Thursday, December 2, 2010

Gear Up for Christmas and Other Excellent Music - Buttonwood This Weekend

Double Bill: Russian Duo // Blue Moose and the Unbuttoned Zippers

Friday December 3rd, 2010

8:00PM

$12/$10 Students

Blue Moose and the Unbuttoned Zippers

Plays American Old-Time music, Scandinavian and original tunes with a contemporary twist.

Founded in 2006 by four Berklee College of Music students, BMUZ decided to do something really different. They combined Scandinavian music and a nyckelharpa with American Old Time music, four and five string fiddles and a jazz and bluegrass guitarist. The result? A contemporary string band filled with epic triple fiddles, catchy melodies and driving rhythms full of raw energy and mashy quirk.

www.bmuz.net

Russian Duo is an international project born out of a love of traditional music and classical elegance. Oleg Kruglyakov is a balalaika virtuoso from Siberia and Terry Boyarsky is an American concert pianist with Russian heritage. Their performances are exuberant, compelling, and magical, with music that is at times reserved, soulful, vigorous, and mischievous. The Duo takes audiences on a journey across the span of Russian culture to favorites from around the world. From humorous pieces, elaborate sets of variations, pulsating dance music, rhythmic folk songs, gypsy melodies, lyrical romances, to ragtime, Russian Duo celebrates cross-cultural creativity, exploring the range of possibilities offered by the combination of balalaika, voice and piano.

www.russianduo.com

“Dazzling musicians . . . explosive talent” writes the Hartford, Connecticut Advocate

“With music of élan, finesse and passion so virtuosically rendered, this duo’s performances are irresistible.”

- Robert Spano, Music Director, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra



Charles Xavier – “Xmas Vibe”

Saturday December 4th, 2010

8:00PM

$10/$8 Students

Performing with: Charles Xavier in the Xmas Vibe show, will be vocalist Marcelle Gauvin and guitarist Felix Rentschler

Called a “project deserving of a wider audience,” by JazzTimes.com, Charles Xavier will perform eclectic and creative interpretations of many traditional and contemporary Christmas songs from his Xmas Vibe CD, such as of John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (The War is Over)” and the classic “God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman.”

Charles Xavier – The XMan Cometh to Your Town This Xmas.

Called a “Rara Avis” by the legendary Down Beat Magazine, Vibraphonist Charles Xavier is on tour on the east and west coasts in December, performing tracks from his lauded new CD, Xmas Vibe.

Called a “project is deserving of a wider audience,” by JazzTimes.com, Xmas Vibe features eclectic and creative interpretations of many traditional and contemporary Christmas songs, such as of John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (The War is Over)” and the classic “God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman.”

Defying convention, Xavier’s Xmas Vibe is captivatingly jazzy, New Age and trance-like with delicate vocals, guitar, piano, vibes, chimes and bells, and sampling and technology. Enchanting, mystical, and abstract, Charles Xavier’s Xmas Vibe takes the listener on a creatively harmonious and melodious musical journey through a magical winter landscape of style and unusual flair.

www.happynoterecords.com
www.myspace.com/thexman
www.youtube.com/thexmancometh
www.facebook.com/charlesxavierxman
www.twitter.com/CharlesXavierJr

Marcelle Gauvin

The singer was born in Woonsocket, RI, and began performing at approximately the same time she began grammar school. She started singing professionally while studying at U. Mass. Dartmouth, where, after majoring in psychology with a music minor, she earned a magna cum laude degree. She has studied in New York, Boston, and Providence, with highly-regarded music, vocal, acting, and dance instructors, and is herself a well-respected vocal coach.

In addition to her successful recording career, Marcelle sings regularly at clubs throughout New England, and has been the featured performer at, among other venues, Musik Fest in Bethlehem, PA; Warner Theater, Washington, DC; George Wein Week, Newport, RI; and the first annual Southwick (MA) Jazz Festival.

www.marcellegauvin.com/

Felix Rentschler -Guitar

Felix graduated Berklee College of Music in 1987 with a degree in Professional Music and has been playing and composing for bands since 1980. He is adept at playing a variety of styles, including jazz, blues, rock and worldbeat. He has toured nationally and internationally with original bands including Shockra, Heavy Metal Horns, and Entrain.

Felix has shared the stage with many well known acts such as Phish, Al Jarreau, Dave Matthews, Tower of Power, Randy Brecker, Little Richard, Maceo Parker, Doctor John, Derek Trucks, The Spin Doctors, and many more. He currently teaches all styles and all levels of guitar, and also leads an original combo called Felix and Friends.

http://www.czonemusic.com/bios-felix-rentschler.php


Greg Orfanos – “Between States”

Artist’s Reception

Sunday, December 5th
3:00 – 5:00pm

Free

A show comprised of art work that was created over the past two years. It depicts a period of transition that deals with geographical, physical and mental states of being. Through the exploration in to the idea of memory through dream, my paintings become a snapshot of random thoughts and moments in my life composed in to a sort of false narrative. The image itself represents the distortion of what is frequently recalled. The layers, colors and collage represent the truth of what can not be recalled. The result in all this becomes a question unto myself. Who am I?

http://www.salemnews.com/local/x2064733916/Unexpected-art-transforms-unlikely-downtown-objects

http://www.nsartthrob.com/?p=1361



More Upcoming Happenings

See website for more details

Dec. 10th - The "Rockin Raver" Dave Rave and Amalgamated Muck

Dec 11th - Tim Sparks CD Release Party

Dec 12th - Dylan Thomas's "A Childs Christmas in Wales" - By Peter Loffredo

Dec. 17th - Sandy Bailey and Family

Dec. 18th - Holiday Ornament Decorating & Letter Writing to Santa / Sean Clapis Jazz Trio

Dec. 31st - New Years Eve Celebration!


Ongoing Happenings Here @ The Buttonwood Tree

Sundays:

Worship Services - 11:00am

Food Not Bombs - 1:00pm


Mondays:

Wing Chun Study Group - 6-7pm, $8/Class 5$ for students

Open MIC with J-Cherry - 7:30pm Signup 8:00pm start time -$3-5 suggested donation – pay what you can


Thursdays:

Kundalini Yoga Class with Kay Lani - 5:15pm - 6:45pm

Fees: Walk-ins: $12 / 6-class card: $60 / 12-class card: $98

Discounts also available for senior citizen and student class cards and special offers for first time students


1st Thursdays of the Month:

Open MIC with Bob Gotta - 6:30 sign up - 7:00 start Suggested Donation $5


2nd Wednesdays of the Month:

Belly Dance Presentation - Show starts at 8:00pm Suggested Donation $5


Book Store / Art Gallery Hours

During events, by appointment, at random times and regularly:

Sundays 1-2 pm

Mondays 10 am – 10 pm

Tuesdays 11 am – 7 pm

Wednesdays 1-7 pm

Thursdays 10 am – 7 pm

Fridays 11 am – 3 pm


Handicap accessible

Light Refreshments available

Reservations can be made online at www.buttonwood.org

605 Main Street - Plenty of Parking at ION Market parking lot

No comments: