Saturday Night & Sunday Morning

Despite the lack of fireworks (save for recent events in City Hall), this Holiday weekend should be just about perfect for get-togethers, picnics and the like.  The thermometer will rise rapidly over the next 4 days but, hey, it's July.

On Monday, I'll post about the numerous arts opportunities for next week (ART FARM, Center for the Arts at Wesleyan, Herb Garden Concerts, South Green Concerts, Wadsworth Mansion Concerts, etc) but just a short note here.

Tonight (July 3), the Cypress Restaurant and Grill, 1265 South Main Street, welcomes Shaka & the SoulShakers to its Patio Music Series. Led by vocalist Bill "Swamp" Shaka, the quartet describes its music as "a rhythm 'n' roll swamp soul gumbo", meaning the sounds you'll hear have their roots in New Orleans, Memphis and Muscle Shoals, Alabama.  In other words, the band will "kick butt" and do it by "laying down some serious funk."  They'll start playing at 7:30 p,.m.  For more information, call 860-346-3367.  To learn more about the band, go to http://shakaandthessoulshakers.com.

 Next Thursday, the Center for the Arts at Wesleyan present saxophonist Joel Frahm in concert at 8 p.m. in the CFA Theater.  Frahm, born in Wisconsin, moved to West Hartford in his early teens and went to Hall High where he met life-long friend and jazz pianist Brad Mehldau.  While Mehldau has become world famous, Frahm has become one of the most versatile players on the scene.  Just in the past few months, I've received CDs by vocalists Dana Lauren (also from the Hartford area) and Beat Kaestli,  from drummers Ernesto Cervini and Roland Vasquez, and percussionist Samuel Torres, all of which feature Frahm. 
I had the opportunity to interview the saxophonist and you can hear our chat tomorrow  at 11 a.m. on WMRD-AM 1150.