Latest from Arts America Blogs

Top attraction this weekend: Alfredo Rodriguez

Saturday night’s Treasures from the Archives presentation by Mark Cantor of rare, fascinating jazz film clips was, as expected, another memorable occasion. This was no tiny, peripheral jazz society splitting hairs over minutiae and obscure musicians lost to history; Cantor’s presentation was informative, fun, and, above all, well-attended! The screening occurred in Kanbar Hall in The Jewish Community Center of San Francisco with an appreciative audience of probably 300 fans …Read more…

Diane Schuur @ The Blue Note NYC

From http://www.dianeschuur.com

I remember seeing Diane Schuur in Portland when I was quite young (the date and location escape me) and I remember being utterly fascinated with her voice.

Today, I can more easily spot the singers she imitates with ease and aplomb, but I suppose that makes it no less impressive.

Tonight, Diane will be at the Blue Note NYC. Tickets are here. I might just wander over there and see …Read more…

Pacifica Quartet thrills Friends of Music audience

The Pacifica Quartet, considered one of the finest ensembles in all of classical music today, offered a night of virtuosity on January 25 at Tulane’s Dixon Hall as part of the New Orleans Friends of Music series. The quartet members, who serve as quartet-in-residence and on the faculty of the University of Chicago have an extensive touring schedule in the Americas and Asia and also have been selected as the quartet-in-residence for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. ...Read more...

Chinese New Year: The Year Of The Dragon

The Chinese New Year celebrations are cascading across the city.  Las Vegas has several annual Chinese New Year celebrations; tour any of the large casinos in late January and early February, and one can expect to see a wealth of traditional symbols such as red lanterns, bamboo shoots, fruit-bearing trees and the animals from the zodiac.   This is the Year of the Dragon, representative of those born in the …Read more…

Arts and the Groupon

So, this is not an advertisement, although it is likely to sound like one. Rather it is a report about my community orchestra and our experience with Groupon. If I were to choose a word to describe it, it would be “phenomenal”.

If you are not familiar with the Groupon experience, it works this way: Groupon is now established in many cities across the country. Businesses can contract with them to …Read more…