Light in Winter returns to Ithaca for the second time this weekend. The big events -- Paul Winter, Kronos Quartet -- will take place at the State Theatre. But the party won't end there, thanks to the debut of "Late Night in Winter," a event coordinated among four downtown venues Friday and Saturday nights.
Beginning at 10 p.m each night, the intimate venues -- Lost Dog Cafe, Chanticleer Upstairs (aka the Chantiloft), Les Ducs Restaurant and the Moosewood Cafe -- will host a variety of bands.
Here's the schedule:
Friday: Djug Django (gypsy swing), the Moosewood; Margaret Wakely and Molly MacMillan (jazz), Les Ducs; Up South (old time, with Mac Benford and company, Lost Dog; Bobby Henrie and The Goners (rockabilly and swing), the Chanticleer.
Saturday: Supernatural (jazz), the Moosewood; Richard Driscoll and Molly MacMillan (cabaret), Les Ducs; Speer Specker Henrie (original acoustic), the Lost Dog; Gumbo Ya Ya (Zydeco), the Chanticleer.
Admission is $5 for all four venues each evening. Purchase tickets at the State Theatre at Light in Winter performances or at any of the venues. For more information, visit www.lightinwinter.com or call 277-0178.
More shows
With luck, the weather this weekend will be less intimidating than last. While the cold and snow outside can make for a cozy evening in just about any club or bar, it's the getting there that's the problem.
Anyway, here's a quick look at some of the shows around town in the next few days.
Saturday, Castaways hosts the Ultimate African and Latin Dance Party, featuring salsa and soukous, merenge and mapouka, and more with DJs Carlos Porras and Ibe Spinning. The One Heart Community Drum Circle also will perform. Donation is $5; all proceeds will go to tsunami relief efforts. Call 272-1370 for more information.
WVBR's Crossing Borders Global Jazz series continues Saturday with Pioneros del Ritmo. The sextet includes some of the area's top musicians: Frank Campos, trumpet; Ryan Zawel, trombone; Neal Massa, piano; Harry Aceto, bass; James Armstrong, drumset and percussion; and Jorge Cuevas, congas and percussion. The band plays everything from old-school salsa to contemporary fusion and beyond. Admission for the 8 p.m. show is $7 at the door, or tune in on WVBR. (Note: last week's Crossing Borders show with pianist John Stetch has been postponed until April 16.)
Also Saturday, George Reed and Rhythm-Makers play a swing dance event in Cornell's Willard Straight Hall Memorial Room. The 82-year-old Reed has drummed with many jazz greats in his long career, and he shows no signs of slowing down. Admission is $10 ($8 for students and seniors) for the 8:30 show, which is sponsored by the Cornell Swing Dance Club and Ithaca Swing Dance Network. Visit www.ithaca-dance.org for information.
The Magic City Music Hall in Johnson City has a couple of cool shows this week. Saturday, local favorites John Brown's Body will lay down their righteous reggae grooves. Advance tickets are $10; at the door, they're $15. Tuesday, Gregg Allman and Friends will visit the club, with opening act Tony Furtado. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door. Call 729-2323 or visit www.magiccitymusichall.com for more information.
Sunday's Bound for Glory show features Bill Staines, the acclaimed, beloved folk singer whose appearance always draw hordes of fans eager to sing along. It's standing room only for the first set at 8:30 p.m., but there are usually seats for the later sets at 9:30 and 10:30 p.m. Or you can just tune in to listen on WVBR (93.5 FM) or www.wvbr.com. There's no cover charge. Call 844-4535 for more information.
Winter Wednesdays at the Carriage House Cafe continue next week with Jazz N Samba, which features vocalist Denice Karamardian and guitarist Doug Robinson along with percussionist Cleibe Souza and bassist Harry Aceto. Cover is $5 for the 8 p.m. show
Also Wednesday, Rusted Root frontman Michael Glabicki performs at the Rongo for the first time in years. Advance tickets are $10; at the door, it's $15. Call 387-3334 for more information.
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Jim Catalano has covered the local music scene since 1992. He can be reached via e-mail at JimCat@aol.com and jcatalano@ithaca.gannett.com.
Originally published Thursday, January 27, 2005
