This year, the art world’s ability to rally and produce engaging and vital works has been a constant glimmer of hope amidst global turmoil. With the revived Friday Five, we bring you our weekly choice of the top five things to check out in the near future—highlights from all over, as well as from the Flynn. And as you enjoy, please consider supporting these artists and arts organizations. Every donation counts. We hope these diverse works from all corners of the art world ignite your curiosity, fuel your imagination, and help strengthen and energize our community.
In addition to these weekly selections, we also keep a more comprehensive rolling list of ongoing and upcoming happenings at our ONLINE ARTS GUIDE.
Don't miss this evening of streaming music to support local hard-working musicians and keep music alive in Vermont. VT Sounds will broadcast from Zenbarn in Waterbury, Vermont where patrons can watch event creator Chad Hollister perform live and watch the livestream on a screen while enjoying dinner at Zenbarn (dine-in from 5 to 9 pm, the bar is open until 10 pm) or choose takeout from 4 to 9 pm. Patrons can also catch the livestream via Facebook and YouTube!
VT Sounds will feature an eclectic mix of musicians performing jazz and classical to rock and folk and everything in between. VT Sounds creator Chad Hollister will be joined by Paul Asbell, Francesca Blanchard, Yahuba Garcia, Kris Gruen, Brett Hughes & Kat Wright, John Hughes, Dave Keller, KeruBo, Kinhaven Music School, Russ Lawton, Ryan Montbleau, Daby Toure, Ray Vega, Vermont Symphony Orchestra, Vermont Youth Orchestra, and Yellow Barn. Additional acts are expected to take part in the streaming concert. Performers will also offer personal messages about the impact of the pandemic upon the entertainment industry.
All proceeds will go to the New England Musicians Relief Fund (NEMRF), an organization that provides grants to working musicians facing financial difficulties. Anyone can watch the show on Zenbarn's Facebook and YouTube pages and NEMRF Facebook and YouTube pages. There is no cost to view the stream, but donations are encouraged.
The Middlebury Performing Arts Series opens its Winter 2021 Virtual Season with pianist Gloria Chien—an equally acclaimed performer, concert presenter, and educator. Selected by the Boston Globe as one of its superior pianists of the year, Taiwanese-born Chien has performed as a recitalist and chamber musician around the globe, and performs frequently with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center as an alumna of its Bowers Program. Chien founded the String Theory chamber music series in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and is co-artistic director of both the Chamber Music Northwest and Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festivals. Chien’s CMS program features works by Field, Liszt, and Mendelssohn.
Additional performances in this series include violinist Cho-Liang Lin on January 29 and pianist Anne-Marie McDermott on February 5.
Live Streaming at the Village Vanguard presents two nights of Eric Harland on drums with Chris Potter on sax, Joel Ross on vibraphone, and Austin White on bass and electronics.
“Where many drummers approach conventional jazz rhythms using the ride cymbal as the lead voice, Harland uses the entire set and its variety of sounds to underpin, elaborate, and explore the rhythm. —Modern Drummer
Each Village Vanguard live-stream is available for a period of 24 hours—from 8 pm to 8 pm EST the following day.
"Yet another one of New York’s most beloved venues is in danger of closing for good. The legendary Birdland Jazz Club has been a fixture in the jazz community and one of NYC’s hottest destinations since it was founded in 1949. Sadly, it can be added to the list of venues which can no longer afford to operate. Like many other independently owned small businesses, Birdland is in desperate need of capital to dig out of the debt caused by the pandemic.
Like our last campaign (saving the West Bank Café), if we hit our fundraising goal, not only will it get Birdland out of the debt caused by the pandemic, but it will allow the venue to weather the rest of this storm and Birdland can remain “the jazz corner of the world”.
When we come together we can achieve anything! Let’s keep it going! Let’s Save Birdland!"—Tom D'Angora, Producer
Featuring appearances and performances: Clive Davis, Monty Alexander, Lucy Arnaz, Iain Armitage, Iain Armitage, Colleen Ballinger, Erich Bergen, Terence Blanchard, Stephanie J Block, Matthew Broderick, Scott Bradlee, Brenda Braxton, Ken Burns, and so many more.
Camille A. Brown is a prolific Black female choreographer, who is reclaiming the cultural narratives of African American identity. Her bold work taps into both ancestral stories and contemporary culture to capture a range of deeply personal experiences. Ms. Brown has received numerous honors including a Guggenheim Award, Bessie Award, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award, a Doris Duke Artist Award, a Dance Magazine award, a United States Artists Award, 2 Audelco Awards, 5 Princess Grace Awards, and a New York City Center Award. She has received a Tony nomination, 3 Drama Desk, 3 Lortel nominations for her work in Theater. She is an Emerson Collective fellow, a TED fellow and the recipient of a Ford Foundation Art of Change Fellowship, among others. She is the 2021 Distinguished Artist, presented by The International Society for the Performing Arts. Other honors include the 2020 Dance Magazine Award recipient and 2020 Obie Award Winner for Sustained Excellence in Choreography.
The Camille A. Brown & Dancers’ (CABD) Mentorship Program is FREE and pairs a developing or emerging Black artist with one of CABD’s accomplished company members or alumni—members who have performed concert dance on major stages around the world with Brown and other prominent choreographers, on television, film, and Broadway (Fela!, Hamilton), and with leading Pop stars like Rihanna and Beyoncé – for one-on-one mentoring sessions, empowering participating artists on their creative journey and professional path.
This program is for those looking for professional development support in pursuit of a career in the arts and is open to a variety of disciplines and artistic expressions for those ages 18 to 25.
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