Entertainment Music Displaying items by tag: Music
The Main Street JazzFest will return to the Square in downtown Murfreesboro this weeked for its 16th installment.
The music committee is currently putting the finishing touches on a lineup that includes saxophonist Rahsaan Barber and his new project, Everyday Magic, who perform a mix of traditional and contemporary jazz.
Vocalist Connye Florance will also be in attendance along with guitarist Denny Jiosa.
Florance, noted for her smooth vocals, has performed on many stages including Broadway and numerous jazz festivals. On the same note, Jiosa is revered as a top-notch guitarist, who draws comparisons to Eric Clapton and crosses many styles.
Rounding out the initial lineup are Kelli Cox, Murfreesboro Youth Jazz Orchestra, MTSU Jazz Ensemble and MTSU Faculty Band.
“I’m very excited about this year’s group of artists. We have a great mix of talent with our first jazz vocalist in years,” Main Street Executive Director Kathleen Herzog said.
JazzFest has also played a pivotal role with jazz and the education of the genre among area high schools and middle schools and this year is no exception.
On Friday night, JazzFest will again play host to several high school jazz bands while the middle school bands will perform on Saturday.
“I feel that JazzFest has grown in our community. I got involved when my kids were in school and have just stayed involved,” event chair Cheryl Bradley said.
“Introducing music to our children and letting them perform helps them build confidence and then they want to get involved also. This is just a great event and anyone who lives in Murfreesboro shouldn’t miss it.”
The fest will get a new facelift with the work of local designer, Shane Reed, who has incorporated a new logo that entails a classic design and was inspired by Ella Fitzgerald.
The tagline “Sing. Play. Dance. Like You Feel.” highlights the new logo with the courthouse in the background. It will be adorned on all T-shirts for the event and other promotional material.
In addition to the music, there will be several food vendors on hand for the weekend along with kid’s activities on Saturday.
JazzFest is one the premier events of Main Street Murfreesboro, a nonprofit organization, which relies on public and private donations for operations and projects.
“The mission statement of Main Street is to enhance and promote downtown as the heart of our community. So what better way than to bring a diverse event with families together downtown to see what’s here and fall in love with it,” Herzog said.
“We love to use this opportunity to promote our downtown business community which is thriving.”
JazzFest is also taking volunteers and anyone interested in volunteering can submit their contact information via
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
. For more information on the festival, visit jazzfestmainstreet.com.
Dr. Mark Jackson of the MTSU English Department will lead a special lecture on folk and blues musician Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter on Tuesday, April 3.
Ledbetter was a Louisiana native who gained national fame in the 1940s after decades of performing folk and blues music across the South. Imprisoned twice, “Lead Belly” used his jail time to learn and write more songs, even using music to gain a pardon from a Texas governor.The 4:30 p.m. lecture will be held in Room 106 of the Paul W. Martin Senior Honors Building on campus. It’s part of the Spring 2012 Honors Lecture Series at MTSU, which is focused on “Prison Writing.”
Folklorists Alan and John Lomax discovered Ledbetter in the Angola Prison Farm while recording prison songs for the Library of Congress and brought him and his music to the rest of the world.
“Lead Belly” was best known for his work on the 12-string guitar, although he played multiple instruments, including the accordion, mandolin and piano. He brought folk ballads like “Goodnight Irene,” “Midnight Special,” “The House of the Rising Sun” and “The Rock Island Line” into the mainstream and wrote his own gospel, blues, folk, political and topical songs.
Jackson teaches courses on American literature, popular culture, folklore and American song at MTSU. He published Prophet Singer: The Voice and Vision of Woody Guthriethrough the University Press of Mississippi in 2007 and also compiled, edited and produced several CDs through the West Virginia University Press, including “Coal Digging Blues: Songs of West Virginia Miners.”
The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information about the MTSU Honors Lecture Series, visit www.mtsu.edu/honors or call 615-898-2152.
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Johnny B. and the Balladeers, a popular local band featuring John Blankenship, Avent Lane, Ken and Sarah Frizzell and Billy Yearwood, will be appearing on the first Thursday of every month, beginning Thursday, February 2, 2012, at UnCorked, to benefit Youth Empowerment through Arts & Humanities, Inc. The concerts will begin at 5:00 p.m. and last until 7:00 p.m., and business people, shoppers, and early and late diners alike are invited to join in the fun for the cause of the arts for young people ages 10-17. There will be no cover, but a small suggested donation to YEAH will be encouraged and greatly appreciated. UnCorked, a wine and tapas bar, will be serving its delicious and unique menu of small bites and delicious wines and beverages; and Johnny B. and the Balladeers will be playing their favorite music for all comers.
Johnny B and the Balladeers have been playing old timey country music together for many years now, and blended their instruments and voices together for the first time at Miller’s Grocery in Christiana, where they appeared every Friday night for several years. They are currently appearing at the Readyville Mill every Saturday morning. Their Americana repertoire spans from the American standards of Stephen Foster to classic folk, country western, rock and roll, blues and their own unique original tunes. And their comedic and jovial interactions with the audience make for fun and light hearted enjoyment for all.
Concert pianist David Witten will present a free public recital at 8 p.m. on March 27 in the T. Earl Hinton Music Hall of the Wright Music Building on the MTSU campus.
His March 27 program will include works by Aaron Copland, Maurice Ravel and Nikolai Tcherepnin.Witten, the coordinator of keyboard studies at Montclair State University in New Jersey, also enjoys an international career that has included concert tours in Ireland, Finland, Russia, Ukraine, Europe, Mexico, South America and China.
Witten recently recorded the piano works of Nikolai Tcherepnin, who also is the father of somewhat better-known composer Alexander Tcherepnin, on the Toccata Classics label and performed and lectured on the elder Tcherepnin’s works in Russia.
“Dr. Witten has always had a nose for finding interesting and less frequently performed piano works,” said Lynn Rice-See, coordinator of keyboard studies at MTSU.
One of the Nikolai Tcherepnin works on the program, “Pushkin’s Fairy Tale of The Fisherman and the Fish,” will include narration by MTSU faculty tenor H. Stephen Smith.
For more MTSU School of Music concert information, call 615-898-2493 or visitwww.mtsumusic.com and click on the “Concert Calendar” link.
Country artist Julie Roberts will be the special musical guest at the Go Red For Women Men’s Event on March 28 from 5:30 to 7:30 at Belle Meade Country Club.
More than 100 community, business and medical leaders will gather to pledge support for the heart health of the women in their lives and for the Go Red For Women movement. Funds raised at the event go to support the mission of the American Heart Association.
Julie has received Top New Artist and Top New Female Vocalist nominations from the Academy of Country Music, as well as a Breakthrough Artist nomination from the CMT Awards. She has performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, was chosen to sing the “Good To Go” theme song for ABC’s Good Morning America and joined pop superstar Rihanna in a Clinique HAPPY campaign. Her dress is currently on display at the Country Music Hall of Fame as part of their “Something in Red” red dress exhibit in honor of Go Red For Women. She is on tour to support her new album and single, “Whiskey and You.”
Go Red For Women is sponsored nationally by Macy’s and Merck, and sponsored locally by Saint Thomas Heart. Men’s Event presenting sponsors are Iasis and Vanderbilt Heart. Men’s Event sponsor is Pinnacle.
Students United for Africa and the Study of Africa will display African culture through dance, music, food and fashion Monday, March 12, from 6 to 10 p.m. in MTSU’s James Union Building and Tom H. Jackson Building.
The cultural and educational demonstrations are planned for 6-8 p.m. in the JUB. A reception with food, poems and performances will follow in the Jackson Building’s Cantrell Hall from 8 to 10 p.m.
Tickets for both the show and reception are $15 per person or $12 with an MTSU student ID. Individual tickets are $7 for the cultural show and $10 for the reception. All proceeds and donations will go directly to promote educational efforts in Luila, a village in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to SUASA President Stephan J. Kabelu.
“Two SUASA officers will even be traveling to Luila this summer to see how our donations have made a difference in the lives of these children,” says Kabelu.
SUASA’s mission is to educate the MTSU and Murfreesboro communities about educational needs in African countries through organized student and/or sponsored activities.
For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Kabelu at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 615-968-5277, Iaetitia Muderwa at 615-995-6348, Beatrice Gatebuke at 312-285-5274 or Ukyeye Wilt at 615-410-6908.
You also may visit the SUASA Facebook page at on.fb.me/w5YziZ and listen to an interview with Gatebuke from the Feb. 27 edition of “MTSU On the Record” via podcast at bit.ly/MTChaosInTheCongo.
– Gina K. Logue ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
The MTSU Wind Ensemble will present two concerts featuring the music of Aaron Copland and Dmitri Shostakovich March 15 and 16, as well as a world premiere performance of “John Henry Symphony” by Jeffrey Brooks.
The concerts are scheduled for Thursday, March 15, at the First United Methodist Church in Murfreesboro and Friday, March 16in Hinton Hall inside MTSU’s Wright Music Building. Each free performance begins at 7:30 p.m. and is open to the public.
Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man” will be performed first; the opening theme of this piece has gained national recognition by being adapted to music performed by such varied greats as Woody Herman and the Rolling Stones. Emerson, Lake & Palmer also recorded a rock version in the late 1970s.
Copeland’s music also has become widely known through its use in popular commercials for the American beef industry.
Shostakovich is one of the most celebrated composers of the 20th century. His “Festive Overture, opus 96” was the theme music for the 1980 Summer Olympics, while “Opus 76a – Finale” was played while the cauldron was lit at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
Dr. Reed Thomas, director of the MTSU Wind Ensemble, said the University’s School of Music joined a consortium with nine other schools to commission a wind-band work from Brooks, a prominent composer from Minneapolis, Minn.
“Many of us thought it time for him to write another piece,” Thomas said, referring to Brooks’s lone composition for wind instruments, “and the result is ‘John Henry Symphony.’ It is based on the legend … of John Henry and the epic battle between the man and the steam machine that could cut through the mountain to lay train tracks.”
Brooks’s health caused delays in completing the piece, Thomas said, and several other schools withdrew their involvement or didn’t schedule a performance as a result.
“I made a gamble that the piece would be completed this year and scheduled it to be performed on our annual First United Methodist Church concert this semester,” the MTSU professor explained.
“As luck would have it, Jeffrey did complete the piece, sent me a set of parts and a score and made sure we received the world premiere because I helped give him the push to complete it.”
For more MTSU School of Music concert information, call 615-898-2493 or visit www.mtsumusic.com and click on the “Concert Calendar” link.
New logo unveiled with classic design inspired by Ella Fitzgerald
MURFREESBORO, Tenn - The Main Street JazzFest will return to the Square in downtown Murfreesboro on May 4-5 for its 16th installment.
The music committee is currently putting the finishing touches on a lineup that includes saxophonist Rahsaan Barber and his new project, Everyday Magic, who perform a mix of traditional and contemporary jazz.
Vocalist Connye Florance will also be in attendance along with guitarist Denny Jiosa.
Florance, noted for her smooth vocals, has performed on many stages including Broadway and numerous jazz festivals. On the same note, Jiosa is revered as a top-notch guitarist, who draws comparisons to Eric Clapton and crosses many styles.
Rounding out the initial lineup are Kelli Cox, Murfreesboro Youth Jazz Orchestra, MTSU Jazz Ensemble and MTSU Faculty Band, and more artists will be announced in the coming weeks.
“I’m very excited about this year’s group of artists. We have a great mix of talent with our first jazz vocalist in years,” Main Street Executive Director Kathleen Herzog said.
JazzFest has also played a pivotal role with jazz and the education of the genre among area high schools and middle schools and this year is no exception.
On Friday night, JazzFest will again play host to several high school jazz bands while the middle school bands will perform on Saturday.
“I feel that JazzFest has grown in our community. I got involved when my kids were in school and have just stayed involved,” event chair Cheryl Bradley said.
“Introducing music to our children and letting them perform helps them build confidence and then they want to get involved also. This is just a great event and anyone who lives in Murfreesboro shouldn’t miss it.
The fest will get a new facelift with the work of local designer, Shane Reed, who has incorporated a new logo that entails a classic design and was inspired by Ella Fitzgerald.
The tagline “Sing. Play. Dance. Like You Feel.” highlights the new logo with the courthouse in the background. It will be adorned on all T-shirts for the event and other promotional material.
In addition to the music, there will be several food vendors on hand for the weekend along with kid’s activities on Saturday.
JazzFest is one the premier events of Main Street Murfreesboro, a nonprofit organization, which relies on public and private donations for operations and projects.
“The mission statement of Main Street is to enhance and promote downtown as the heart of our community. So what better way than to bring a diverse event with families together downtown to see what’s here and fall in love with it,” Herzog said.
“We love to use this opportunity to promote our downtown business community which is thriving.”
JazzFest is also taking volunteers and anyone interested in volunteering can submit their contact information via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . For more information on the festival, visit jazzfestmainstreet.com.
Sponsors: Kroger, Pinnacle Bank, MidSouth Bank, General Mills, Tennessee Arts Commission, Tennessee Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Screen Art, The Murfreesboro Post, Murfreesboro Magazine, Daily News Journal, VIP Murfreesboro, HobNob Murfreesboro, Cannon Courier
Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Neil Diamond and Carole King are only a few of the creative masters to be discussed by three MTSU professors in conjunction with an exhibit at Murfreesboro’s Linebaugh Public Library.
“A Fine Romance,” a tribute to Jewish composers and their contributions to American music, is slated for viewing March 9-April 20 at Linebaugh, which is located at 105 W. Vine St.
The nationally touring display tells the history of Jewish songwriters from 1910 to 1965 with images from Broadway musicals, classic films, posters and personal collections.
Dr. Elyce Helford, a professor of English at MTSU who has taught Jewish-American studies, will discuss “Jewish Immigrants: Why Broadway?” at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 18.
“In addition to celebrating a rich and multifaceted tradition, we can discuss why Irving Berlin wrote ‘White Christmas’ and ‘Easter Parade,’ two of the most famous songs for non-Jewish holidays,” says Helford. “And we can explore how Abel Meeropol (as Lewis Allan) wrote the anti-lynching anthem ‘Strange Fruit,’ though most people still believe it was written by Billie Holiday, who made it famous.”
Dr. Bill Levine, also a professor of English, will present “From Tin Pan Alley to Minton’s Playhouse and Back” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 3. The Riverdale High School Jazz Band, under the direction of Mike Aymett, will perform musical selections.
At 7 p.m. Thursday, April 19, Dr. Paul Fischer, MTSU professor of recording industry, will talk about “Jews in the New Tin Pan Alley: Sounds of the Sixties.” The Oakland High School Chamber Choir, under the direction of John McDonald, will provide musical accompaniment.
In addition, Magda the StorySpider will spin “Jewish Folktales” in Linebaugh’s children’s area at 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 20.
“A Fine Romance” was curated by David Lehman and developed by Nextbook Inc., a nonprofit organization, and the American Library Association Public Programs Office. It is sponsored locally by the MTSU Center for Popular Music and Friends of Linebaugh Library.
For more information, contact Carol Ghattas at 615-893-4131, ext. 119, or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
– Gina K. Logue ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
Poet and musician Nathan Bell will spend a week in residence at MTSU to share his songwriting talents with students of the Visiting Artist’s Seminar, culminating in a free public concert on Friday, Feb. 24, in the University’s Tucker Theatre.
Bell, a Chattanooga resident known for the rootsy, Americana music showcased on his most recent CD, “Black Crow Blue,” will be joined by his students to perform beginning at 4 p.m. Feb. 24. A reception, also free and open to the public, will follow the concert.
Bell’s visit continues the University Honors College’s effort to bring professional artists to campus to work intensively with students for a single-credit weeklong course, University Honors 3200. Bell’s course, “Music as Witness,” is meeting three hours each day, beginning with discussions of the blues, country and folk and moving into and up to contemporary songwriting.
The class will discuss how music has consistently been a force for justice and truth. Up to 15 students from varying fields of study will analyze songwriting techniques and learn how other art forms, including poetry, photography and theater, can be combined with songwriting to produce a rich experience for the audience.
The students will choose their own subject matter, under Bell’s guidance, and their final project will be a song cycle written and performed with Bell at the Tucker Theatre concert.
Off-campus visitors should be aware that nearby construction and classes will limit parking opportunities for the concert. University Parking and Transportation officials are encouraging visitors to park in the South Rutherford Boulevard lot and ride the Raider Xpress shuttle into the campus core to reach the Boutwell Dramatic Arts Auditorium, which houses Tucker Theatre. A printable campus map is available at www.mtsu.edu/parking/Map_2011-2012.pdf.
The Visiting Artist’s Seminar, an interdisciplinary course with the University Honors College taught by a professional artist, is now in its 10th year and has included such diverse topics as filmmaking, papermaking, poetry writing and performance art.
Bell’s visit to MTSU is made possible by the MTSU Distinguished Lecture Fund, the Virginia Peck Trust Fund, the University Honors College, the College of Liberal Arts and the MTSU Department of English.
For more information about the Visiting Artist’s Seminar, contact Dr. Claudia Barnett, professor of English and VAS coordinator, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 615-898-2887. For more information about Bell, visit his website at http://nathanbellmusic.com.
Local Concerts
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Monday 28th: Joelle Maddyson Music at TBD MurfreesboroJoelle Maddyson Music Murfreesboro : TBD on 2012-05-28
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Fri Jun 22nd: MUSTANG SALLY at Miller Colosium MurfreesboroMUSTANG SALLY Murfreesboro : Miller Colosium on 2012-06-22
