The New York-based wind quintet Imani Winds expands the musical boundaries
of traditional wind music. Taking its name “Imani” from the Swahili term
for “faith,” the ensemble has received a Grammy nomination and has served
as the ensemble in residence at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln
Center. On Thursday, Jan. 10, Imani Winds will give a 7:30 p.m.
performance in the Sirote Theatre at the Alys Stephens Center. The concert
is presented as part of the Dr. Chandler Smith and Jane Paris-Smith
Birmingham Chamber Music Society Series.
Featuring members Valerie Coleman (flute), Toyin Spellman-Diaz
(oboe), Mariam Adam (clarinet), Jeff Scott (French horn) and Monica
Ellis (bassoon), Imani Winds has toured worldwide while sharing the
stage with Wynton Marsalis and Cassandra Wilson among others. Since
forming in 1997, the group has built an international following
through its adventurous blend of classical, jazz, Latin and chamber
music. Recently, the group’s musical tribute to Josephine Baker was
received with tremendous critical acclaim. Tickets are $25 (package
price $80) and can be purchased by calling 975-ARTS or at
http://main.uab.edu/Sites/ASC.

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Popularity: 16% [?]

When an artist of Bruce Springsteen’s stature releases a new album, all listeners share one common thought - how does this release stack up to his previous releases? And while it may not be fair to compare a fresh batch of songs to well-worn classics including Born To Run and The River, it’s inevitable that fans will draw upon the old to analyze the new. Magic - an 11-track collection of songs performed by The Boss and his E Street players - combines Springsteen’s modern-day society commentary with songs full of memorable characters and stories.

Read the full story

Popularity: 16% [?]

DRUMS, CYMBALS, GONGS, BELLS AND RATTLES Will all be a part of the UAB Percussion Ensemble performance scheduled for Tuesday night at the Alys Stephens Center. Comprised of more than two-dozen percussionists under the direction of marimba maestro Dr. Gene Fambrough, the ensemble will perform a variety of musical numbers, with special emphasis on snares, bass and tenor drums. The free concert begins at 8 p.m. in the Jemison Concert Hall of the ASC. For more information, visit www.music.uab.edu or call 934-7376.

Popularity: 15% [?]

Greg Allman returns to Birmingham this week for a show at the Alabama Theatre. Weekly contributing writer Brent Thompson has an interview with him here.

Popularity: 14% [?]

MORE ORGANISTS PULL OUT ALL THE STOPS!

See, that’s like a wacky organist joke. An organ stop is a component of a pipe organ that admits pressurized air to a set of organ pipes. Or, “stop” can refer to a particular register – the rank of pipe controlled by a particular stop. So the phrase “pull out all the stops” – meaning to do something elaborately or on a grand scale ≠ may be the only idiom to ever come to us from the organ player’s trade. None of which has much to do with the Organ Spooktacular taking place on Wednesday, Oct. 31, at Birmingham-Southern College, except that the organists performing plan to put on a frighteningly good show. The concert starts at 9 p.m., which means you have plenty of time to take the kids trick-or-treating before driving to the BSC campus. Get details 226-4952 or visit www.bsc.edu.

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Popularity: 12% [?]

EXPERIENCE THE SILENT SCREAMS When The Alabama Theatre presents a screening of the 1925 silent film version of Phantom of the Opera on Saturday, Oct. 27, with the soundtrack to be played on the theatre’s “Mighty Wurlitzer.” The movie follows the same tragic love story as Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical; Lon Chaney, Mary Philbin, Norman Kerry and others star. In 1929, Universal Studios re-shot the movie complete with sound however, that version has since been lost. It’s rumored that the ghost of Chaney haunts the soundstage where it was filmed. According to urban legend, part of the Opera House set still stands and deathly accidents have occurred when workers have tried to dismantle it. Doors of the “Show Place of the South” open at 7 p.m. and show time is 8 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults and $6 for children under 12. For more information, call 252-2262 or visit www.alabamatheatre.com.

Popularity: 18% [?]

STRAINS OF BLUES AND CLASSIC ROCK Are evident in the right-now sound of Sons of William, playing at WorkPlay on Friday, Oct. 26. The band consists of Joe Stark on guitar, David Stark on drums and Jen Janet on the bass. The South Louisiana band’s name comes from the Stark brothers’ father because of his influence on their early musical education. William bought Joe his first set of drums at the age of two. This set would later be passed down to David and the rest was, as they say, history. An older cousin later introduced them to the music of The Beatles and Tom Petty, both of whom the band now claims as influences.The band released their first full album called What Hides Inside on Sept. 4. The show starts at 9 p.m. with The Pat McGee Band and Josh Kelley opening. Tickets are $15. For more information call 879-4773 or visit www.workplay.com.

Popularity: 13% [?]

FINE ART & HAUNTING ARTIFACTS: Visitors to “Pompeii: Tales from an Eruption” will be treated to perhaps the most powerful exhibit that the Birmingham Museum of Art has ever had. For this week’s cover story, guest curator Robin Meador-Woodruff and exhibit designer Terry Beckham spoke to Glenny Brock about creating the exhibit.

Contemporary devastations are covered in this week’s edition too – in particular, the murder last weekend of Fernando Flores and the depressing prospect that, barring any unforeseen delays, Larry Langford will spend his first day as mayor of Birmingham in court rather than decorating his new office in City Hall. If it’s more bad news you’re looking for, check out how your home state scored in Forbes magazine’s annual survey of “America’s Greenest States.”

As always, the only solace to be found is to be found in art, food, music and fashion.

Popularity: 40% [?]

HIE THEE TO A NEWSTAND Or an independent bookseller with a magazine rack, or to whatever terminal you most often use to peruse the series of tubes that comprises the internet. It doesn’t matter what manner of merchant you deal with, just buy yourself a copy of the latest Oxford American. The 2007 Music Issue includes stories about Thelonious Monk’s only North Carolina homecoming, about Frederick Barthelme’s exquisite stint as a member of Red Crayola, about how Blonde on Blonde was made in Nashville and about the short careers and long lives and surpassing music of two Bettys you’ve probably never heard of (hot jazz firecracker Betty Davis and soul doyen Betty Harris). The magazine has a short story by University of Alabama professor Kevin Brown titled “I Don’t Think Nanci Griffith is a Bitch Anymore” and a heartbreaking history of the fierce folkie Lee Hays. If the promise of 170 pages of musical prose doesn’t do anything for you, consider this: The magazine comes with a free 26-track CD. To learn more about the 2007 music issue, the magazine or its mission, go to www.oxfordamericanmag.com.

Popularity: 18% [?]

WORLDS COLLIDE ON THE B-SIDE Melding music from different cultures has been popularized by a diverse list of artists including Santana, Los Lobos and Miami Sound Machine. But while the San Diego-based septet B-Side Players may not have the commercial exposure of these counterparts, the band is an important figure in the multi-cultural music scene. On Saturday, October 13, B-Side Players will perform at Zydeco. B-Side players are touring in support of Fire In The Youth, the band’s latest release on Concord Records. Cipes & The People and the Salvador Santana Band will open the 9 p.m. show. According to frontman Karlos Paez, the band’s diverse sound is tied to a constant thirst for learning that is shared by its members. “There are so many different elements and we are constantly evolving as musicians – it keeps the music alive,” Paez tells the Weekly. Tickets for the 18+ show are $12 in advance and can be purchased at www.zydecobirmingham.com or by calling 933-1032.

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Popularity: 7% [?]