Star City Blog / Music

Clawfoot House Hosts Kaleidoscope-Folk Troupe 'Ah Holly Fam'ly'

Avant chamber-folk ensemble Ah Holly Fam'ly and experimental country band Ohioan, both from Portland, will be performing on Nov. 5 at 8 pm, at Clawfoot House with Lincoln's own Manny Coon. Clawfoot House is an alternative performance space in an old apartment in the Everett neighborhood, at 1042 F St. Admission to the show is $5.

 

The eight-piece, kaleidoscope-folk troupe, Ah Holly Fam'ly, formed in the culturally sparse and desperate landscapes of rural Idaho, before packing up for their current home of Portland, Oregon. The paired voices of married duo, Becky Dawson and Jeremy Faulkner, tow a thematic line between a deconstruction of the sentimental, and a celebration of it. The band's debut album 'Reservoir' flirts with the memories of youth, where man-made bodies of water built for agriculture and industry became places of recreation.

Nationally-Known Trumpeter Carl Eitzen to Perform Free Lincoln Concert

Senior Airman Carl M. Eitzen will appear in concert November 4, 2009, at 7:30 pm in the O’Donnell Auditorium at the Rogers Fine Arts Center on the Nebraska Wesleyan University campus. This concert is free and open to the public. Selections will include Sonata for Trompete und Klavier by Paul Hindemith, Concerto for Trumpet in E flat Major by Joseph Haydn, and Concertino Classico for Two Trumpets by Joseph Horovitz.

A native of San Diego, Carl Eitzen is a member of the United States Air Force Heartland of America Band. Eitzen has performed as principal trumpet with the Las Colinas, Garland and Arlington Symphonies in Texas, and has appeared with the Omaha Symphony Orchestra, Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Opera Orchestra, Pacific Symphony Orchestra, and the San Diego Chamber Orchestra.

Experience Wayne Bergeron with the Nebraska Jazz Orchestra Oct. 29th

Join the Nebraska Jazz Orchestra for the exciting kick-off concert of its 2009-2010 season! “Plays Well With Others” will feature one of L.A.’s most highly sought and award winning trumpet players, Wayne Bergeron, as guest artist with the 17-piece Nebraska Jazz Orchestra.

Selections will include classics such as “Bésame Mucho,” “You've Never Had a Friend Like Me,” (from Disney's “Aladdin”) “Waltz of the Flowers,” (from Tchaikovsky's “Nutcracker” ballet) and “You Go to My Head.”

Steven Rich To Perform One Man Show At TADA Theatre

When TADA Productions Inc. first began, actor Steven C. Rich played the lead role in its Midwest premiere of Jekyll & Hyde the musical. Since his TADA debut Rich has gone on to tour in such shows as CATS and Miss Saigon. The first two days of November he will premiere his one man cabaret performance "A Night Of Rich Music" at the TADA Theatre in Lincoln Nebraska's Haymarket. 

Growing up with Les Paul (Kind Of)

By Dan DeMuth
 
It’s a very small farm community in east central Nebraska during that idyllic time between the end of WWII and the Korean conflict. My only access to hearing music is coming from some old 78s and radio. Available radio music fare includes some Polish and Czech ethnic stations in the region, with a handful from Lincoln and Omaha offering occasional programs on the popular hits of the day and, perhaps, hillbilly and western.
 
The closest thing to jazz would be finding a network feed of Martin Block's “Make Believe Ballroom.” Songs dominating the various "hit parades" bore such innocuous titles (with lyrics to match) as “Cruising Down the River,” “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo,” and “Dear Hearts and Gentle People.” These "hit parades" were loosely compiled stats from requests to disc jockeys, band leaders and from plays on juke boxes. In Omaha, Todd Storz of the brewery family would not initiate the nation’s first "top 40" radio format on KOWH until 1955.

Grammy-Winning Pianist George Winston Takes Lied Center Stage

Known for his melodic and soothing piano tunes, the incomparable George Winston will light up the stage with swinging virtuosity at the Lied Center for Performing Arts at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20.

With several platinum albums and a Grammy under his belt, Winston's talent is undeniable. He creates an unforgettable show filled with beautiful music, and will be performing songs from his latest CD, "Gulf Coast Blues Impressions," a hurricane relief benefit, as well as selections from his seasonal favorites, "Autumn," "December," "Winter into Spring" and "Summer"; his themed albums, "Forest," "Plains" and "Montana -- A Love Story"; and his albums dedicated to composers, "Linus & Lucy -- The Music of Vince Guaraldi" and "Night Divides the Day -- The Music of the Doors." Winston's concerts feature a variety of styles, including his melodic folk piano, stride piano, New Orleans R&B and more.  

Alaadeen Book Combines Instruction, History

By Tom Ineck
 
Ahmad Alaadeen’s skill as an educator has been acknowledged by the Berman Music Foundation at least since December 1998, when the BMF brought the renowned saxophonist from his home in Kansas City to conduct a series of workshops at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Music.
 
Noting that “jazz has been elevated to America's classical music,” Alaadeen told students of his own less dignified introduction to the music. He said his parents and their generation thought you would go to hell if you listened to jazz.
 
"Well, welcome to hell," Alaadeen deadpanned.

Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra features the Bassoon, Holst’s 'The Planets'

While the bassoon may be viewed by some as the clown of the orchestra, composer Dan Welcher and LSO Principal Bassoonist Jeffrey McCray are experts at showing the instrument’s expressive side.  

“The bassoon itself is capable of a much wider range of expression than the lumpy, bumpy comedian instrument that is often heard in cartoon music,” McCray said.  

Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra will feature McCray and Welcher in “The Planets,” at 7:30 p.m., Friday, October 23, at Kimball Recital Hall. The concert begins with the Concerto da camara for Bassoon and Small Orchestra, written by Welcher, and is followed by Gustav Holst’s The Planets.  

Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra Presents 'The Firebird' October 18

Although the Madcap Puppet Theatre has performed with Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra several times before, this year they’re bringing a new act to the stage – shadow puppetry.  

Performing behind a large screen and with special lighting, the Madcap actors and their puppets will help LSO bring the Russian fairy tale of the Firebird to life.  

Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra will feature the Madcap Puppet Theatre in its first Family Series concert of the season at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 18, at O’Donnell Auditorium on the campus of Nebraska Wesleyan University. A musical petting zoo and face painting will begin one hour before the concert.

New Music Agency Tribute to Composer Randy Snyder on Sunday, October 25

On Sunday, October 25, The New Music Agency (NMA) pays tribute to local composer Randall Snyder with their performance, "Wall of Snyder" at the Lincoln Unitarian Church, 63rd and A streets, 7:30 p.m.  Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for adults.

The All-Snyder concert will include solo performances by two Agency members: Jessica Lindsey, bass clarinet, premiering "Legong Studies" and Betsy Bobenhouse, flute, performing "Dream of Naksongdae", pieces based on Snyder’s interest in Asian music. Karen Sandene, contrabassoon and Joe Holmquist, marimba, will perform “Boogie On Contra Woman”, a work influenced by Stevie Wonder’s funk classic, "Boogie On Reggae Woman".