Holiday Weekend Arts

Friday April 2:

Producer/composer/arranger/keyboard player Jason Miles presents "Stories to Tell - Behind the Scenes" tonight at 7:30 p.m. in The Buttonwood Tree.  Over the course of the past 30 years, Miles has appeared on CDs by Miles Davis, Luther Vandross, Michael Jackson and other while producing tributes to Weather Report, Ivan Lins, Marvin Gaye and Grover Washington Jr.  He also produced sessions with vocalists Suzy Bogguss and Cassandra Reed as well as a GRAMMY-nominated CD for saxophonist Gato Barbieri. Needless to say, Miles has been a very busy man, met many famous people and has plenty of stories.
And, that's what he'll do at The Buttonwood.  Give the audience a taste of his music and talk about the work he's done and the people he's made music with.  To find out more. go to www.jasonmiles.com - to reserve a spot, call 860-347-4957. 

Boney's Music Lounge presents the dance band "Players Club" at 9 p.m. The septet blends rock, soul, funk and more into a mix that won't let one sit still.  From Kid Rock to James Brown, Van Morrison to Bonnie Raitt, K.C & the Sunshine Band to Aretha Franklin, this band has got "it" covered.

Saturday April 3:
The trio known as Step In, composed of bassist Joe Fonda, drummer George Schuller and pianist Carlo Morena come to The Buttonwood Tree for an 8 p.m. performance. This project, started over 10 years ago by former Middletown resident Fonda, has roots in the classic Bill Evans Trio sound but is more exploratory, bringing in pianist Morena's love for traditional Italian fare, Schuller's encyclopedic knowledge of jazz and the bassist's love of melodic adventure.  Joining them will be vocalist Jasmine Labianco.  To reserve a seat, call 860-347-4957.

The Liviu Pop Group, or "LPG", returns to Boney's Music Lounge for a fun evening of funk and jazz.  Special guest Curtis T joins the bad for the 9 p.m. hit.  For more information, call 860-346-6000.

Monday April 5:

Readers Theater returns to The Russell Library for a 7 p.m. staged reading of "Art." First presented in 1994, the play tells the story of 3 friends who come to words and blows after one of them buys a piece of "modern art", a painting with 3 vertical lines (as shown in the "cover art" on the left.)  It's a comedy but a dark one that deals with how we build personal relationships and compromise.  Myron Gubitz directs and stars in this production along with Steve Liskow and myself with Naomi Kamins as narrator. The play, for mature audiences, takes place in the Hubbard Room - it is free and open to the public.  For more information, call 860-347-2528, extension 135.