Music, Cinema, Art and Books

A busy 3-day weekend awaits one and all in the Middletown area.

On Thursday (March 3), The Buttonwood Tree opens its door at 7 p.m. for the monthly Acoustic Open Mic.  Hosted as always by the talented and friendly Bob Gotta, this is your opportunity to play music or tell stories or do both at the same time. 

The Ring Family Israeli Film Series at Wesleyan continues Thursday at 8 p.m. in the Goldsmith Cinema in the Wesleyan Film Studies Building, Washington Terrace.  "The Beetle" is a 2009 documentary from filmmaker Yishai Orian about his car (pictured left) and the issues surrounding a German automobile in Israel.  Here's a description of the movie from "The Video Librarian": This first-person documentary begins on the eve of Jerusalem filmmaker Yishai Orian’s wedding to Eliraz—the same week during which he buys a used yellow Volkswagen with a red hood. The Beetle picks up the story six years later with a pregnant wife and a worn-out car. While Yishai is a likable slob, Eliraz is a somewhat unsympathetic scold, who’s tired of the 40-year-old Beetle. “This car,” she complains, “is a piece of junk.” But to Yishai the car is more than just a broken-down hunk of metal, and he tracks down the vehicle’s original owners, along the way tracing the history of the “bug” back to Nazi Germany, where it gained popularity as “the people’s car” (eventually the model found its way around the world, including Israel, where prime minister Menachem Begin protested its arrival before relenting). Yishai’s quest to learn his own Beetle’s story leads him to Lionel, whose father had a love/hate relationship with the car; Yoram, who remembers it fondly; Eva, who gave birth in it; and Mara and Karol, who held on to it for the sake of a sick child. Yishai enjoys their stories but worries about safety, the price of baby supplies, and mounting repair costs, wondering whether to sell it or have it overhauled before ultimately making a decision that feels right."  (Go to www.videolibrarian.com/index.html for more reviews.) The screening, introduced by Anne Peters, Wesleyan Asst. Professor in the Government Department, is free and open to the public.  

On Friday (March 4), the MAC 650 Gallery, 650 Main Street, opens "The Art of Speed: Hot Rod and Custom Culture Art Show", a show organized by Hot Rods Revival and **Roads to Ruin**. The Opening is actually a 2-day event, both Friday and Saturday evenings from 6 - 11 p.m. The show runs through March 31. For Gallery hours and more information, call 860-347-0834 or go to http://mac650.blogspot.com/.  
 
The "indie-pop" husband & wife duo known as The Sawtelles comes back to Middletown to perform at 6 p.m. in Typhoon Restaurant, 360 Main Street.    Interesting venue for a guitar/drums duo but the food is good and music quite palatable (and vice versa.)

The Buttonwood Tree presents the George Schuller Trio in concert at 8 p.m.  Drummer/composer Schuller is one of the busiest and accomplished musicians of his generation, working with or producing such notable artists as Joe Lovano, Michael Musillami, Mario Pavone, Fred Hersch, and numerous others.  Joining him will be the impressive young pianist Dan Tepfer and bassist Jeremy Stratton.  In 2008, the Trio recorded "Life's Little Dramas", a CD just issued on the Fresh Sounds New Talent label (my review can be read by clicking here.)  Expect the unexpected and enjoy the ride because these guys work and play well together.  For more information, call 860-347-4957 or go to www.buttonwood.org.  

The Friends of the Russell Library hosts its monthly Book Sale on Saturday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. in the Children's Activity Room. This is your opportunity to find some real literary bargains and help the Friends, the group that sponsors a number of activities in the Library.  

The Middletown Public Schools Art Exhibit opens on Saturday with a Reception from 5 -  7 p.m. in Zilkha Gallery.  Even if you do not have a child or grandchild with work hanging on the walls, go see this exhibition.  You'll be quite impressed at the quality of the work.  Gallery hours are 1 - 4 p.m. on Saturday & Sunday, 12noon - 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and the show will be "up" through Sunday March 13.

Finnish saxophonist Mikko Innanen comes to The Buttonwood Tree on Saturday to perform in a trio setting with bassist Joe Fonda and drummer Lou Grassi.  Innanen, who has led or co-led 17 CDs, plays all shapes and sizes of saxophones, crossing many stylistic boundaries throughout his career. His compositions blend traditional Finnish folk tunes with jazz improvisations.  His musical partners are well-known in the US and European jazz communities, both as leaders and sideman.  Fonda, who often performs in the area, has a history of fascinating collaborations (from tap dancers to folk singers) while Grassi has spent the better part of the last 3 decades dedicated to improvisational music.  The music starts at 8 p.m. To find out more about the saxophonist and his numerous projects, go to www.mikkoinnanen.com.