From downtown to Green Hills to Nolensville Road to Hillsboro Village, there’s art all over town this weekend at the 14th annual Artrageous gallery tour/party benefiting Nashville CARES. The art, like the locales of the 10 participating galleries, is wide-ranging. Look for Lassie McDonald Crowder’s lovely scenes of rural France at Local Color Gallery and Jacqueline Saporiti’s whimsical views of everyday people at Midtown Gallery. Check out James Nowak’s sophisticated glass sculptures at Prism Glass and Ann Wood and Dean Lucker’s mixed-media portraits at American Artisan. There’s a strange sort of reality at work in the offbeat paintings by Bob Durham and Ronald Gibbons at Cumberland Gallery and in the graphite drawings by Kristi Hargrove at Finer Things. Ruby green sparkles with a show of Steve Benneyworth’s sculptures and Karen Platt’s charcoal drawings, Zeitgeist has Richard Painter’s latest burned-wood panels, and The Arts Company shows off colorful works by an artist called Gray. Hit the galleries, see the art, and enjoy treats prepared by top Nashville restaurants, 6-9 p.m. Then head to the Gaylord Entertainment Center for the grand finale: a performance by singer Jennifer Holliday, dancing, more refreshments, and a silent auction, 9 p.m-1 a.m. For tickets ($65 for the art tour and party; $45 for the party only), call 259-4866, ext. 300.
—A.W.
Thursday, 27th
FrancisMarrying good ol' rock 'n' roll scuzz to ultra-modern electro groove landscapes, locals Francis end up sounding like the midway rest-stop between Depeche Mode and The Make Up. And that's just fine with me; these guys churn out booty-shakin' midnight music for the new millennium, and it's no wonder that they're getting early notice. The group are also featured on the recent Cut and Paste Collective CD, a compilation of diverse groups organized by Francis' own Kevin and Anita Robinson, also of Viva Voce. Catch Francis at The End with Pop Unknown, formerly (un)known as Mineral.
—W.T.
Don Aliquo Jr. & Don Aliquo Sr.Saxophonist Don Aliquo Jr. has proven himself an able soloist and resourceful performer during gigs both in Nashville and Murfreesboro. Now, in a local version of a Chicago-style father/son summit, area fans can also hear Don Aliquo Sr., who also has quite a formidable word-of-mouth reputation on the jazz circuit. The two will be appearing in a special date at Cafe 123.
—R.W.
Chris KnightA Pretty Good Guy is the title of the second album by this semi-local singer-songwriter—based in rural Kentucky, doing business out of Music City—and the title of his record is a fair description of its contents. Knight plays rootsy country-rock in the unpretentious Steve Earle tradition, where the focus is on the lyrics more than on clever melodies. Knight's stories are about proud characters who drink beer and play rough with their buddies and then can't understand why their romantic relationships are falling apart. Dance to the backbeat and listen close when Knight plays 12th & Porter.
—N.M.
Tim Keegan/Grimey/GehrkeIn place of his usual band, Departure Lounge, Keegan teams up with Slow Bar partners Dave Gehrke and Mike "Grimey" Grimes at their East Nashville establishment for a night of "guilty pleasures" ranging from "Pink Houses" to "Seasons in the Sun." Proceeds go to the Red Cross.
Friday, 28th
Buzzfest 2There's no question that modern-rock fans will get their ticket money's worth out of this all-day fest at AmSouth Amphitheatre, sponsored by The Buzz 102.9 FM, which features everything from the snarky piano-based pop of Ben Folds to the metallic swagger of the Rollins Band to Hank III's ass-beating country. Also featured are sets by Sevendust, Nickelback, the Brand New Immortals, Bad Ronald, and 3 Doors Down, among many other bands, plus the long-overdue return of Tricky (see below). But the negative buzz is that Nashville bands playing on the second stage not only aren't getting paid, they're having to cough up $500 in production costs to perform a 25-minute set. "[We] wouldn't pay it," said a member of one popular Nashville club draw that was invited to pay to play, "and we don't know anybody that would or could." And yet The Buzz apparently found at least 10 that did, including Rickets Madcore and Julius Seizure. (The bands lucked out in one regard: The initial e-mail sent to local bands asked for $750.) As of Monday, we didn't see the local bands' names listed on The Buzz's Web site, but maybe they're up by now. Check out www.1029thebuzz.com.
—J.R.
TrickyFew have captured the soul-sucking sound of oppression more viscerally than Tricky, the dark lord of corrosive beats and dubwise grooves and one of a handful of acts on my short list for "Artist of the '90s." Tricky ain't the critics' darling he used to be, but as his new Blowout attests, he's still a massive attacker, and now—finally—he's got tunes to match his entropic soundscapes. He's also enlisted a posse of alt-rock all stars this time around, including Alanis, PJ, and the Chili Peppers, and damned if it don't all work, even the Cyndi Lauper cut. Tricky returns to town as part of Buzzfest 2 at AmSouth Amphitheatre.
—B.F.W.
DJ Egon & Jon DoeAs co-host of WRVU-91 Rock's influential "911 Emergency" hip-hop show, Eothen "Egon" Alapatt helped spread the gospel of Ultimate Breaks and Beats—not just the legendary vinyl series that gave a generation of DJs their samples, but the dynamite 91 Rock benefits of the same name that brought funk innovators and world-class turntablists to Nashville. Since his graduation last year from Vanderbilt, Egon's been making a name for himself on the West Coast as a mixmaster, supplying a remix with Atlanta DJ Jon Doe to the recent Beastie Boys DVD compilation and working with DJ Peanut Butter Wolf's outfit Stones Throw Records. Egon's new Stones Throw comp, The Funky 16 Corners, is a fabulous collection of obscure funk sides from unlikely R&B hubs like Indianapolis and Greenville, S.C.; here's hoping he and Jon Doe spin some of these platters as the special guests at 91's "Audity Central" benefit at The End. The monthly electronic-music showcase features the dance-music tastemakers of Nashville's Elevator Music Collective, including DJ Chek, Jolby, and Mindub. Half the proceeds will benefit the United Way's disaster-relief efforts in New York and D.C.
—J.R.
Nnenna FreelonThis jazz vocalist stunned many observers at this year's Grammy Awards by doing a wonderful rendition of Nat "King" Cole's "Straighten Up and Fly Right," backed by Take 6. It had none of the affectation or MOR touches that have hindered her past releases. Freelon's recent Soul Call has gotten better notices than anything she's ever done, and she's the headliner at the Arts Center of Cannon County, located on John Bragg Highway in Woodbury. For more information, call 563-ARTS.
—R.W.
Tom McRaeThe British press have hyped this native of Suffolk as the second coming of some cross between Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, and Nick Drake. And while that's just what such lazy allusions are—hype—McRae's a gifted guy, incisive songwriter, artful arranger, and urgent, golden-throated singer. His self-titled debut album certainly deserved its recent Mercury Prize nomination alongside records by PJ Harvey and Radiohead. Fans of searching singer-songwriter fare won't want to miss this son of not just one, but two, vicars in the Church of England when he opens for the Waterboys at 328 Performance Hall (see below).
—B.F.W.
The WaterboysIrish rocker Mike Scott abandoned his Waterboys project for about a decade in favor of a "solo" career that found him expanding upon the traditional folk and Celtic music that his band had begun to explore in their latter days. Now Scott has revived The Waterboys for a full-out rock album, A Rock in the Weary Land, which sadly has little of the majestic overreach of the group's '80s output. Scott's new batch of songs is overlong and cacophonous, with grime replacing chime. Oh well. Perhaps he'll play some of the old stuff at 328 Performance Hall.
—N.M.
Teren Bose and the Swing SetTeren Bose and the Swing Set don't cover the familiar territory of jump blues and vintage R&B. They reach further back, to the '30s and early '40s, and perform songs that many other similar ensembles ignore. They've played with the likes of Tony Bennett, Diana Krall, and The Manhattan Transfer, and their releases usually include some interesting originals alongside the unusual remakes and reworkings. They're scheduled to appear from noon-2 p.m. at the ticketing level at Nashville International Airport.
—R.W.
Buddy and Julie MillerThese alt-country darlings finally made their long-promised duo album and it's a revelation—a profusion of harmony, passion, and humanity the likes of which are all too rare today. The Millers celebrate the release of their luminous new CD at 12th & Porter. Kindred spirit Duane Jarvis opens. (See this week's cover story for more on the Millers.)
Fall Leaves FallTo benefit the Nashville arts magazine Sensored, Joe, Marc's Brother join a multimedia ensemble that includes performance poet Michele Dalton, visual artist Paul McLean, photographer John Guider, and experimental/improvisational musician Matt Hamilton from the Voight-Kampff promotion/performance group. The show begins 10 p.m. at the Exit/In; tickets are $7.
Saturday, 29th
Man Made BrainComprised of members of stalwart spazz-rockers XBXRX and The Jobbers, along with Jonny (a touring guitarist in one of the Man or Astroman? clone groups, and leader of Jonny and the Shamen), Man Made Brain sound pretty much like you'd expect. They combine surf/spy textures and chugging punk rock in an energetic and unpredictable live show that incorporates a theatrical fascination with science and gadgetry. Murfreesboro's Red Rose Coffee House and Bistro hosts yet another cherry evening.
—C.D.
Spider VirusAfter years of wrangling, Nashville's proudest eardrum-shatterers are finally seeing the release of their Tim O'Heir produced album, Radio Invaders, on Offtime Records. In their other incarnation as American Entertainment, the Virus boys appear to be headed in a more classic-pop-oriented direction, but this blast from the past is a brilliant slab of balls-to-the-wall power. Come see them lay it down at the Springwater.
—W.T.
David HungateBeing part of a rock/pop band isn't always the best introduction for someone doing a jazz gig, but that's Hungate's background. He formerly played in Toto, but has always maintained some improvising ties and jazz links. He's now fully operating in the jazz world, and is the scheduled headliner at Jazz@Bellevue Center.
—R.W.
Wham Bam River JamAmSouth Amphitheatre rocks with hitmakers Smash Mouth, LFO, Uncle Kracker, Jennifer Paige, Dante Thomas, Dream Street, and Michelle Branch. The show takes place at 6:30 p.m.
Rich Creamy PaintThe first Nashville appearance in ages for these youthful guitar-pop gentlefolk at The End, playing with the atmospheric rock stylings of Lume.
Sunday, 30th
Dave Cloud in the RoundSpringwater does the barely perceptible and transforms itself into a front porch to host Dave Cloud's first in-the-round celebration. Cloud's a master storyteller, and a crack lyric improviser to boot, so it's likely he'll offer liberal interpretations of classic songs with a strong narrative sense delivered in his trademark rich baritone. He's also a gifted and unpredictable comedian—he's as likely to play Rabelaisian recasts of Bee Gees tunes as he is to do an a cappella rendition of "I Had the Time of My Life," complete with dance floor moves. Get there early.
—C.D.
Ann Tiley/John Allingham/The Limitations/Steve Balaskey/Michael EnrightFor three hours, Guido's New York Pizzeria turns into the late, lamented Five Star General Store, hosting an array of talents from the city's bohemian folk underground. Think of it as a cousin to Springwater's Working Stiff Jamboree, only with black olives and pepperoncini on the side. Showtime is 6:30 p.m.
Monday, 1st
The DonnasIt's hard to believe that after a near-half decade as poster-chicks for bad-girl rock, The Donnas are just now "turning 21," as proclaimed by their latest foray into back-alley boogie. Sure, the whole Runaways-tussle-with-The-Ramones shtick isn't original, but it's damn good. How can anyone not love this band? They play actual rock 'n' roll without any slick vinyl-pants premeditation, and in terms of proficiency, they've come quite a ways since American Teenage Rock 'n' Roll Machine. They're not here to change the world, but then again, maybe we need more covers of Judas Priest's "Living After Midnight." Catch them in action at the Exit/In with The Eyeliners and The Kicks.
—W.T.
Freedom Sings: A Celebration of the First AmendmentA star-studded array of local talent—Gretchen Peters, John Kay, Don Henry, Greg Trooper, Tommy Womack, Will Kimbrough & Bill Lloyd, Jonell Mosser, Dave Pomeroy, and Craig Krampf—sings and performs in service of our freedom of speech at the Bluebird Cafe. (Does that mean you can talk without getting shushed?) Proceeds benefit Nashville Public Television.
Tuesday, 2nd
Kelly Joe Phelps/Greg Trooper/Eric Taylor/Steve EarleWe keep hearing there's this cool cable network called Turner South, and we keep hearing there's this cool show on it shot in Nashville called Live From the Bluebird Cafe—although you wouldn't know it from your basic cable package. To see what you're missing, check out this 9 p.m. taping at the Bluebird with Steve Earle, spooky bluesman Phelps, singer-songwriter Trooper, and underrated Texas troubadour Taylor.
Wednesday, 3rd
Tori Amos/Rufus WainwrightPiano music that bleeds. On her brilliantly conceived new album, Strange Little Girls, Amos sings nothing but covers of songs written about women from a man's point of view, giving them bold, even radical recontextualizations. Thus the sullen teen killer of the Boomtown Rats' "I Don't Like Mondays" changes places with the traumatized trooper observing the carnage, and the us-and-them masculine dialectic of Joe Jackson's "Real Men" becomes an indictment of gender warfare. Most shattering is a distaff rethink of Eminem's matricidal goof "97' Bonnie and Clyde" that affirms his undeniable skills, even as it renders his casual sadism all but unlistenable. Make a film to criticize a film, Godard said; this track makes all but the merest fraction of current rock criticism sound lily-livered and quaint. Amos performs solo at the Ryman Auditorium with special guest Rufus Wainwright, whose mordant, theatrical songs represent the crosswalk where Van Dyke Parks bumps smack into Leonard Cohen and Morrissey.
—J.R.
Volta Do Mar/CharacterVolta Do Mar and Character share many stylistic similarities—bass-driven melodies, complex drumming with an emphasis on beats, and song structures that generate tension by repetition—and release it with emo-derived bash choruses. Character offer a distinctive local take on the Chicago/Louisville math rock sound, infusing it with a shoegazer guitar wash and playful electronics. Chicago's Volta Do Mar have just recorded a full-length follow-up to their excellent EP on Arborvitae. The album is due in late October, but they're sure to have tour goodies. Psomni round out the bill at Springwater.
—C.D.
Mike Watt and the Jom & Terry ShowJeez, what hasn't this guy done? We last heard from him providing the thundering low end for J Mascis and the Fog, but Watt is like that crusty grandfather who just won't quit. He's back for more, this fall joining with the Jom and Terry Show (guitarist Tom Watson and drummer Jerry Trebotic) on the "Time to Cat and Not Mouse" tour. As Watt pontificates on his recent duties with Mascis, "it's a necessary duty to mouse from time to time but other moments call for some straight up cattin'." We couldn't agree more. Come see the man and his band at The End alongside Cleveland's glam-platoon Cobra Verde.
—W.T.
Film
Adanggaman One of history's darkest deeds—the African slave trade—becomes as vivid and livid as a new bruise in Roger Gnoan M'Bala's blistering film, which follows a tribesman's harrowing attempts to save his family and himself from an African king in collusion with European slave traders. The acclaimed drama opens Friday at the Belcourt; see the review in our Film Listings on p. 55.
—J.R.
Zoolander Ben Stiller as Derek Zoolander, male model and secret agent, who stands between the president of Malaysia and a really bad hair day. Stiller directed and co-wrote the comedy, which opens Friday at local theaters.
—J.R.
Apocalypse Now Redux About damn time. Fleshed out with 45 minutes of additional footage, Francis Ford Coppola's hallucinatory Vietnam updating of Heart of Darkness arrives at Green Hills in its lauded Technicolor restoration. The movie, all three hours and 10 minutes of it, opens Friday.
—J.R.
Baise-Moi Despite internal concerns about showing this French hard-core shocker in the wake of recent tragedy, the Belcourt reportedly got a strong response last weekend from audience members who stayed for spirited discussions. According to Belcourt staffers, even patrons who found the explicit sex and violence hard to stomach affirmed the theater's decision to show the movie. The nihilistic drama plays through Thursday night, and admission requires a (free) membership in its sponsor, a fledgling organization called Nashville Cinema Underground that hopes to bring in midnight movies and other cinematic events. For more information, see our Film Listings and Movie Clock.
—J.R.
Boys to Men Four short films about gay life, from adolescent awakening to coming out, form this anthology feature opening Friday at Green Hills. Also opening this week at area theaters: Anthony Hopkins in the Stephen King adaptation Hearts in Atlantis; Michael Douglas in the speed-psychotherapy thriller Don't Say a Word; and the extreme-sports indie comedy Extreme Days.
—J.R.
Jump Tomorrow Almost nobody saw this gentle screwball comedy when it played for a week recently at Green Hills; the Belcourt is bringing it back for a second look. Joel Hopkins wrote and directed this romantic farce about a Nigerian man who falls for a Latina hottie en route to his arranged wedding at Niagara Falls. The movie shows for one week starting Friday.
—J.R.
Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade World War II is over, and the Axis won in this sci-fi anime thriller scripted by Mamoru Oshii, the director of Ghost in the Shell. The animated feature opens Friday at Green Hills.
—J.R.
Last Year at Marienbad Ever since its release in 1961, Alain Resnais' elliptical, enigmatic chess-game of a film has daunted and exasperated moviegoers; it's more playful than its forbidding reputation would have you believe. At a European resort, a man shuffles through his memories as he tries to recall a past affair. Scripted by Resnais and Alain Robbe-Grillet, it screens on video as part of the Watkins Film School's free Friday-night movie series.
—J.R.
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton throw the lousiest faculty party ever—well, almost ever—in Mike Nichols' Oscar-winning version of the Edward Albee play. Co-starring Sandy Dennis and George Segal, the movie concludes the Belcourt's "Leading Ladies of the Silver Screen" matinee series this Saturday and Sunday afternoon along with Audrey Hepburn in How to Steal a Million.
—J.R.
DVD/VIDEO
Amores Perros This Mexican triptych film recalls Pulp Fiction in its interconnected, often shockingly violent stories about desperate people and their dogs. There's a certain "yes, but what of it" element to first-time writer/director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's stylish shell game, but the picture has a great final shot, and the middle section—about an injured model and the hole in her apartment floorboards—is enjoyably Hitchcockian. The DVD features behind-the-scenes footage, music videos, and a commentary track.
—N.M.
Citizen Kane On DVD at last, Orson Welles' populist masterpiece—once described by the late Pauline Kael as "maybe more fun than any other great movie"—gets an appropriately deluxe treatment. It comes in a highly affordable two-disc set, with commentary tracks by Roger Ebert and Peter Bogdanovich, a gallery of memorabilia, historical info, interviews concerning Welles and William Randolph Hearst, and the entirety of the superb documentary The Battle Over Citizen Kane (about the struggles of Welles and Hearst). A must-own.
—N.M.
Dark Days Filmmaker Marc Singer documented the community of homeless who dwell in the subway tunnels of New York for this stark, black-and-white report, shot while Singer himself lived among the "mole people." Equally fascinating and unnerving, Dark Days shows how refugees from proper society carve out a place for themselves, built from our garbage. The new DVD has commentary by the soft-spoken Singer, as well as 15 deleted scenes, a featurette about the making of the film, a history of the NYC subway, and follow-up information on the subjects of the documentary.
—N.M.
Death Race 2000 The Roger Corman collection of DVDs continues to grow, albeit in editions that are increasingly bare-bones. The only substantial feature on this disc of Paul Bartel's sci-fi satire is an interview with Corman himself, conducted by Leonard Maltin. Granted, Bartel is no longer with us, but what about some of the stars? Mary Woronov? David Carradine? Don "The Animal" Steele? What's Sly Stallone doing these days?
—N.M.
The French Connection The Academy Award-winning police procedural comes to DVD in a two-disc edition with two commentary tracks (one by director William Friedkin, one edited from interviews with stars Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider), deleted scenes, a behind-the-scenes featurette, and an acclaimed BBC documentary (The Poughkeepsie Shuffle) which looks at some of the true stories that inspired the film.
—N.M.
The Simpsons: The First Season And so it begins. The first in what one hopes will be a complete catalog of the most enduring TV program of the '90s rewards those DVD owners who've been patiently avoiding the VHS collections. The set includes all 13 episodes from the first season, as well as one of the Tracey Ullman Show shorts, deleted footage and test footage, audio outtakes from guest star Albert Brooks, and period news reports about the Simpsons phenomenon as it unfolded. Best of all, though, is the addition of a commentary track for each episode, provided by creator Matt Groening and the voice talent. The first season of The Simpsons was fairly crude and only intermittently inspired, but the extras on this set help overcome any awkwardness in the main feature.
—N.M.
DANCE
Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance CompanySince 1982, this multicultural, New York-based dance company has wowed audiences at home and abroad, performing its ever-expanding repertoire in some 30 countries, including Australia, Brazil, Japan, Portugal, Greece, South Africa, and the Czech Republic. Important awards, critical acclaim from New York to Chicago to Los Angeles, television and film appearances—all have come the way of both the troupe and its innovative choreographer, Bill T. Jones. They bring their program to Vanderbilt's Langford Auditorium 8 p.m. Sat., Sept. 29, presenting works driven by music as diverse as Verdi, jazz standards, and African folk music.
—M.B.
THEATER
The FABULOUS FABLE FACTORY After finding its sea legs earlier this year with major productions of various musicals, Franklin's Boiler Room Theatre launches its children's theater program with this tale of a boy who discovers an abandoned factory that houses an ancient story-making machine. Based on Aesop's fables. Sept. 27 through Oct. 27 at The Factory at Franklin.
—M.B.
The 2001 PG-13 PLAYERS PREMIEREUnder the auspices of Planned Parenthood of Middle and East Tennessee, students from Nashville-area high schools have developed this series of dramatic sketches depicting teens in crisis. Issues of sex, body image, eating disorders, and family are presented in hard-hitting scenes written collaboratively by the youthful players under the direction of Brandon Baxter. The audience is invited to pose post-performance questions of the actors, who remain in character while responding to concerns about teenage motivations, feelings, and decisions. After the initial, one-time performance at the Belcourt Theatre 7 p.m. Oct. 2, this program will be presented throughout the school year to educators and students across the state. Proceeds benefit Planned Parenthood. Phone 345-0952 for more information.
—M.B.
WARRIOR Marcus Hummon's collaborations with Actors Bridge have previously spawned intellectually challenging and interestingly crafted musicals. This latest shouldn't be any different, and it couldn't come at a more appropriate time in our country. As the nation struggles with international issues and internal questions, Hummon's piece offers audiences the chance to reflect on the poignant and uniquely American life of Jim Thorpe—Sac and Fox Indian, world-class athlete, and figure of both triumph and tragedy. Actors Bridge artistic director Bill Feehely directs the first theatrical production to be presented in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's Ford Theater. Singer-songwriter Mark Luna takes the lead role. Opens Sept. 27 for a two-week run.
—M.B.
The Zip ProjectAfter debuting during Fest de Ville at TPAC, this distinctively Nashville theater venture continues as an adjunct to the TACA Fall Crafts Fair this weekend in Centennial Park. Local playwrights have developed 10-minute plays, both comic and serious, that examine aspects of life in various Metro area ZIP codes. The staged readings feature an array of gifted local actors. Call Sheila Marczak at 584-7848 for further information.
—M.B.
ART
ParthenonThough French by birth, artist Paul Jacoulet (1902-1960) lived in Japan most of his life and traveled extensively in the South Pacific, Korea, Mongolia, and Manchuria. In his woodblock prints, Jacoulet documented the natives of those places and, in many cases, foreshadowed the inevitable disappearance of their cultures in the face of advancing Western influence. The Parthenon show features 14 of Jacoulet's exotic, colorful prints Sept. 28-Nov. 24, with an opening reception 6-8 p.m. Sept. 28. A lecture by Vanderbilt's Dr. Milan Mihal on traditional Japanese woodblock printing techniques takes place 7 p.m. Oct. 2 as part of the Parthenon Symposia, a free lecture series on art and history. For information or symposia reservations, call 862-8431.
—A.W.
FUGITIVE ART CENTER Dana Goodman's large-scale ceramic assemblages draw from his experiences with rural life—but don't look for cows, horses, or deer here. Goodman depicts creatures and habitats often overlooked by most of us—earthworms churning the soil, stubborn beetles plugging along, or bare tree roots searching for nourishment. His images don't romanticize nature but rather express the interaction between the smaller, less glamorous species. Interact with the art and the artist at the opening reception, 7-9 p.m. Sept. 28.
—A.W.
BENNETT GALLERIESOil paintings by Miami artist Clifford Bailey are featured in this Green Hills gallery's latest show. Bailey's works recall the look and feel of the Roaring '20s, but his portraits of musicians and dramatic street scenes have a modern twist. The exhibit is on display Sept. 29-Oct. 20, with an opening reception 6-9 p.m. Sept. 29. The artist will also be painting in the gallery 2-6 p.m. Sept. 25-27.
—A.W.
TENNESSEE STATE MUSEUMHerb Alpert will be back in town for the grand finale of the exhibition of his paintings and sculptures, which concludes its stay at the state museum Sept. 30. Tom Neff is filming a video on Alpert and the show after it officially closes, but there are still a few days left for the general public to see this musician's art for themselves. While not specifically jazz-related, Alpert's colorful abstract canvases and fluid bronze sculptures express the same soul-soaring sense of rhythm and improvisation that are the hallmarks of his musical style.
—A.W.
Books
Jill McCorkleAlgonquin Books of Chapel Hill is one of the most reliable publishers of progressive Southern fiction. This acclaim is due, in large part, to authors like Jill McCorkle. In little more than 10 years, McCorkle has gone from promising debut novelist, with Cheerleader, to award-winning author of eight books of fiction. Her latest, Creatures of Habit, continues a recent streak of short-story collections. Choosing ordinary and unassuming characters, McCorkle uses her quick wit and sharp eye for detail to make the mundane marvelous. Don't miss her appearance at Davis-Kidd this Thursday, Sept. 27 at 6:30 p.m.
—A.M.
EVENTS
TACA FALL CRAFTS FAIRThere is no better time to celebrate the creative diversity of our American culture and no better way to do so than at this 23rd annual event Sept. 28-30 in Centennial Park. From Gullah sweetgrass baskets from the Low Country of South Carolina and split-oak basketry of Tennessee to Chinese paper carving and Guatemalan weavings, you'll see traditional and contemporary craft work at its finest. Nashville Weather will be on hand to perform English, Irish, and American folk music; vendors will be dishing up Greek, Thai, and Caribbean delicacies; and Nashville Theatre Works will present original 10-minute plays inspired by our city's various ZIP codes. Ain't that America, indeed.
—A.W.
NASHVILLE PUBLIC LIBARYMy grandfather used to say that even in September you can still have some burny days—meaning it's too early to hide inside from the weather just yet. In fact, it's the perfect time to enjoy the main library's new outdoor garden and some free music. Les Kerr and the Bayou Band perform at the library 2:30-4:30 p.m. Sept 30, plus you can drop by from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 24-28 and show your library card for a free cup of coffee. For information, call 862-5753.
—A.W.
Country Music Hall of Fame and MuseumStage costume designer and artist Nance Cooley creates clothes for country divas like Kathy Mattea and Patty Loveless, but this weekend her designs will be child's play at a costume workshop for kids, 2-3:30 p.m. Sept. 29. After Cooley shares her techniques with the kids and shows off examples of her work, the budding young designers will get to decorate their own T-shirts using patterned fabric, stencils, sequins and paint. The workshop fee is $5 per child, with two accompanying adults admitted free, and includes refreshments and materials. For reservations, call 416-2071.
—A.W.
East on ParadeFor those Nashvillians who rarely cross the river, Sept. 29 offers an ideal opportunity to experience the atmosphere of one of Nashville's up-and-coming neighborhoods. The Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission & East Nashville's creatively inclined residents have teamed up to present the inaugural East on Parade, a community celebration of arts and music. The event kicks off with a bike, scooter, & lawnmower parade, 11 a.m. in the Y-CAP parking lot (11th Avenue and Russell Street). Other festivities include Nashville Theater Works' performance of The ZIP Project; local musicians & dancers; a cooperative painting of a mural designed by East residents; a Mad Science show for kids; 10-minute massages by Yoga East; art exhibits, and more. The free event takes place 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at various locations in the Five Points area (11th Avenue and Woodland Street).
—E.E.
Picks written by Martin Brady, Chris Davis, Erin Edwards, Bill Friskics-Warren, Angela Messina, Noel Murray, Jim Ridley, William Tyler, Angela Wibking, and Ron Wynn.
