You Could Win Free Tickets to Next Weekend’s Shows

Celebrating the Alys Stephens Center February 8-13

The UAB Family is talking about the Alys Stephens Center and we’re posting the chatter!   “If they aren’t playing at the Alys Stephens Center, I probably won’t go see them.” Those are the words of UAB RN Becky Langner, just one of thousands of people who see the ASC as the cultural hub of Birmingham.  Feb. 8-13 is “UAB Loves ASC” week, and UAB is celebrating the Alys Stephens Center with ticket giveaways, discounts, and more. UAB Faculty & Staff are encouraged to share their own ASC experiences for chances to win tickets. Simply comment on this blog or email jesssimpson@uab.edu with your story. You will be entered in a drawing to win a pair of tickets to the Three Dog Night performance Friday, Feb. 12 and the Soweto Gospel Choir performance on Saturday, Feb. 13. The drawing will close at 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11.

“The performers and performances are diverse, exciting and top quality. I mean once you’ve heard the Marsalis Brothers, Willie Nelson, and the Alabama Symphony in that wonderful, acoustically perfect hall, you are absolutely spoiled. Every performer I have seen has commented on the quality of the facilities.  I couldn’t agree more,” Langner says. “I have a hard time each year deciding which performers to see. But if I change my mind, the staff in the ticket office are extremely accommodating about ticket exchanges. As an employee, I can pay for my tickets and my donation for support by payroll deduction. The ASC and its varied programs are a treasure for Birmingham, and a shining star for the UAB community. It’s a wonderful benefit. We are lucky to have it!

And Becky isn’t the only one talking up the ASC.  UAB Health System CEO Will Ferniany, Ph.D., became a big fan of the Alys Stephens Center when he returned to Birmingham in 2008 and saw firsthand the exceptional quality and variety of the featured artists and of the venues. “The calendar of events ranges from traditional performances to innovative offerings that would otherwise be unavailable in Birmingham — the center truly provides something for everyone,” he said. “The center truly provides something for everyone. It is part of UAB’s mission to promote the cultural enrichment of the community, and the Alys Stephens is an integral and very special part of that effort. I encourage our faculty and staff to learn more about the center’s current season —its 13th — and to get a live, up-close view by attending a performance.”

Check out all events during UAB Loves ASC Week. To purchase tickets to Three Dog Night and Soweto Gospel Choir, visit AlysStephens.org or call (205) 975-ARTS.

Songs That Have You Singing Along

I can remember being a little girl, probably 5 or 6, and dancing around my grandmother's beauty shop singing "...If you feel like loving me, If you got the notion. I second that emotion. Said, if you feel like giving me a lifetime of devotion, I second that emotion..."  The shop never had a shortage of willing back up singers, grandmas in big rollers, Farrah wanna-bes getting frosted tips, and teens in the chair for their first perm (ah the 70s, but I digress.)

That's the thing about the music of Smokey Robinson, it's cross-generational and timeless.  Last week I was going back and listening to a lot of his music in preparation for our gala announcement.  It's crazy, I think I know the words to every single song.  Just think of all the hits:

Cruisin'
Being with You
Tears of a Clown
I Second that Emotion (already established as my fav)
The Tracks of My Tears
You've Really Got a Hold on Me
Ooo Baby Baby

The list could go on and on.  I bet you too have a favorite Smokey song.   If so, tell us about it and why it's your pick.  One lucky respondent will win a pair of tickets to see this musical icon LIVE at the ASC!

And, it should be quite a live show!  The Florida Theatre presented a performance by Smokey last fall and the director and staff there still haven't stop talking about what an incredible evening it was.  You know it's something special when your peers in the busy go ga-ga over a show.

The Alys Stephens Center is proud to present SMOKEY ROBINSON as our featured artist for the VIVA HEALTH STARLIGHT GALA on Saturday, April 24th.  Two package are available and tickets are currently onsale at AlysStephens.org and 205.975.2787.  All proceeds from the gala benefit the programming and educational outreach programs of the ASC.  So, you get to see an amazing performer and you are helping the community!

UAB Receives $5 Million Gift from Jane Stephens Comer for Children's Arts Education

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has received a gift of $5 million from Jane Stephens Comer, to be used in partnership with the Alys Stephens Center, for a cultural arts education program for Birmingham-area children in pre-school through high school.

The announcement was made Thursday, Sept. 24 by UAB President Carol Z. Garrison at the joint University Day luncheon of the UAB National Alumni Society and the UAB Leadership Cabinet at The Club atop Red Mountain.

“A few years ago Jane shared with us her life dream to create a place that would give children the opportunity to encounter all genres of visual and performing arts in an innovative environment; a unique center for the arts where children and young people would have the opportunity to create performances, attend programs by world-class performing artists and forge collaborative relationships with UAB, the Alys Stephens Center, and other organizations in the community in all arts genres,” Garrison said.

“After much research and planning, we are delighted to announce that Jane’s passion for the arts, and her understanding of the profound impact the arts have on children, are coming together to create exactly what she dreamed of—a cultural arts education center for children—with this extraordinarily generous gift, for which we are so grateful.”

Some program events are slated to occur next summer, and the full program will launch in September 2010.

Comer was instrumental in founding the ASC Kids’ Club Series, an annual series designed to entertain, educate and inspire children through the performing arts. Additionally, she has been a supporter of the Birmingham Museum of Art, the Alabama Ballet, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra and the Women’s Fund of Greater Birmingham.

“The Alys Stephens Center has been one of the highlights of my life, and the joy that the Kids’ Club Series has given to me led us to this endeavor,” Comer said. “It’s very exciting, and it promises to be very original.”

At today’s luncheon, Comer received the Honorary Life Member Award from the UAB National Alumni Society, bestowed upon those individuals whose contributions to UAB have benefitted the entire University community. She dedicated it to the memory of her mother, the late Alys Robinson Stephens, for whom the Alys Stephens Center is named.

Who couldn't use a Smart® Car?

Nov. 5, Support the Arts and Win a 2009 Smart® Car From The Alys Stephens Center

Smart Car. Download image. • See the car, enter to win Sept. 17 at ASC's "interARTive" party • Win the car Nov. 5 at the "Get smART" finale party BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Support the arts in Birmingham and win one of the smartest vehicles on the planet Nov. 5 when the Alys Stephens Center (ASC) will give away a 2009 smart® fortwo pure coupe worth nearly $14,000. "Get smART, Support the Arts" is an Alys Stephens Center Junior Patrons' two-month fundraising campaign to support ASC programs and art education initiatives. The "Get smART" campaign will culminate at a party when one lucky donor will become the new owner of their very own smart® fortwo, the most fuel efficient, non-hybrid vehicle on sale in the United States. There are three ways to win the car: donate $50 to the ASC, join the ASC Junior Patrons (ASC-JPs) Sept. 17 or after, or purchase a ticket for $50 to the "Get smART" finale party set for Thursday, Nov. 5 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased through the Alys Stephens Center Box Office at 1200 10th Ave. South, Birmingham, on the ASC Web site at www.AlysStephens.org, at any Birmingham-area RBC Bank branch and at Crown Automotive in Hoover. The smart® car will be unveiled at the Alys Stephens Center's interARTive patio party Thursday, Sept. 17. Then, join the fun as it speeds through Birmingham making stops at new locations each week. "Get smART" sponsor Mental Floss magazine has created a new Web site, www.wheresmysmartcar.com, which will feature clues about the car's weekly location and prizes to be given away at each stop.  At the "Get smART" party, enjoy live music from one of Birmingham's best bands, The White Oaks, and a blind beer tasting with complimentary hors d'oeuvres, beer and wine. Buy an ASC Smart Mystery Box for $25. All boxes will contain prizes, and some will include big prizes including tickets to shows, dinner packages, weekend getaways and more. To win the car, three finalists will be drawn at random from all entries to compete in a test of skill. The smart® car will be on display in the lobby. Click here for "Get smART" rules and regulations. All aspects and events in association with the campaign will be engaged in "green" practices, including the use of environmentally-friendly products and local vendors to reduce the event's carbon footprint. "Get smARt, Support the Arts" is sponsored by Crown Automotive, RBC Bank, Mental Floss magazine, UAB, the ASC-JPs, Fox 6, smartwater and Commercial Printing. About the Alys Stephens Center Located on the UAB campus, the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center is one of the Southeast's premier performing arts centers, hosting the best in international, national and local performance. Home to the UAB departments of theatre and music and the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, the ASC also presents its own season, bringing the world's best music, dance, theater, comedy and family entertainment to Alabama. For more information on all Alys Stephens Center events and programs, visit www.AlysStephens.org. Media Contact: Shannon Thomason (205) 975-8858 thomason@uab.edu

Who is Act Of Congress?

From their website: http://www.actofcongressmusic.com/

Hailing From Birmingham, Alabama, the organic sound of Act Of Congress combines hook laden melodies, compelling songwriting, and intelligent acoustic instrumentation that's rapidly gathering attention throughout the country. Having released their debut album "Declaration" (2008), Act Of Congress' sound is grounded, approachable and technically masterful. In two short years, the band has been recognized by the likes of Paste Online, SXSW, Disney, and Billboard (chosen from over 2000 submissions to compete and ultimately win the 2008 Disc Makers IMWS Award.) AOC has also worked with Live Nation, opening VIP areas for artists such as John Mayer, Toby Keith, Alan Jackson, and Brooks and Dunn.

With lush harmony, articulate instrumentation and a live show that will leave you speechless, Act of Congress' musical vistas sweep from the ground breaking sounds of Nickel Creek, Mute Math, and John Mayer to the weaving soundscapes one might find sprinkled throughout Matthew Perryman Jones or Radiohead. Timeless compositions of masterful lyrics and musicianship abound throughout each song, combining vintage acoustic instrumentation with sweeping layers of varied musical roots to create a truly magical experience.

Chris Griffin (guitar/dobro) and Adam Wright (mandolin/guitar), became friends in college. Wright, a pianist turned guitar player turned mandolin player, says " After being exposed to progressive bluegrass music, Chris and I both became very interested in modulating our singer songwriter/rock knowledge to acoustic instruments. That style evolved from a casual jam to one that requires an extraordinary high level of musicianship," Says Wright, "The playing is very demanding. This is not a style of music where you can not play for a month then get up and do a show again. We work really hard on keeping the songs up to par. Vocally, it's equally demanding as well. But in the end, there's nothing else we'd rather be doing."

In late "2006, Tim Carroll (upright bass) was hired to perform with Chris on several tracks for Ferret Recording Artist Maylene and the Sons Of Disaster"s II album. A friendship and respect developed between the three, and the notion to create a new progressive acoustic band originated. Almost a year later, Bethany Borg, fiddle champion in ten states, relocated from a two year stint performing in Branson Missouri, and after hearing her play at an afternoon rehearsal, the quartet solidified.

From industry professionals to casual music fans, everyone can relate to the group's sound. Their debut album titled "DECLARATION" produced by Jason Elgin, (Collective Soul, Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, Lynam) and mastered by Roger Lian (White Stripes, Deftones, Staind) recently Sold Out it's release concert at Workplay, "One of PASTE magazine's 40 best venues in America."

Listen now with the ASC Music Player.  See them live at inter-ART-ive at the ASC on Thursday, September 17.
 
 
 
 

Rockin' the School House!

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiing... school's in session, kids! For 36 kids ranging from ages 7 to 14, school has been in session for the past two weeks as they toiled from 9:00-4:00 each day to prepare the show "School House Rock Jr. LIVE!" All of this hard work is a part of the Alys Stephens Center's first session of summer drama camp.



The kids started off the two-week camp with auditions. From monologues to songs, the kids showed off their talent to Quinton Cockrell, the show's director. The cast list was announced on day two and the kids immediatley began rehearsals. Since that day, the schedule has included warm-ups, theater games, blocking (or giving stage direction), and REHEARSING. The kids have been living, breathing, and singing "School House Rock" day and night. At carpool, we often hear "Conjunction Junction" blasting from the parent's car as they drive away.

The kids have done a terrifc job but the two weeks have not been without stress. Memorizing lines, songs, stage direction, and remembering the daily corrections can be very tiring. Regardless, the kids have done so with joy and enthusiasm day in and day out.

And all their hard work will definitely pay off in the end. The camp culminates with an evening performance of "School House Rock" for friends and relatives. For many of the kids, this will be their first time on stage. I know the parents will be very proud of the strides their kids have made in terms of speaking ability, acting, and confidence. As the Alys Stephens Center intern, I couldn't be prouder of these students' accomplishments. They have certainly rocked the school house... all while learning, making friends, and having fun!

Check out pictures from dress rehearsal!

ASC summer intern Fernanda Lima is a sophomore majoring in Business and Dance at The University of Alabama. Fernanda is a graduate of Vestavia Hills High School.

It's Free, It's Outside - What Could Be Better?

Some of my most memorable nights at the Alys Stephens Center have not been seated watching a big name performer.  Many have been spent outside in our courtyard listening to a local performer and socialing with friends, both old and new.  That's why I'm so excited about our new series called AFTER WORK & OUTDOORS.  This series gives us a chance to showcase Birmingham's great talent.

And, we encourage you to blog in your opinions and comments on these local musicians.  Let's get a dialogue going - this is your performing arts center after all.

After Work & Outdoors
at the Alys Stephens Center

The perfect way to end your day or start your night!

Every Thursday April 30 – May 21

5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Rain or Shine

FREE, No Ticket Required

Experience a different sound every week with live music by Birmingham’s best up-and-coming bands and musicians.

april 30 – chill to the poetry & spoken word of asc artist-in-residence Sharrif Simmons, while enjoying manhattan drink specials and food for sale from Salt: Fine Catering.

may 7 –  get the party started with latin beats and dance lessons from DJ Carlos & Latinsoul Productions. plus, killer margarita specials and food for sale from Saturday Gourmet!

may 14 – grab a cocktail from the martini bar, food from Little Savannah, and groove to local favorites
The Martini Shakers.

may 21 -  enjoy southern mint juleps, food from Jim N Nicks Bar-B-Que, and original newgrass from
The Jason Bailey Band.

▪  Beverages from Good People Brewing Company, Johnnygreenseeds Wines, and Morgan Creek Winery

▪  Great local food for sale from Salt:Fine Catering, Little Savannah, Saturday Gourmet, Whole Foods, and Jim N’ Nicks Bar-B-Que

▪  Ticket Giveaways

▪  Eco-friendly vendors and recycling and composting of event materials

▪  Carpooling is encouraged

Become an ASC Junior Patron and enjoy the JP Lounge complete with complimentary beer & wine and delicious food.

Special thanks to the Emerging Arts Leaders Association, Slow Food – Birmingham, Jones Valley Urban Farm, 100.5 FM, the Southern Environmental Center, ASC’s Junior Patron Board, Alabama State Council on the Arts, Whole Foods, Birmingham Weekly, Good People Brewing, and the new Live 100.5.

More Gala Shots

Trav'lin' Light Reviews

Queen Latifah is one of those rare pop celebrities that doesn't fuel her success by putting her personal life in the spotlight.  She's always let her music take the stage. 

Here's what's being said about her new disc Trav'lin' Light.

Amazon.com
With Trav'lin' Light, singer/actress/rapper/Cover Girl Queen Latifah (née Dana Owens) continues her chameleonic pan-stardom. The latest musical chapter in Latifah's success-studded career began with 2004's The Dana Owens Album, on which she emerged as a nuanced crooner of jazz and R&B standards. She continues this mode on her Verve records debut, adding ample individuality to such well-loved classics as Johnny Mercer's title track, Nina Simone's "I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl," and Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars" (with legendary harmonica pioneer Toots Thielemans). Steve Wonder's own harmonica playing lends nostalgic ornament to an otherwise rather forced "Georgia Rose," and much of the album languishes in similarly downbeat fare, though Latifah's voice is never wholly unbecoming of her song choices. Toward the album's end comes a welcome swerve for the energetic. Inspiring takes on the Pointer Sisters' "How Long" and Curtis Mayfield's "Gone Away" lead into the soaring choruses of "I Know Where I've Been." Taken together, these three songs superbly straddle the spectrum from the former rapper to the still-newly minted singer with a long lease on success and a peerless sense of how to grow older gracefully. --Jason Kirk

The Boston Phoenix

Queen Latifah is never going to be Billie Holiday or even Macy Gray, but 2004’s surprise hit, The Dana Owens Album, proved she had a set of pipes. Trav’lin Light, her second set of standards and first recording for Verve, vindicates the rapper-turned-actress-turned-diva from any lingering charges of crossover pandering; she’s obviously as serious about this as any of her other pursuits. Abetted by a small army of producers and support players, Latifah croons her way through tunes by Antonio Carlos Jobim, Nina Simone, Peggy Lee, and the Pointer Sisters respectfully, enthusiastically, and competently, albeit not particularly distinctively. Stevie Wonder’s harmonica on “Georgia Rose” is so immediately identifiable that it threatens to steal the vocalist’s thunder, and Latifah’s foray into Motown territory, Smokey Robinson’s “What Love Has Joined Together,” would have been a buried Tammi Terrell B-side had Latifah been working for Berry Gordy. But her blues is formidable on Simone’s “I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl,” she swings like crazy on the Sarah Vaughan vehicle “I’m Gonna Live Till I Die,” and the über-production of the Impressions’ “Gone Away” justifies the Queen-sized vocal Latifah brings to it.

All Hail the Queen

I love to see an artist evolve and show me what they can do. You really don’t see it often, but the ones that can do everything, usually try it. Some succeed and some do not. Have you seen anything from Vanilla Ice since he did the movie “Cool as Ice?” I didn’t think so. Britney Spears, although she’s had some success on the small screen, hasn’t done anything on the big screen since “Crossroads” and for good reason, because that movie was really a stinker . What about stars crossing over from the screen into the music world? Sometimes I want to say…. “Oh, no you didn’t.”



There are those stars that can do everything and succeed. Queen Latifah anyone? If you haven’t heard her early rap work, you should, because it is ground breaking. If you haven’t seen “Chicago” or “The Secret Life of Bees,” you should, because they are both astounding performances. If you haven’t heard her jazz albums, they will amaze you. Queen can do it all. Not many artists can do it all, but she can. I’m happy that I get to hear that jazz soon and very soon. When they announced the ASC gala artist for 2009…. I said to myself… “What better? A Queen!”

Check out Queen Latifah’s version of “Poetry Man” here.

Don't miss her live performance at the Alys Stephens Center on April 4, 2009! Great seats are still remaining! Tickets are $125 each and include a posh pre-show reception with complimentary wine, beer, and hors d’oeuvres and reserved seats for Queen Latifah’s performance. This is the Alys Stephens Center’s only fundraiser of the year and the funds raised benefit the Center’s educational and programming offerings. For tickets, call (205) 975-2787.

The Movie Bug

After last night's wonderful Oscar ceremony, I find myself wanting to skip out on this "work thing" and spend all day seeing movies.  Ah, a girl can dream!

This year's ceremony focused less on trying to be funny (when was the last time it succeeded at that?) and more on the movie-making process and the many elements that have to come together to get a story off the ground, into production, and then into a theatre.  When you think about it, giving all the hurdles in place, it's a miracle that a movie even gets made.  And, when it's finished it does become a work of art - as much as a canvas or a recording. 

That's why I'm happy the ASC is presenting the Short Circuit Traveling Film Festival on Saturday, March 7.  This gives us all a chance to celebrate the art of filmmaking and in this particular case, salute our fellow Southerners and their talents.

Whether you're a film maker, film buff, or just someone who enjoys being a witness to creativity, we hope you will join us for one or both of the short films sections.  

Here's what's in store:

Alys Stephens Center presents a SOUTHERN SAMPLER



This exciting new film festival spotlights recently produced short films by filmmakers from the Southeast. Screening One and Two feature a completely different film lineup. Come to one event or all three!

Tickets are $10 each per event, or you can reserve the full experience for only $25!

Shorts Screening 1 ($10): 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. 

Session 1 Films include:
Crossin' All the Boundaries
Undocumented
Our World
Going to the Beach
Torn Asunder
99 to 1: Ovarian Cancer and Me
Swimming to the Moon

Chat ‘n Chew Dinner Break ($10): Box dinners will be available featuring Southern favorites like black eye pea salad, pecan chicken salad sandwich, fruit, dessert, and iced tea. Cash Bar also available. Plus, check out Southern crafts and artwork. Please reserve your box dinner in advance.

Shorts Screening 2 ($10): 7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Session 2 Films include:
The Mess
Carnival Picaresque
Category 4
February Stars
I Always Do My Collars First

Click here to read the full film descriptions:  http://www.uab.edu/images/asc/2008/pdf/ShortCircuit_Poster.pdf

Here's just a taste:

99 to 1: Ovarian Cancer and Me
Documentary Short
Directed by Phoebe Brown
Atlanta, Georgia

In the summer of 2005, doctors said they were 99% sure that filmmaker Phoebe Brown did not have ovarian cancer. She turned out to be part of the 1%. "99 to 1" is a quirky, funny self-portrait of a cancer survivor.

I Always Do My Collars First: A Film About Ironing
Documentary Short
Directed by Conni Castille and Allison Bohl
Breaux Bridge, Louisiana

This short documentary follows four dynamic Cajun women in Southwestern Louisiana as they go about their daily lives and their ironing routine. An emotional and cultural process, ironing is performed with an aesthetic sensibility that helps define these women and their families.

Images from "On Stage w/ the Band" to Enjoy

Granted we're a pretty enthusiastic bunch, but that's probably why we work in the arts.  But the level of excitement surrounding the ASC's first "On Stage w/the Band" event has been off the charts.  We developed this concept to meet our pressing desire to present artists in a smaller setting.  And there could have been no better band to join us in this experiement than Cowboy Junkies. 

Check out these cool images!

[caption id="attachment_209" align="alignnone" width="200" caption="The audience up close & personal with cowboy junkies"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_215" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="like seeing a show in a really large living room"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_216" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="our lighting guy rocks"][/caption]

 

Mary Colurso gave the show 4 out of 5 stars
Hurt’s so Good: Cowboy Junkies Go Over to the Dark Side at Alys Stephens Center (Birmingham News)

http://blog.al.com/mcolurso/2009/02/cowboy_junkies_tuesday_night_a.html

Have suggestions for other artists you think would make a good fit for the "On Stage" series?  Email jesssimpson@uab.edu.

Legendary Bassist Jerry Jemmott to Teach Workshop

 

The ASC is thrilled to welcome legendary bassist Jerry Jemmott to the ASC for a half-day workshop on February 21 at 1 p.m. Workshop is open to all musicians! For more information contact Kimberly Kirklin at kkirklin@uab.edu.

 

I can't say enough about Jerry Jemmott...both on a personal and professional level....Jerry Jemmot is one of the most influential session bassists of all time...not only because of the landmark recordings he was a part of (B.B. King's The Thrill is Gone, Aretha Franklin's Think....to name a couple) but because of the way he raised the bar for every rhythm section that came after him. The best of the best refer to him as "The Groove Master"....for good reason. Listen to King Curtis Live at the Fillmore for a small sample of what Jerry is capable of....truly amazing. Jerry is just as relevant today as he was 40 years ago. He is currently touring with the Gregg Allman Band.

 

Jerry has a heart for his students. His depth of musical knowledge and his real world practical experience is unmatched.....best of all....he loves to share it. He has a very generous sprit and a teachers heart. I have the privilege of calling Jerry a good friend....every time we hang up the phone, I feel the need to write down some pearl of wisdom he accidentally dropped on me....He has had a huge impact on the way I listen and play music.

 

Ted Pewitt

 

Local mandolinist Jason Bailey performs after Punch Bros.

We're thrilled to showcase local mandolinist Jason Bailey and his band as the headliner for the Punch Brothers after-party this weekend. A word from Jason...

I am very excited to be playing the official after-party for the Punch Brothers concert. Being a full time mandolinist, this opportunity to share in the same evening with perhaps the best mandolin player alive is exhilarating, inspiring, and even a little bit frightening. I can't wait!! Thanks for having me, Jason Bailey

Here are the links for purchase of the new release "September in the South." Just copy and paste one into your web browser for access.

For Digital Download of "September in the South" via Apple itunes:
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=267439310

For purchase of a physical copy of "September in the South"
http://cdbaby.com/cd/jasonbailey2

If you would like the first CD "Southwood" as an itunes download:
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=44100507

Or, purchase of a physical copy of "Southwood." http://cdbaby.com/cd/jasonbailey

Check out my website www.baileyjason.com

Come be my friend on myspace http://www.myspace.com/jasonbaileymandolin

Need Music for your wedding, Office party, any party, or whatever, contact me.

Jason Bailey
Joots Music LLC
205-612-2723
jootsmusic@netzero.net
www.baileyjason.com

Turning the concert hall on its ear

There is just something about live music. There is a spiritual aspect that is inherent in really good music that connects to the careful listener on a deep, almost primal level. Musicians speak the language of the heart, and they can touch your soul- bringing you to tears, or filling you with pure bliss. Music can take you on journeys, showing you worlds you never knew existed, often without ever uttering a word. Witnessing this magic being created right before your ears is an experience that can leave you mesmerized and stirred to the depths of your being, and often has the potential of changing you forever, if only in some small, internal way. Okay, enough hyperbole…. 

 

Here at the Alys Stephens Center, we’re not only constantly trying to bring you the most powerful performances by the most unique and important artists alive today, but we strive to present the art in such a way that it has the most profound impact on you, our audience. We know what it’s like to sit in rapt wonderment at a show - our staff is comprised of people who live to see live shows.  Ask any of our friends and they’ll tell you that we’re out and about almost every night of the week. For our education director, it’s theatre.  For our executive director, it’s dance. For me, it’s singer/songwriters.  For our marketing and programming director, it’s pretty much anything else. And as “professional show-goers”, we all crave the unique concert experience that will present great art in a fresh dynamic light. And what better way to witness the creation of musical magic than to be sitting “On Stage with the Band”?

 

 

And while we’re re-inventing the wheel, we thought, why not reconfigure the same old grand concert hall that we all know and love so well? So, we’ve turned the Jemison Concert Hall onto its proverbial ear. The band will be onstage, facing the Choral Balcony (yes, backwards) with a curtain drawn behind them, closing off the larger part of the hall. A limited number of onstage seats will be available, along with incredible birds-eye seating in the Choral Balcony. Sounds cool, huh?

 

So now, without further adieu, we are thrilled to announce our first ‘On Stage with the Band” performance, featuring the legendary COWBOY JUNKIES!  We would have been hard-pressed to find a better band to kick off the “On Stage” series. Their music encompasses everything that inspires us – it is at once dynamic and mournful, haunting, heartfelt, and blisteringly poignant. You can’t help but be drawn into the webs they spin, both lyrically and musically.

 

The concert will be Tuesday, February 10^th at 7pm. Tickets go onsale to the general public Monday December 15, 2008. Because we are expecting such a high demand for this show, we are offering an internet presale to loyal friends of the ASC. The presale will be available via www.alysstephens.org only, and will begin Monday December 8, 2008.  Check today’s ASC E-Updates for details.

 

 

 

 

Mom Always Like Them Best

One of the things about my job I like best is working side-by-side with so many talented people. One of our greatest talents is actor, playwright, and resident oddball Jerry Sims. Jerry not only serves as our House Events Manager, he also writes and directs many of our ASC Kids’ Club productions. His shows have included “Alice’s Tea Party,” “Christmas Comes to Mugwumpville,” and this season’s upcoming masterpiece, “A Dickens Vest Pocket Christmas Carol.”

In this blog, Jerry weighs in on the legendary Smothers Brothers comedy duo and the influence they’ve had on generations…

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As a teenager I eagerly awaited The Smothers Brothers show each week. I come from a family of disparate political views and outlooks towards life. The Smothers Brothers provided common ground for all of us. They were funny. Yes, they taught me that it was all right to question the norm and look at politics and life in general from something more than a singular, polarized point of view. But in doing so, they were funny. Their rooted influence includes such great American humorists as Mark Twain and Will Rogers. Their legacy of influence may be found in contemporary entertainers such as John Stewart and Lewis Black. Everyone may not have agreed on every message their rants and rages contained, but if you had a sense of humor at all, you had to agree that they were funny.They gave us the likes of musicians such as Richie Havens, Buffalo Springfield and Mason Williams (who wrote CLASSICAL GAS as well as Tommy's signature song, THE YO-YO MAN).

Any contemporary comedian of note graced their show, and a few lesser known comedians provided a somewhat obscure format for laughter. Who can forget "Pat What's His Name" and his perennial candidacy for president, or the "Share a Little Tea with Goldie Lady?"

Comedy is complex. A simple breakdown is that one either laughs at or with performers.

With the Smothers Brothers, you did both.

Mom was right.

Jazz guitarist and vocalist John Pizzerelli performs first, then the Smothers Brothers take the stage on Sunday, November 23rd. 

You can experience the next original production written by Jerry Sims: “A Dickens Vest Pocket Christmas Carol” on December 7th. Kids will love this show! Tickets are just $7.

Behind the Scenes Opening Weekend

As the Artist Coordinator at the Alys Stephens Center I have the distinct pleasure of providing hospitality service for all our visiting artists.  I spend time with them more than any other person in Birmingham so you can imagine how many stories and experiences I have collected.  Here's what happened to me during the opening weekend of our 2008-09 Alys Stephens Center Season with BeauSoleil and Wanda Sykes.

It was a pleasure hanging out with BeauSoleil on Friday night before and after the show.  Their Cajun fraternity had been established by many years of being on the road together.  Inside jokes, casual banter and a love for pecan pie was proof their history together ran deep. So deep, in fact, that they were able to play this joke on me.

Fiddle player, Mitchell Reed made me believe that he was Michael Doucet's son from another marriage and that he and Michael had just reunited 10 years ago after a DNA test had proved he was his son.  He told me music reunited them and all but revealed without a shadow of a doubt they were blood related.  Mitchell's Mother then confessed to the story and the rest is BeauSoleil history.  When I asked about his Mother, he told me he didn't want to get into it, so I kindly backed off.

Now, maybe growing up in a Jerry Springer World it had made me very accepting of this story, maybe I'm just naïve, I really don't know why I believed it.  When I came back in the green room, David, Michael's real and actual blood brother said, "So Michael, Liz got it out of us.  She finally found out the real story behind you and Mitchell."  It was at this time I realized I had been seriously duped.  I blushed and said, "F***.  Maaaan.  I can't believe I fell for it."  The rest of the band was breaking up, collapsing in their chairs with laughter.  Then I said, "I better go find the people I told your story to that you're full of S***."  More laughter.

Even though I told Mitchell I wasn't talking to him for the rest of the night, it wasn't to punish him, but to save whatever dignity I had left.  I didn't really mind so much, I had so much fun, even if it was at my own expense.  I also have a wonderful memory of them singing Steve Martin's "King Tut" and The Rascals "Good Lovin.'"

Right before they left I got a picture with them.  I gave them two thumbs up.

If you saw the Wanda Sykes show you know that the first 15 minutes of her act were spent speaking about the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.  She had flown in that afternoon and frequented The Wynfrey and Galleria Food Court before going on her tour at the Museum.  She visited Birmingham briefly but I had time with her in the elevator for a few seconds.  When I asked her if she enjoyed her stay in Birmingham she was very polite and said "Oh, yeah, I had a lot of fun."

She (and Keith Robinson) even took a picture with the crew after the show.  While waiting for the spot op's to come down from the grid for the picture, we spoke about UAB.  When realizing what the ‘B' stood for she said "Birmingham.   Oh yeah, that makes sense.  I'm a genius."  Then we wished her well and she was gone.

BeauSoleil and Wanda Sykes were a great way to start my weekend and a great start to a  wonderful 2008-2009 Alys Stephens Center Season.  Until next time....

BeauSoleil is Comin' Into Town

Mary Chapin Carpenter wrote about them and the song is quite infectious.  From the first licks of the fiddle, you are automatically tapping your feet and at least for me, I want to get up and do a jig.  It's easier for me when I'm alone, but soon and very soon, I might not be able to control myself from getting on the dance floor.  They are coming to the Stephens Center and I'm sorta pumped.



Perhaps you've heard this song. My first introduction to BeauSoleil was in a song called "Down at the Twist and Shout."  Having been a long time fan of Mary Chapin, she turned me into a long time fan of BeauSoleil.  I can't wait for the Cajun beat, the dance lessons by ACME Dance, and the party atmosphere that only the Stephens Center can provide.  If you've never been to a season opening party, this will be the one to make it an annual tradition for you.



As Carpenter writes:
"And there ain't no cure for my blues today
Except when the paper says: Beausoleil is coming into town
Baby let's go down."

To see video, click here.

Come on down to the ASC and cut a rug with me. Call me (or Mike or Randi or Bryan) at 975-2787.

My name's Heath, I sell tickets and I approve this message.

Chat with Kids' Festival Performer Charles Tortorici

I spoke with singer/songwriter Charles Tortorici yesterday to find out what he has in store for kids at the "Rhythms of the Earth" Festival this Sunday at the ASC.



ASC: What can parents and kids expect from your performance at "Rhythms of the Earth?"

Charles: I will perform a variety of original songs and poems that deal with the environment, creativity, and the arts in general. It will be interactive in that I will get the audience to make various percussive rhythms with their voice, along with echoing various words or phrases from the songs/poems. I will also have an interactive piece that celebrates the many rhythms of voice, through words, syllables, and nonsensical syllables.

ASC: What can kids learn from experiencing live performances?

Charles: Children (and adults too) can learn how a writer (be it poet, songwriter, storyteller) uses the rhythm found in words and phrases to create moving, dynamic works of literary art. They will experience the importance of breath to the feel of rhythm in words, as well as see how a songwriter pulls from a variety of topics for creative expression. Encouragement and empowerment to find their own creative voice run throughout the live performance.

ASC: What project are you working on now?

Charles: I've been working with a 12-year-old ASFA student Walker Yancey on songs, both his and mine, and sharing writing ideas. It is a mutual creative learning experience. I'm also preparing new material (songs and poems) to perform at schools, festivals, and libraries this coming school year.

Come see Charles perform, along with performances from Nathifa Dance Company, John Scalici and the Get Rhythm performing ensemble, and Celtic band Hooley. Children can engage in hands-on projects, play musical instruments, and learn to make yummy culinary dishes using organic foods. Children also can learn about native Alabama wildlife and flora through brief kid-friendly lectures, demonstrations and other fun activities. Festival participants include Ruffner Mountain Nature Center, Alabama Wildlife Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Theatre, Vulcan Park and Museum, Stevan Grebel Center for Dance and Jones Valley Urban Farm.

Festival sponsors are the Alabama State Council on the Arts, Jane Stephens Comer, National Endowment for the Arts, Southern Arts Federation, Vulcan Materials Company Foundation, The Birmingham News, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Viva Health.

Tears for Beers

Ever wonder why there are no microbreweries around here anymore? Most craft beers, micro brewed and otherwise, will carry an ABV rating of over 6%, simply due to the brewing process, and these beers are therefore prohibited in Alabama. When faced with this restriction, and the daunting task of hunting out only those craft beers that have a low-end ABV, and are therefore legal for sale, many potential purveyors figure ‘what’s the point?,’ which is why Alabama’s beer selection is mostly pretty slim.

But thank Dionysus for Free the Hops and Birmingham Budweiser! Since 2006, Free the Hops has been presenting Alabama Legislature with the Gourmet Beer Bill, which proposes to increase the allowable ABV to 13 9/10, which would effectively clear the way for craft beers of all makes and models to be enjoyed (responsibly) here in Alabama. Please visit their site and show your support.

In the meantime, my second beer hero of the day, Birmingham Budweiser, is making a concerted effort to bring as many finely crafted beers to our watering palates as they can. Working within the ABV limits of the law, Birmingham Budweiser is proving that a craft beer does not necessarily have to have a high ABV to be finely crafted and delicious. In fact, they’d like to prove that to you this Thursday at the Alys Stephens Center.  The ASC is joining forces with Free the Hops and Birmingham Budweiser to offer a FREE craft beer tasting at the upcoming Inter-ART-ive event this Thursday, September 11 from 6pm until 8:30pm. Admission to the event is free, and will also include live music featuring The White Oaks, open mic performances featuring a great selection of local talent, great food courtesy of Cosmos and Bottletree, and lots more.    Featured at the craft beer tasting will be Fordham Brewing Company’s Copperhead Ale, Helles Lager, Tavern Ale, and Fordham Light, as well as Dominion Lager, Dominion Ale, Dominion Pale Ale, and Dominion Oak Barrel Stout from Old Dominion Brewing Company. 

Please come out Thursday to inter-ART-ive for a great evening of fun, food and great beer. Note that the beer tasting is limited to guests age 21 and older (duh!) and you will need to present valid ID upon entry. Visit the ASC Social Club table as you arrive to get your “Hey, I’m old enough to drink!” armband. Hope to see you there!