I'm sadly intimidated when it comes to saying anything meaningful about jazz...I'm way under conversant on the subject especially concerning its history, who influenced whom and its often dazzling intricacy and complexity. But I'm moved to offer a few thoughts about the sonorous spectacle called M.A.P. (Mingus Awareness Project) we witnessed at Gallery 5 yesterday afternoon as percussion master Brian Jones organized an unforgettable 3-part performance celebrating the music of legendary bassist Charles Mingus and benefiting ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). It started with his choice of venues...the old firehouse-turned-art space at Brook and Marshall downtown, packed with aficionados craving musical heat. Perfection. Three sets: first a trio, then the 8-piece Fight The Big Bull upstairs and finally, an impossibly packed stage filled with nearly 20 of our talent-rich community's A-list players led by the guy who taught and inspired so many of them at VCU, Doug Richards. I've known and admired Doug for more than 30 years since he scored an F&M Bank a-v project for me. I've never seen him as pleased and animated as he seemed yesterday, I hope because he was having such a blast reaping what he'd sown. Lotta love in the room, thanks to this amazing roster: John D'earth, Taylor Barnett, Rex Richardson and Rob Quallich on trumpet. JC Kuhl, Kevin Simpson, John Winn, John Wittman, Jason Scott and Jeff Decker on saxophones. Pete Anderson, Bryan Hooten and Reggie Chapman on trombones, Stefan Demetriadis on tuba, Bob Hallahan on piano, Trey Parker on guitar, Randall Pharr on bass and yes, Brian on drums. They had the ol' firehouse smokin' all right. Congrats to all who played and all who came to listen. We were all in the right place. So good.
I'VE GOT MOR
E CONCERT TICKETS TO GIVE AWAY!
Here's the deal, first for Tuesday, November 11th at the University of Richmond's Modlin Center, the Punch Brothers featuring mando monster Chris Thile. I've got a pair of tickets for the first to reply with the correct answer to the following question: Who produced Chris' first Sugar Hill project released back in '94 when he was just 13?
And second, for Saturday, November 15th at Toa
d's Place, two tix to hear the great Texas troubadour Robert Earl Keen for the first correct answer to: in his tune "The Road Goes On Forever" what did Sonny & Sherry take to drink on their road trip to Miami Beach? Be specific.
You can win only once this time around so take your pick of the two offerings above. Good luck....winners' names will be held at will call. Submit answers to mail@timtimberlake.com
Good stuff as usual at AC&T this week: some fine Django jammin' with Gypsy Roots opening for New England's excellent Ameranouche on Thursday night. And then, some scary good contemporary bluegrass with the Infamous Stringdusters on Halloween! Oh yeah.
On into November...after two superb nights at In Your Ear Recording last week with Wayne Henderson & Helen White, JAMi
nc's got another don't-miss show coming up on Friday, November 7th with autoharp legend, raconteur, roving minstrel and general genial guy Bryan Bowers. Be there as he fertilizes his Richmond roots in one of our trademark house-style studio concerts with a delicious pre-show bring-your-own buffet. Only 80 seats, so get yours here and now.
And the next night, one of our fine local bluegrass-based 
groups Good Natured Riot will be having a CD release Party at Capital Ale House downtown. Fans will also want to know they'll be opening for the Hackensaw Boys at the National on December 6th.
(Full disclosure: none of the pix on this post are mine, save the fuzzy fone shot of the M.A.P. big band at the top)
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