, Piazzola, Paganini, Bach and others. The music should be quite impressive and enjoyable plus the concert is free and open to the public. (Author's Note: I got ahead of myself - this concert takes place next week, Saturday October 24 - no need to line up early.)

The Greater Middletown Concert Association opens its 2009-10 "Concert" season with "Broadway Live" at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Performing Arts Center of Middletown High School, LaRosa Lane. Scheduled to perform are theater veterans and Teresa Burrell, Robert Cuccioli and Christianne Tisdale, accompanied by pianist Barry Levitt. You should recognize most if not all of the tunes and the trio's presentation is excellent. For ticket information, go to http://greatermiddletownconcerts.org/concert-series.htm or call 860-347-4887.

Guitarist/composer Sinan Bakir returns to The Buttonwood Tree for a 7:30 p.m. performance. The Turkish-born Bakir now resides in the Hartford area - earlier this year, he released his debut CD, "On My Way", a recording that has garnered solid reviews (including mine) for its straight-forward approach, melodic diversity and solid improvisations. Joining Bakir is the delightful pianist Warren Byrd, bassist Matt Dwonszyk and drummer Joe Palmer. For more information and a taste of the guitarist's music, go to www.sinanbakir.com.


Pianist Omar Sosa comes to Wesleyan as part of the Crowell Concert Series and chances are quite good the music will be rhythmically exciting. Sosa, born and raised in Camaguey, Cuba, began studying music (specifically percussion) at the age of 8. His parents loved all kinds of music and the young man grew up listening to Cuban bandleader Benny More and Nat "King" Cole as well as lots of classical music.
While studying at the conservatory in Havana,, Sosa discovered Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Oscar Peterson, Keith Jarrett, and many others. Sossa has been living in the San Francisco Bay area since 1995 and has been creating original music that blends the music of his native land with influences from Africa and the Middle East.
Joining him on the Crowell Stage for the 8 p.m. show will be Marque Gilmore (drums), Childo Tomas (electric bass) and Mola Sylla (vocals.) For more information, go to www.wesleyan.edu/cfa or call the Box Office at 685-3355. To learn more about Omar Sosa and his music, go to www.omarsosa.com.

Boney's Music Lounge presents Shakedown, a quintet that has based its sound in that of the Grateful Dead. Featuring the dual guitar stylings of Jeff Martinson and Dave Frankel along with Geoff Wadhams (keyboards), Mark Haberfield (bass) and John Panchack (drums), the band plays throughout the Northeast and has a loyal following. They'll start the jams at 8 p.m. For more information, call 346-6000.