Aisle Be Seeing You

Big news from the Ailey company's Judith Jamison

Judith Jamison

Things will be changing at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater starting in 2011. Get the story from the Ailey company web site.

UPDATE: The New York Times article announcing Judith Jamison's retirement.

New slide show from the Cherryholmes band

This just in - literally. A slide show covering Cherryholmes' recent tour dates in Scotland.

Take a look.

BUSTED!

Received this righteous blast this morning from a patron on our e-mail list.

"Your message states 'It might seem a little like United Kingdom month at the Celebrity Series, what with the Camerata Ireland, The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards , and The Chieftains all scheduled. Even the bluegrass family band Cherryholmes is known to do a bit of Irish step dancing in their show.'
HOWEVER, IRELAND IS NOT PART OF THE UNITED KINGDOM!"

Oh, Maureen, you are so right. I was a fool when I wrote that Ireland is part of the UK - forgive me Paddy Moloney!  - and I'm a red-faced fool now. Thank you for calling me out. I only hope the good folks at O'Connor's will still serve me my bangers and mash with a smile.

No matter what I said, Cherryholmes does do some mean Irish step dancing, which is extraordinary when you consider they are originally from California (which is not part of the UK, by the way).

Cherryholmes profile on NPR

Cherryholmes in action

If you aren't yet familiar with the bluegrass family band phenomenon known as Cherryholmes, then this eight minute audio clip from NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday from '06 is just the thing to get you up to speed (I've pointed you to the home page for the story, you need to click on the link near the top left once the page loads for the eight minute clip.) In addition to the story, you can listen to several audio clips of the group's performances on the page, too.

Cherryholmes will be at Sanders Theatre this Sunday at 3pm.

Camerata Ireland and Barry Douglas BBC clip

Just came across this nice little introduction to The Camerata Ireland and Barry Douglas. The clip takes the form of four short segments of a BBC produced profile.

Alfred Brendel in the Globe

I have been remiss. I neglected to mention the Boston Globe's two fine pieces on Alfred Brendel. Here are their links:

David Weininger's preview article, His final bow.

Jeremy Eichler's concert review, Pianist Brendel bids a serenely Brendellian farewell

Alfred Brendel's encores

It took a little while, but I finally did get confirmation of Alfred Brendel's encores from his recital on Friday evening (I knew I should have elbowed my way to the head of the line...). They were as follows:

1. J.S. Bach, "Andante" from Concerto nach Italienischem Gusto, "Italian Concerto"

2. Liszt, “Au Lac de Wallenstadt” from Années de pèlerinage, Première Année – Suisse

3. Schubert, Impromptu No. 3 in G-flat major from Four Impromptus, Op. 90 (D. 899)
3. Schubert, Impromptu in A flat Major, from Four Impromptus, Op. 142, No. 2 (D. 935)

Mr. Brendel came off stage following each piece, stood for a beat, wiping his brow with a handkerchief, turned on his heel and strode back out on stage. No muss, no fuss. It was impressive, and made the process seem athletic.

UPDATE: I made a mistake on Mr. Brendel's third encore. It was indeed a Schubert work. See above.

Video excerpt from The Chieftains and Friends

Here's a good video quality excerpt from a produced overview of The Chieftains. Not sure of the year, but speakers include fiddler Martin Fay, since retired from touring, and the late harpist for the band, Derek Bell.

The Chieftains will be in Symphony Hall on Friday, March 14. You can find a list of special guests and buy tickets here.

Preservation Hall trumpeter John Brunious, 1940-2008

John Brunious

Trumpeter John Brunious, a fixture at the helm of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band for 20 years, has died at age 67. His funeral will take place this Friday, February 22. He will be honored with a jazz funeral second line procession this Saturday, February 23 at 1pm.

The Celebrity Series presented Mr. Brunious and the Pres Hall band countless times over his tenure, always in Symphony Hall. I remember a touching moment when the band played a post-Katrina benefit to open our 2006-2007 season. The band played a beautiful show, complete with wacky old cartoons on a giant screen and a thrilling guest appearance by Ellis Marsalis. The band came to the Cajun dinner that followed. John Brunious sat for the entire dinner with his trumpet on the floor beside his chair, "I don't let it out of my sight," he said. The silver-plated Conn trumpet had been a gift from the Tipitina's Foundation several months earlier. Brunious had lost six trumpets to Katrina's floodwaters and had himself been rescued from a second story window.

My favorite quote from Mr. Brunious came from Ben Jaffe as quoted in the group's press release on Brunious's passing: ‘There’s another Louis Armstrong somewhere out there in New Orleans.  I’m going to find them and teach them all I got.’

Preservation Hall Jazz Band press release

New Orleans Times-Picayune obituary

Times-Picayune listing of funeral arrangements

San Francsico Chronicle obituary

Los Angeles Times

BestofNewOrleans.com obituary

Preservation Hall Jazz Band video footage of "Hindustan" featuring Brunious

John Brunious's wikipedia page

UPDATE: Photos of John Brunious' February 23 Jazz Funeral in New Orleans

Dragoon Guards: new name, no horses

The show that we have been calling "The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and the Band of the Coldstream Guards" will now be called:

"Pipes, Drums and Dancers of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and The Regimental Band, Her Majesty's Coldstream Guards"

No, I'm not kidding. Hey, they have been accruing traditions and names for quite some time now. Relax, you can buy a ticket without having to say their entire name.

In case you missed it, the new name highlights the fact that the show will include highland dancers.

Also, there will be no horses in the show. Think about it, it's in Symphony Hall.