Entertainment Tonight

Let's see - the Middletown Public Schools Art Exhibition opens today with a reception from 5 - 7 p.m. in Zilkha Gallery and "South Pacific" is "on the boards" at Mercy High School tonight at 7:30 p.m. (as well as tomorrow at 2 p.m.  The Carta Brothers present the Basically Blues Band at 8 p.m. in the Cypress Restaurant & Grill on South Main Street.

Former Middletown resident and frequent world traveler, Joe Fonda (pictured left) returns to The Buttonwood Tree tonight at 8 p.m.  His energetic bass work will be anchoring a trio featuring drummer Lou Grassi and the playing plus compositions of Finnish saxophonist Mikko Innanen. They'll play 2 sets and, knowing the participants, the music will be open and challenging.  Go to www.buttonwood.org for more information.

Last night, The Buttonwood hosted the George Schuller Trio and I'm pleased to report the place was packed, especially for the first set.  George, the son of the legendary composer, arranger, educator, historian and musician Gunther Schuller, is an accomplished drummer and composer.  His Trio featured the excellent young pianist Dan Tepfer and the sturdy plus melodic bassist Jeremy Stratton (pictured left with Schuller.)  The music, a good portion of which came from the Trio's new CD, "Life's Little Drama" (Fresh Sounds New Talent), ranged from delicate to thunderous, filled with euphonious flourishes, splendid accompaniment and creative interplay.  Pianist Tepfer is such an inventive player; he never lets technique get in the way of melody and harmony, spinning sweet improvisations out of pretty pieces such as Michel Lerand's "I Will Wait for You" and Vernon Duke's "Autumn in New York".  His feet danced around the pedals while his fingers dashed over the keyboard on Schuller's Caribbean-tinged "Apocalypso."  The leader is one of the more melodic drummers, especially in the way he frames many of his solos and introductions. Sure, he can "pound away" with the best of them when the spirit moves yet he almost always stays within the framework of the piece (no matter how expansive the song may be.) Stratton is a bassist out of the Charlie Haden school, not flashy but controlled, melodic, and full-toned.  

The Buttonwood gig was the second of 3 consecutive nights on the road - Great Barrington, MA, and the Castle Street Cafe is the final stop of this weekend and they have one more "hit" in Brooklyn on 3/15.  For more information, go to www.georgeschuller.net.