Vocal Chords Concert on Saturday

September Songs, Sights & Sounds (9/01-06)

The final concert in the City of Middletown's Summer Sounds Series takes place tonight at 7 p.m. on the South Green. The Middletown Symphonic Band, Marco Gaylord, music director, will present an exciting program of music, ranging from classical works to jazz to popular standards to the music of John Williams (and much, much more.) The weather looks like it will cooperate so bring your chairs, blankets, jackets, light sweaters, and appetite for good music - you won't be disappointed.

Perhaps singing is more to your liking - rehearsals begin tonight at 7 p.m. for the Middlesex Hospital Vocal Chords and you neither have to an employee nor a patient to join. Show up at the Reverend Monsignor M. Davitt Fox Parish Center of St. Francis Church, Elm Street, sign up and start singing. For more information, call 342-3120.

Then again, one may wish to spice up their musical experiences by attending the Latin Jazz Workshop tonight at 7 p.m. in the MAC650 Art Gallery, Main Street. Conducting the workshops (the 2nd one takes place 9/15) is musicologist Jorge Arevalo Mateus. For more information, call 343-1516.

On Friday, MAC650 celebrates the opening of a new exhibition at 7 p.m. "Art Without Judges Gallery Show" is the name of the show and will be "up" throughout the month of September. Call the number above for more information.

The Buttonwood Tree reopens this Friday for its new season (after a brief respite in August) with a program titled "POSITIVITY! - A Hiphop Celebration" at 8 p.m. The musical program, which works hard to negate the image of negativity and self-hatred that often infuses this music. Live musicians work alongside turntablists to create this truly upbeat program. For more information, call 347-4957.

Also on Friday night, drummer Liviu Pop returns to Boney's Music Lounge with a group that features vocalist Toni Lynn Washington. The Massachusetts-based Washington is comfortable in both the blues and jazz idioms and this should be a fun gig. The music starts at 8:30 p.m.

On Saturday, The Buttonwood Tree welcomes the sextet known as Dani Jazz. Led by vocalist and keyboard player Danielle Elliot (a Connecticut native and recent graduate of the New School of Jazz & Contemporary Music), the ensemble features Kevin Smith (bass), Simon Kafka (guitar), Adam Jackson (drums), Tyler Greenblatt (trumpet) and Dylan Heaney (tenor saxophone) with special guest Jerrod Cattey (percussion.) There's been a lot of chat on the Internet lately about the inevitable "death of jazz" (as a commercial entity) but there are so many fine young musicians involved in the music that, instead of dying, one is tempted to say the music is "evolving" and onto new possibilities. Here's an opportunity to see and hear a fine young leader and ensemble. The music starts at 8 p.m.

At 8:30 p.m. in Boney's Music Lounge, Nu Direxion returns to play an evening of smooth jazz, reggae, r'n'b and more. The guitar, bass and drums trio plays throughout Central Connecticut and Southern Massachusetts, often with a guest saxophonist to round out the sound. One thing is for sure - they know how to "find the groove and make it move." For more information, go to http://nudirexion.com/ or call 346-6000.

Sunday September 6, The Buttonwood hosts an Artist's Reception for the opening of its latest exhibition, the very colorful paintings of Pierre Sylvain. His work has been featured in the lobby of Liberty Bank/Main Street, NOMA Gallery, and can be seen in the Imperial Caribbean Restaurant and Fishbone Cafe. The event takes place from 3 - 5 p.m.

Ladies' Night (Saturday May 30) - Guys, Too

The Buttonwood Tree, in conjunction with the Riverwood Poetry Series, presents 4 poets who will pay tribute to the lives of "Women Beat Poets." Scheduled to read are Buttonwood founder Suse Allison, Terri Klein, Christine Beck and Julia Morris Paul. Ms. Beck (pictured here) is not only an attorney and instructor studies at the University of Hartford but also the President of the Connecticut Poetry Society and the Contest Chairperson of the National Federation of State Poetry Societies. Julia Paul is also an attorney specializing in elder law. Terri Klein is a playwright, actress, teacher and has a wicked sense of humor. If you don't know Ms. Allison, click here.

The evening features original poetry, perhaps a playlet or song and the presentations will be energetic. For more information, go to www.riverwoodpoetry.org.

The Middlesex Hospital Vocal Chords, Gina Fredericks, music director, presents its 20th Annual Spring Concert at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of Portland High School, 95 High Street. The ensemble, started by nurse Joyce Ghent, still has 6 of its original members and 8 singers who have been involved for over 15 years. For more information, call 342-3120.

I received an email from guitarist Mike Baggetta who will be performing with The Drewids this Saturday at 8:30 in Boney's Music Lounge, 106 College Street. He wrote to tell me that original drummer George Schuller (who recently broke his ankle) has been replaced for this hit by Jordan Perlson (who's worked with guitarist Joel Harrison and vocalist Becca Stevens.) Also joining the quartet (led by bassist Drew Emer) will be Jamie Baum (pictured), a Fairfield native, who is an excellent flautist and composer. Should be an very interesting evening of music.

I recently wrote a review of Baggetta's fine new CD "Small Spaces" and you can read it here.