RIO IN PROVIDENCE
It’s happening this Sunday — 3:00 is the time, Perishable Theatre, Empire Street in Providence is the place. If you’ve been wondering why I’m so in love with Rio’s roda da choro, you can see for yourself. I’m running one in Providence as part of my Live/Whirled series. The featured guest artists are some of my favorite choristas in New England– Judy Handler & Mark Levesque who play guitars and bandolim, & Tom Rohde, solo guitar. They’ll each play a set of choro to inspire, and then anyone who brings an instrument can join in for a traditional roda. Lead sheets (tune + chord symbols) will be provided and I’ll have transposed versions for Bb instruments as well. If you don’t play you can still sip on a beer, or beverage of choice, and enjoy the muito legal (very cool) music of this Rio event. Admission is a mere $8. Join us!
MANDOLIN IN DECEMBER
I’m playing some fun social music gigs in December. On Saturdays Dec. 1st and Dec. 8th, I’ll be playing classical- Brazilian- Christmas- & original music with Bob Martel, one of my favorite guitarists, at the new L.L. Bean store in Mansfield MA. We’ll be playing there from noon to 3:00PM, so stop by to listen and shop. And Enigmatica will play our annual gig @ Blithewold Mansion in Bristol RI on Wednesday, Dec. 5 @ 6:30 PM. The house is always beautifully decorated for the season, and this has become an holiday tradition for many.
MM on YOUTUBE
My students at RWU featured me in one of the weekly segents of “The Feed,” an on-campus video news project. The 3-minute interview, interspersed w/ me playing “Cochichando,” is up on YouTube, and also currently featured on my webpage. I’m absolutely tickled at how it came out, and they’re thrilled that it’s been getting worldwide exposure. Check it out!
AN AUTUMN OF MUSIC
September & October were a riot of music-making starting with my incredibly-fun “Saudades do Rio” concert w/ slideshow @ RWU, and continuing with the Cape Cod Mandolin Festivel/Camp, and the New England Mandolin Ensemble’s tour w/ Carlo Aonzo. All was fabulous and I got to see so many of you. It reminded me why I’m glad to live here in New England for the biggest part of my life.
RIO in 2008
And for the rest of my life I’m deliriously happy to live in Rio de Janeiro. My 2008 schedule has me there for most of January, half of March and April, and half of June and July into August. My band, Agua no Feijao, is recording in January as soon as I get back down there, so I am excited, and learning new rep for that. And of course there will be rodas, and lessons w/ Joel Nascimento, and Choro School– I’m so glad to have a life there.
THE COMPLETE MANDOLINIST
Is still not in my hands, sigh… I finally got the blue line last week, and Jacque & I edited non-stop and sent it back Monday. But there were corrections, and now Mel Bay doubts it will be out in December. January is hopeful. So I’m sorry about the empty spot in y’alls’ Christmas stockings. But it will be around forever so we should take the time to get it right.
AMGuSS-WW
AMGuSS is hosting a winter week-end February 29 to March 2. There will be classes, rehearsals, and the focus will be on AMGO, the American Mandolin & Guitar Orchestra. Everyone there will play in AMGO, music will be sent out ahead of time, and the week-end will end with an AMGO concert on Sunday afternoon. There will also be an optional full day of workshops on Friday, February 29, that will provide a hands-on walk through the materials in my mandolin method led by Ralph Costanza and me, and a masterclass w/ Robert Paul Sullivan for guitarists. We are currently scouting a location in the Boston area. Please email hidden; JavaScript is required if you are interested in attending, so we can have a ballpark count for the hotel, and to reserve yourself a spot. May be a good Christmas present for your list! Info will be up on the website right after Thanksgiving.
AMGuSS in JUNE
Will not meet this year. We are taking a sabbatical, trying out new ideas in a couple of week-end sessions (Feb. 29 – Mar. 2, and another one TBA) and plan to be back some June down the road with a new plan. Just not in 2008.
SUMMERKEYS 2008
I’ve just signed up to teach one week @ SummerKeys this year, in scenic Lubec, Maine. I’ll be there the week of Augst 18, and can accept 6 students. I can’t schedule a 2nd week this year, so act quickly if you want in on this one.
CDs FOR BUTCH
It’s not up on my website yet, but I wanted y’all to be the first to know. In support of our beloved colleague Butch Baldassari’s fight to win back his health & get that mandolin back in his hands, I’m donating all proceeds from my December CD sales — at gigs or online — to his medical fund. So give cool music to your friends & help Butch — it’s a win/win situation. We all love Butch all the time, but the holiday season seems like a good time to shine a little extra light his way.
The next issue of “MARILYNN ON MANDOLIN” will be out in January, and will come your way from sunny Rio.
So have a great holiday season with your loved ones, & be sure to eat too much pie– when else do you get the chance! I count myself so lucky to have y’all in my world, and look forward to seeing you on Sunday, in December, or Feb./March, or whenever else our paths may cross. beijos,
-mm
