There was a sacred energy on stage last Saturday at Nectar’s when John Forté took the stage alongside his good friend Ben Taylor, Ben’s sister, Sally Taylor, and their mother, Carly Simon. It was a little like peering into someone’s living room. There was a banter on stage that you didn’t want to interrupt and yet wanted to be part of, hoping someone would clue you in on the inside jokes and sideways glances.
The night Brad Tucker approached saxophonist Brian Nelson at the Ritz Cafe in Oak Bluffs, guitar slung over his shoulder, Mr. Nelson rolled his eyes. “Oh no, not another guitar player,” he thought to himself. Mr. Tucker only had to strum a few strings and sing a few bars for Mr. Nelson to understand that he meant business.
They’ve played for the Queen and now they’re playing for you.
This Saturday, Oct. 23 at 5 p.m. the London Gold Group will be performing at the Old Whaling Church in Edgartown. This group of violinists and viola players is comprised of London’s finest musicians, aged 9 to 15 years old that is. But don’t let thoughts of callow youths dissuade you. These kids have been rosining up their bows since they were four years old.
Sure, Mozart created some of the most beautiful music ever written, but he also was a master of comic theatre. New York City Opera dramaturg Cori Ellison will talk about the composer’s collaborations with some of the funniest guys in the (18th century) business when she presents All Things Mozart, a lecture and discussion at The Yard, on Tuesday, August 3, from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
You know it’s summer in Edgartown when you hear the music ringing out from the porch of the Eisenhauer Gallery. This is the gallery’s 10th year, and it continues its summer concert series with the Mike Benjamin Band’s return to the courtyard on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m.
All are invited for a special shabbat today, April 2, when Rosalie Gerut, musician, singer, songwriter, cantor, recording producer and director leads a joyful and spiritual musical service at 5:30 p.m. at the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center on Center street in Vineyard Haven.
Experiment: Put 17 teenagers together under one roof. Take away their cell phones and send them to their rooms at 10 p.m., lights out at 11. Sketch out a detailed daily itinerary that includes intense workouts, short breaks for meals and absolutely no beach time.
What might they do? Throw temper tantrums? Band together and stage a full-scale revolt?
In this case, they sing. Arias.
This is OperaFest, a two-week, summer camp-like program for some of the youngest and most dedicated opera enthusiasts in the country.
The success of the recent music jams hosted by the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center have provided proof positive that the Island loves klezmer music. So it makes sense that this weekend, the center will ramp up the game with instruction, dancing and performance, with the guidance and expertise of the Strauss/Warschauer Duo, a pair of musicians and teachers of international renown, specializing in klezmer and Yiddish music and dance.
