12.27.06-1.03.07
Last Call

In this week's issue:
* Interview Wisecrackers Jef Etters & Mike Polk of Last Call Cleveland
* Interview Phabulous Phat Phree Writer Chad Zumock
* Dining Local Coffee? Use Your Bean
* Sounds Hot Licks and Tricks from The Jack Fords and Colin Dussualt
* Cool Cleveland Kids podcast click here, CC podcast click here, CC Blog click here

As we head into 2007, we at Cool Cleveland know not to take ourselves too seriously. It helps when Cle comedy troupe Last Call Cleveland makes us smile with spoofs like "Michael Stanley Superstar" and their collaboration with the national comic collective, the Phat Phree. Check below for 2 Last Call-related interviews you may find amusing. Plus 2 CD reviews, BizTech goings-on, news & reviews, and a full palette of end-of-year events. It may be last call for 2006, but more like a curtain call for Cleveland. --Thomas Mulready


Last Call Cleveland
Jef Etters & Mike Polk

Last Call Cleveland has taken on a Cleveland institution: Michael Stanley Superstar: The Unauthorized Biography of the Cuyahoga Messiah spoofs the classic rocker in a benefit performance at the Cambridge Room on Fri 12/29 immediately after Stanley's actual concert next door. Cool Cleveland's Thomas Mulready interviews troupe members Jef Etters & Mike Polk about their new book, Look at my Striped Shirt, how they bombed on Opie & Anthony, advice for young Cleveland comics, and why we wish we'd shot this video in Smell-O-Vision. Also see Interview below for more. http://www.LastCallCleveland.com


WATCH THE MOVIE Mike Polk & Jef Etters of Last Call Cleveland

Watch The Movie:  Windows movie  Mac movie

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Talk about lame The lame-duck Ohio legislature has slipped through two measures that have citizen groups up in arms. The Republican legislature passed a bill in the lame duck session that tries to cut home care workers and others out of the new $6.85 minimum and limits workers' ability to join together to sue those who break the law. In the guise of implementing what the voters had passed, legislators actually explicitly defied voter intent. Their unconstitutional move will surely spark a lawsuit. The legislature also gutted consumer protection during the December session, passing a bill that would limit wronged consumers' right to sue for non-economic damages. It was that threat that kept unscrupulous sellers in check - if they bilked consumers, they knew they might have to pay real money. Outgoing Republican Attorney General Jim Petro and incoming Democratic Attorney General Marc Dann agree that the new scheme is a consumer killer - and consumer advocates are urging Governor Taft to veto the ill-advised bill and keep in place the modest consumer protections that we have. Taft could veto both of these pieces of lame legislation. Contact him here.

The $6M Digital Airport promise Why has a French company received all the revenue from advertising & signage at Cleveland Hopkins Airport for over a decade? The Digital Airport Initiative, headed by Barbara Siss Oney, former Chief Marketing Officer of the Convention & Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland, would promote regional assets and attractions to visitors with dazzling flat screens & kiosks, called I.D.E.A. Zones, or Interactive Digital Environment Asset Zones, that would drive millions back into NEO. Info, Podcast, Read, Read.

Pollock controversy stirred by Cle prof Respected CWRU art history prof Ellen Landau authenticates found Jackson Pollock paintings and organizes an exhibition, but the Pollock-Krasner Foundation disagrees. Read http://www.PollockExhibit.com

Glazen launches Outdoor Film Fest on Kelleys Island Cle adman and national film producer Alan Glazen will present The Kelleys Island Outdoor Film Festival with a huge blow-up screen similar to the one used for the Tribeca Film Festival. Read

Clevelanders on Broadway Acting luminaries from Patricia Heaton to Ashley Brown have Cleveland connections and are making waves in the Big Apple. Read

Cool Cleveland Podcast You know how to do it. Click here to listen: http://www.coolcleveland.com/files/audio/CoolCleveland12.29.06.mp3. Click here to subscribe: iTunes or other.

Cool Cleveland Kids You don't want to miss what 11-year-old Max has for you and your family this week. Listen here: http://www.coolcleveland.com/files/audio/CoolClevelandKids12.29.06.mp3. Click here to subscribe: iTunes or other.

To ensure you receive Cool Cleveland every week, take a moment now and add CoolCleveland@CoolCleveland.com to your address book, trusted sender list, or corporate white list.

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She'll Say She's 28, but she's really a dino-mite 67 million years old (in people years). Witness a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see this spectacular, full-sized cast of Sue, the largest, most complete and best preserved Tyrannosaurus rex ever unearthed. Now through 4/15/07 at The Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Experience this exhibition, which also examines the story behind this amazing specimen, exploring what has helped scientists reconstruct Sue's life and legacy and how she's strengthened the bird-dinosaur connection. For more info contact www.cmnh.org or (800) 317-9155.
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Cle "Appliance Toss" makes NPR's "Weekend America" Cleveland's own New Year's Eve Appliance Toss will be featured on the nationally broadcast "Weekend America" (with hosts Barbara Bogaev & Bill Radke) on Sat 12/30. 90.3 WCPN-FM broadcasts this show from 1-3PM. The show is said to give only first names of those interviewed and no location for the Appliance Toss. The organizers apparently are not interested in a lot of people showing up. The Appliance Toss started about 20 years ago in the Hessler neighborhood in University Circle, but hasn't been held there in years. You can find more about the show at: http://weekendamerica.publicradio.org.

The New Year's Eve Bashes are Coming... Looking for something cool to do to celebrate the arrival of baby New Year? Here are a few choice NYE events for you that you might not know about . Consider them Cool Cleveland certified:

  • Sinergy's Casino Royale NYE Party features a mock Casino, a poker tournament, open bar all night, a champagne toast at midnight, complimentary hors d'oeuvres and more. 1213 West Sixth St., corner of Lakeside Ave. Go "all in." Call 363-1130 for the double-down on this low-dough, high-rolling event.
  • Party and play at The Corner Alley while you watch the ball drop! This brand-new entertainment concept is located on the corner of East 4th St and Euclid, combining hipster bowling alley vibes with a sleek martini bar and contemporary Americana restaurant, the 4th Street Bar & Grill. For a nominal fee, their NYE could be the best deal in town. Check out http://www.TheCornerAlley.com for more info.
  • Geauga Lyric Theater is for the KIDS The Guild's "Kids New Years Eve Movie Party" runs at the Geauga Theater. Join the fun on December 31st from 6 – 10PM. Enjoy 2 movies (Home Alone and Santa Clause 3), "kid-friendly food and drink" and a 10PM New Year's celebration music/light show. Bring the kids in their pj’s for the best kid-friendly NYE anywhere. Call Kathy at 440-285-7701.
  • New Year's On the River marks the 5th Annual "New Year's Eve On The River" at Windows On the River's City View Room (2000 Sycamore St. East Bank of the Flats). Top shelf libations, a champagne toast and hotel accomodations. Use the Offer code "Cityview" for $5 off Call 591-1800 or visit http://www.newyearsontheriver.com or http://www.myspace.com/newyearsontheriver for more.
  • Black & White Ball Celebrate the New Year on the dancefloor with smokin' hot DJs on Sun 12/31 from 9PM. B Side Liquor Lounge. http://bSideLiquorLounge.com.
  • Electronic Shock Therapy DJs Bagel and Ms. Six from Philly; Jazz-e from San Fran; Dangermouse, Secret Sauce, Zeno and more on Sun 12/31 starting at 9PM. Poster here. Akron.
  • DJ Jerry Griffith at The Grid One of Cleveland's top dance clubs, celebrating a decade of decadence. Pre-party by DJ Debi. http://www.TheGrid.com





Every week, all of us here at Cool Cleveland pour through gads of fantastic things happening in CLE and NEO, all in an effort to answer that ever-nagging question: "What's cool to do this week?" Submitted for your approval, here's a snapshot of what we found. Got a unique event coming up? Know of something that is a totally Cool Cleveland worthy event? We want to hear from you about it; our tens of thousands of readers do, too. Be a civic and cultural activist and turn on your fellow readers.

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com


Nighttown Events Jamey Haddad on Wed 12/27 at 7PM and Thu 12/28 at 8PM. Eddie Baccus Sr. & Jr. Quintet on Fri 12/29 at 8PM and David Garfield featuring Eric Marienthal on Sat 12/30 at 8PM. http://www.nighttowncleveland.com/.


Kwanzaa Celebration Celebrate family, community and culture with Reverend Marvin McMickle and storytellers Kharinne Shinaul, Deborah Ike and Ceco Selinas on Thu 12/28 at 7PM. Shaker Hts Public Library, 16500 Van Aken Blvd., Shaker Heights.

Contra Dance Join Strings & Things and callers for contra dancing on Thu 12/28 from 7 to 10:30PM. Every dance is taught, walked through, and called, so even the inexperienced dancer is guaranteed a good time. Wear comfortable shoes and clothing. Boston Township School House. www.DayInTheValley.com.

CC KIDS Harlem Globetrotters Basketball's greatest showmen hit the Q on Thu 12/28 at 7PM. Get tickets at www.TheQArena.com.

Get it On, Baby If Cool Cleveland is 'good for you,' help us to go forth and multiply by forwarding this to a friend or lover today.


Burn up the Christmas Calories Feeling like you had too many trimmings with your turkey? Burn off a few of those cookie calories on this 8-mile hike along the Buckeye and Valley Trails on Fri 12/29 from 12:30 - 4:30PM. Come prepared for the weather. Energy snacks and water suggested. Brecksville. www.DayInTheValley.com.

CC KID Family Holiday Hike Looking for a fun family activity during the holiday break? Don your hiking shoes and explore one of the trails at Rocky River Nature Center on Fri 12/29 from 1 - 3PM. At trail's end you can enjoy snacks and a campfire at the nature center's outdoor amphitheater. Rocky River Nature Center. http://www.clemetparks.com/.

Listing Tip of the Week TMI - Don't send an encyclopedia when a postcard will do the trick. Include all of the essential information in your event submission; then make sure you've sold us on your event by telling us what is so cool and unique about it. Resumes for each band member, dental histories and transcripts aren't necessary. We'll take your word for it. Keep those uber cool events, important civic meetings and empowering business workshops coming. Send them to Events@CoolCleveland.com.

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings Get the real deal funk Holyfield on Fri 12/29 at 8PM. Beachland Ballroom, 15711 Waterloo Road. http://www.BeachlandBallroom.com.

Hesohi & The Boomin' System at the Lime Spider in Akron on Fri 12/29 at 9PM. http://www.TheLimeSpider.com.

Michael Stanley Superstar: Unauthorized Biography of the Cuyahoga Messiah Last Call Cleveland performs the show in the Cambridge Room after Michael Stanley performs on main stage at the House of Blues on Fri 12/29 and Sat 12/30 at 9:30PM. http://www.LastCallCleveland.com.

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WCLVnotes This Fri 12/29 at 1:30PM, WCLV 104.9 FM presents its annual pre-New Year's broadcast of Johann Strauss, Jr.'s "Die Fledermaus." On Sun 12/31 at 4PM, The Cleveland Orchestra and music director Franz Welser-Moest offer a New Year's Gala featuring waltzes, polkas and other Viennese selections. And on Monday, New Year's Day, WCLV goes to Vienna for the annual live broadcast of the Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's Day concert. Details on all of WCLV's programming are available in the WCLV Program Guide on line at www.wclv.com.
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CC KIDS Stewardship Saturdays Everyone from kids to seniors can contribute to the Nature Center's mission by helping with outdoor projects. Get your hands nice and dirty, meet great new friends and learn more about nature on Sat 12/30 from 10AM to 12PM. www.ShakerLakes.org.

Cross-Country Ski Beginning Workshop Learn the basics of cross-country skiing at this beginning workshop, held with or without snow, on Sat 12/30. Time to ski follows 2 hours of instruction. Bring your own equipment or pay a little extra for a rental. Call 524-1497. www.DayInTheValley.com.

The Vast Difference Featuring the artwork of Sandra Holata, Caressa Mathews, and Rebecca Grantham. Opening reception is Sat 12/30 from 6 - 10PM. Show runs through 2/10. Call 330-807-0575. Millworks Gallery, 106 N. Main St., Akron.

A-Bomb Chop Shop The group, from outside of Chicago, performs along with local groups Death By Rodeo and the Slacked Jawed Yokels, on Sat 12/30 at 10PM, at the Jigsaw Saloon, 5324 State Rd., Parma. http://www.a-bombchopshop.com.


CC KIDS Noon Year's Eve Celebrate New Years Eve zoo-style at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo's inaugural Noon Year's Eve party on Sun 12/31 from 11AM to 1PM. Celebration includes activities for the entire family. Party with the animals, create animal-themed crafts, play the Zoo-Years resolution game and dance the day away with the rockin' Radio Disney Street Team. At the stroke of Noon, you can ring in the Noon Year with an apple juice toast and a ball drop. www.clemetzoo.com.

New Years Eve On The River Open bar with premium top shelf liquor and bottled domestic beer. Martini stations, crudités of fresh veggies, domestic & imported cheeses, hot hors d'oeuvres, carving station featuring filet mignon, live feed from Times Square, champagne toast at Midnight and more on Sun 12/31. Semi-formal attire. Call 591-1800. Windows on the River, City View Room, 2000 Sycamore St. http://www.NewYearsOnTheRiver.com.

Get Intimate with Cool Cleveland Besides the content, Cool Cleveland readers like having their weekly news distributed through the intimacy of their inbox. And the proof is in the numbers: Tens of thousands of loyal subscribers and growing. Contact TL@CoolCleveland.com for info about advertising.

Black & White Ball Celebrate the New Year on the dancefloor with smokin' hot DJs on Sun 12/31 from 9PM. B Side Liquor Lounge. http://bSideLiquorLounge.com.

Electronic Shock Therapy DJs Bagel and Ms. Six from Philly; Jazz-e from San Fran; Dangermouse, Secret Sauce, Zeno and more on Sun 12/31 starting at 9PM. Poster here. Akron.


Tommy's New Year's Day Pancake Breakfast All you can eat and drink for an unbelievably low price, to benefit Heights Arts on Mon 1/1 from 10AM to 2PM. Bring an unwanted, but greatly appreciated holiday gift for a special raffle. Call 371-3344. Tommy's, 1824 Coventry Rd, Cle Hts.

Coolify Your Circle while helping them win a Video iPod! Sign up friends, family and colleagues for Cool Cleveland and you will both be eligible to win. No purchase necessary. Enter often. The more you enter, the greater your chances of winning. Sign up by going here.


Environmental Town Hall Brown Bag Lunch Is a Regional Advanced Energy Plan on the Horizon for Northeast Ohio? Tue 1/2 at 12 Noon. Pack a lunch for the presentation and discussion open to the public. www.ShakerLakes.org.


Entrepreneur's Boot Camp Transform your thinking about business, entrepreneurship, and Cleveland during a unique learning experience that combines instructor-led training, facilitated dialog, and experiential learning on Wed 1/3-5 from 8:30AM to 4:30PM. Register at http://www.entrepreneursonthecuyahoga.com/.

Ohio RV Supershow America's largest indoor RV show on Wed 1/3 thru Sun 1/7. Call 265-7000. I-X Center. http://www.ohiorvshow.com/.

The Full Wolf Moon Wolves in the Cuyahoga Valley? Historically, yes, but now you'll only hear coyotes. Join a park ranger for a moderately difficult, 3.7-mile trek, on Wed 1/3 from 7 - 9PM. Hike Haskell Run and Boston Run Trails, and weather permitting, see the rising Full Wolf Moon. www.DayInTheValley.com.


Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com



A wild and wonderful array of hot tech and business news & events from around Cleveland and around the region. Send your business news and events to: EVENTS@CoolCleveland.com



NatCity appoints president Peter Raskind is next in line when CEO Dave Daberko resigns Read
Progressive wins WebAward from Web Marketing Assn for "Standard of Excellence" site www.DriveInsurance.com
It will surprise you... Watch the short video on doing business in NEO, by TeamNEO Watch
National media love Cleveland From AP to USA Today to Reuters to WSJ, good news travels fast, and far Read
WSJ spotlights Cle's OneCommunity for bringing together our 17 health care systems in a regional IT network Read
Case announces Weatherhead dean Interim dean & tech prof Mohan Reddy joined Case in 1985 Read
Case announces new Arts & Sciences dean Physics chair Cyrus Taylor takes over for Mark Turner after 2 years Read
Cle Hts goes wireless with OneCommunity, along Mayfield, Coventry & Cedar, to attract businesses and residents Read




An Eye on Propulsion @ NASA Glenn Wed 12/27 focuses on tech for air/spacecraft and ion propulsion for accelerated travel. Register: 433-9653.
PR Business Strategy @ Charter One Global Ent Center, 737 Bolivar Road, Cleveland. No-cost seminar feat. PR Newswire guru Tony Santana Wed 1/10. Register: erin.reed@jumpstartinc.org or call 363-3412.
NEOSA and COSE: "To Blog or Not To Blog" on Thu 1/18. We know bloggers are implied as Time "Persons of the Year" but is blogging sensible/viable for sm bus and corps as promo tool? Info




Local Coffee? Definitely Use Your Bean

De gustibus non est disputandum. There's no disputing taste when it comes to coffee either, hence the reason some people refer to that multinational with the mermaid as "Charbucks." My personal opinion? There are two major factors that go into personal preference when it comes to coffee: origin of the bean and the roast. If you're anything like me, you were probably weaned on mass-produced horrors for brands that are freeze dried or come in a Huge Blue Can. Fortunately, Cleveland has Carl Jones, who opened the first coffee house - Arabica - here in September 1976. For reference, Starbucks was established in 1971; it really didn't take off until '82 when Howard Shultz joined the company, but was modeled on Peet's of San Francisco (which opened in 1966). Although Carl sold Arabica (which spread like wildfire around the region, I'm not fond of their roast... which I think is Berardi's but again, it's taste) in 1986, he continued to roast coffee as Phoenix Coffee.

Next time you're at your favorite restaurant, you might want to ask what kind of coffee they're brewing. Phoenix also does a brisk wholesale business. But if you're in the mood to sit back, read a book, and grab a french press, stop in at one of their three locations--Lee Road in Cleveland Heights, the Superior Cafe Downtown, or if you're in Lakewood, the location on Detroit Ave. If you're not in any of those areas, never fear. Phoenix Coffee is also served at Dewey's Coffee in Shaker Heights.

Similar to Seattle, Cleveland supports several coffee roasters. There, you also have Seattle's Best. Here, it's City Roast Coffee. Most Clevelanders know City Roast because of their retail stand in the West Side Market. Residents of Tremont frequent their other retail space--Civilization. If you stop there, make sure you grab a muffin to go with your cappucino. If it's lunch you crave but need a cup of joe to go with it, grab a panini at the Artefino Gallery.

With all the different independent coffee shops around the Cleveland area, and the variety of beans and brewing methods, there's no excuse for ordering the same old thing time after time. If you always order a regular, try a dark roast. If dark roast is your thing, try an americano. If you have no idea what to order, ask the barista. They'll explain about the brewing method, the roast, and the origin of the bean. You'll have a better tasting experience for it.

From Cool Cleveland's Coffee Information Officer George Nemeth georgeATcoolcleveland.com


Comedian and Phat Phree Writer Chad Zumock

Everyone at Bassa Vita seemed to know, or had at least heard of Chad Zumock before I started this interview with him. I started asking questions about him to a few local Clevelanders I know and they always seemed to know (or know of) him. "I know Zumock, I went to college with him," one guy said. Another female onlooker said, "Chad's a cutie, I just saw him perform at the Improv a couple of weeks ago."

Zumock's the kind of guy everyone seems to know... and he seems to know everyone. The former Kent State Alum has been intricate part of the independent comedy scene here in Cleveland over the years. He was one of the original members of Cleveland Magazine 's best comedy troupe of 2006, "Last Call Cleveland," a contributing editor to the runaway mash-up humor website "The Phat Phree," and now apparently on the verge of being one of Cleveland's brightest up and upcoming stand-ups.
Read the interview by M. Thomas L here



Links to interesting NEO blogs

Norm Roulet summarizes a redevelopment project happening in a half-mile radius adjacent to University Circle. Link
Anita Campbell illustrates the lasting impact of blog posts with an old blog post on Donald Trump that keeps getting comments and links. Link
Brian links to a study that illustrates why homelessness is a growing problem in America. Link
Theodore posts re: the Cleveland Design Competition. Link
Matt shares another of his Collinwood Stories series. Link
Ruth reviews several area restaurants. Link
Ben describes proposed development in Youngstown's Gateway District. Link
Ed Morrison encourages us to remember the plight of the rich. Link

Check the Cool Cleveland weblog here, where Peter Chakerian plays catch-up with catsup and talks about a lot of things he meant to last week as well. When you're through, add your own comments, questions and attitude. Letters@CoolCleveland.com.




Bent Outta Shape
The Jack Fords
Self-Released

With a name that suggests a tip o' the hat to Toledo's former mayor, the Jack Fords flex their raw, working-class muscles for all their worth... and, you get the feeling, for all blue collar towns in Northeast Ohio and beyond.

This roots-rock quartet has built a solid local following with a penetrating mix of Americana, classic rock pathos, '70s AM-Radio songwriting flair, and that It Factor that gets lost in a studio with the wrong producer. If you want something done right, it seems, do it yourself.

Now, I'm no industry genius (I do play one on television), but perhaps that's why the group's first full-length CD release, Bent Outta Shape, was recorded "live, without a net" at the venerable Superior Avenue hangout, the Town Fryer. Clanking brew bottles, plates, bar hopping conversations and shouts for a certain Lynyrd Skynyrd epic are embedded in this intimate recording... a calling card to go see the band live, if there ever was one.

I've said so before elsewhere, but vocalist Brent Kirby's vocals do have a Sammy Llanas (of the BoDeans) like quality to them, though channeled through Nebraska-era Springsteen histrionics. He leads with the hip, turning cuts like "Such a Crime," the Skynyrd-esque "New Orleans" and the harmonica-driven title track into sweaty, gutsy romps that burn like August Flats smokestacks.

The title cut to Bent Outta Shape boogies itself out of the speakers like the best of "electric Dylan"; guitarist Bobby Latina's smokin' locomotive riffs rock the room. "Who Do You Trust," "Covers Blown," "Hotel Suicide," and "Last Song I'll Ever Sing" round out the collection, showcasing gritty, organic interplay between Kirby, Latina, Bill Crompton (bass) and Dave Malensek (drums). By the time the Fords wind things up with the Gram Parsons-penned "Hot Burrito #2," you can't not get it: You loved me and you sold all my clothes/Guess you know how I feel/So it goes/It couldn't be real. Actually, The Jack Fords keep it about as real as it can get.

The Jack Fords perform at the Symposium (11794 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood), this Saturday, December 30 at 8:00PM for a Holiday Party that includes the band My Sky Tomorrow. For more info, visit the Jack Fords at http://www.jackfords.com.

From Cool Cleveland Managing Editor Peter Chakerian peterATcoolcleveland.com

Live at the Main Street Café
Colin Dussault and his Blues Project
Erica Records

No band from Northern Ohio plays more dates over the course of the year than Colin Dussault and his Blues Project. Regular gigs as far away as Kelly's Island in the west, Mount Vernon to the south, and Buffalo to the east, keep Colin and his band mates busy five nights a week year round. More and more of the regular places they play are almost of the supper club type, where people come early and grab a table, eat dinner, and then stay for all of the band's sets. The Savannah in Westlake comes to mind, and so does Mon Ami's up on Catawba Island. But one of the more unique of these places is the Main Street Café, the historically restored, century-old tavern in downtown Medina where the CDBP has been playing regularly since 2002. Colin and his band choose this venue to record their latest release, a live album, aptly titled Live at the Main Street Café.

This 2-disc set contains over two and a half hours of a typical CDBP show, and contains everything from traditional blues numbers, bluesy versions of rock and country standards, some popular party tunes, and a few band originals.

The current line up of the Colin Dussault Blues Project has been together so long, and is so damn talented, they make each song their own. Dussault's harmonica and voice have never sounded better, and Jim Fenney's guitar, Fred Tobey's bass, Greg Huard's keyboards, and Rick Fischer's drums all bring something to each song. Hurd and Feeney have been with Dussault so long their solos slide in and out with a smoothness only heard in the best of bands.

The 2 discs are set up as if you were sitting through a complete show, including an introduction by Jim Chenot from the Summit 91.3, and a lot of the banter between songs Dussault has with the audience and other band members.

There is something for every CDBP fan, party tunes like "Sittin in a Bar (the Trailer Park Song)," and "Little Chicken Wing Girl"; great covers of rock gems like James Taylor's "Fire and Rain," Van Morrison's "The Bright Side of the Road," and Sam Cooke's "Bring it on Home to Me"; and blues numbers such as Randy Newman's "Guilty," Otis Rush's "Checking Up on My Baby," and Robert Johnson's "Love in Vain." Also thrown in some real country with the Bob Wills standard "Stay All Night, Stay a Little Longer" and Hank Sr.'s "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry."

As with all of CDBP releases, the quality of recording is outstanding and the packaging is very professional. The eight-page booklet that comes with it includes the history of the Main Street Café, great pictures of the tavern and of the band, lots of liner notes, and complete song lists. Any local band putting out its own music, and almost everyone is doing it today, can learn a lesson or two on how to do things right from Colin and his band.

Colin Dussault and his Blues Project Band's Live at the Main Street Café is another great effort from Northern Ohio's hardest working band.

Colin Dussault and his Blues Project perform at First Night Akron in Downtown Akron this Sunday, December 31 at 8PM. For more info, visit First Night Akron's website at http://www.firstnightakron.org and Dussault's site at http://www.colindussault.com.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Greg Cielec cielecAThotmail.com

Wanna get reviewed? Send your band's CD (less than 1 year old) to: Cool Cleveland, 14837 Detroit Avenue, #105, Lakewood, OH 44107

Hey Writers! Wanna write about Cleveland music? We've got a slew of recently-released CDs and DVDs by Cleveland-area musicians that could use your critical commentary for Cool Cleveland Sounds. If you're interested, send us a note at Letters@CoolCleveland.com.



Quick reviews of recent events
Going out this weekend? Take along your PDA and your digital camera. Scratch out a few notes to send us with a picture of it for our Instant Karma real-world reviews of what's really happening. We'd love to hear from you. Send your stuff to Events@CoolCleveland.com

Organ and Brass @ Severance Hall 12/21
When entering Severance Hall for any of the Holiday concerts in recent years, one can't help but be immediately put in a festive mood. A huge painting of the lower portion of a decorated Christmas tree, complete with dangling ornaments, spreads across the top of the proscenium. The false boxes on either side are covered with faux stained glass windows featuring a pine tree in the snow on one side, while on the opposite side is a snowman. And if that won't do it, then during the concert, carefully planned to coordinate with the music, various patterns of colored lights bathe the stage and its occupants in a truly beautiful luminescence.

In all this splendor, however, the music shines ever-brightly, and such was indeed the case on Thursday, December 21 for my favorite of all holiday concerts. The Holiday Organ and Brass featuring Todd Wilson at the console of the Norton Memorial Skinner organ, the Burning River Brass and the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus, under its conductor, Frank Bianchi.

Warm, gold lighting on the ceiling of both stage and auditorium was the setting for the opening work--O, Come, All Ye Faithful--a jubilant arrangement by the British trombonist Roger Harvey for organ and brass. This was followed by a three movement Concerto for Brass and Organ by J. S. Bach, in an arrangement by Christopher Mowat (another Brit trombonist). Franz Biebl's Ave Maria, in a great arrangement for brass by Feza Zweifel of the BRB was next, and then it was the glorious showpiece for organ, the Toccata from the Organ Symphony No. 5, of Charles-Marie Widor. Mr. Wilson's fingers and feet were a blur as they worked together, creating torrents of beautiful sound from the king of instruments. He makes it all look SO easy!!

American trumpeter and Emmy award-winning composer Anthony DiLorenzo is a frequent participant in these concerts as composer, conductor or arranger. This time he was all three, but not all at the same time. He writes imaginative, visual music for the concert stage as well as film and television, and this concert featured two of them. The Toy Maker tells of three inventions by Daedalus. The Golden Palace is about an experimental ship with a wheeled chassis as possibly conceived by Rube Goldberg!

The Magic Clock has doors that open to display a parade in the interior of the clock, beginning at the first stroke of twelve o'clock, but returns to normal again when the last stroke sounds. When his friend Nicholas needs a huge conveyance to carry gifts to children whom Nicholas has befriended, Daedalus creates The Magnificent Sled, and the two friends enjoy the first trip together, as church bells ring out in the city below. Joy and triumph reign supreme! Mr. DiLorenzo conducted an expanded ensemble of brass and percussion plus organ on a stage enhanced with multicolored panels of glittering lights.

The popular Sleigh Ride of Leroy Anderson ended the first half of the program in a festive arrangement by Roger Harvey, on a stage bathed in red lights with silver snowflakes flickering on the walls.

Last year, these concerts presented the world premiere of a work commissioned by the Musical Arts Association for the Burning River Brass -- Twas the Night Before Christmas -- by Mr. DiLorenzo. It's a wonderfully whimsical piece with bits and bites of familiar tunes scattered appropriately throughout. Keying in on the end word of each couplet, '... not even a mouse' brought forth Mickey's tune as a waltz, with 'jingle bells' and 'sugar plums' and 'Rockabye Baby' for the nap. 'Clatter' on the other hand was provided by the trumpet players, knocking over music stands and extra instruments! 'Reindeer' was Rudolph, of course. Dr. John P. Lentz, Jr., was a marvelous narrator, who festively donned a green stocking cap for the occasion.

It's not too often that a tuba gets to solo in Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, but Matthew Gaunt was equal to the occasion, beginning the familiar Overture, and when the rest of the group joined in, they went to a syncopated Waltz of the Flowers and a Divertissement--Mother Gigogne and The Clowns. Three arrangers contributed to this joint effort: Dean Sorenson, David Cutler and Cleveland's own Paul Ferguson.

The jazz singer and pianist Mel Tormé wrote the music for The Christmas Song during a sweltering July afternoon in London, and it was given a somewhat bluesy twist for brass ensemble by Chris Mowat.

The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus seems to have grown up this year. Instead of the white shirts/blouses, black pants/skirts of prior years, this year the young men wore tuxes, and the young ladies long black gowns like the regular chorus. They were all gorgeous, and still sang like angels, for their new director, Frank A. Bianchi. With precise diction and flawless pitch, they performed three traditional carols, unaccompanied, all arranged by one-time Cleveland Orchestra Chorus conductor, Robert Shaw. These were God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen, Deck the Halls, and Wassail Song. The organ accompanied them softly in John Rutter's Candelight Carol, and Angels We Have Heard on High in an arrangement by Stephen Paulus, that featured a gorgeous soprano descant.

One last bit of festive frivolity was left for us--Little Drummer Boy, in a dazzling arrangement by Paul Ferguson of CWRU. His drummer (Feza Zweifel) approaches from a distance; encounters a rather melancholy trumpet refrain, then a bit of the Pink Panther, before blending into a jazzy drumming frenzy! There's a bit of a sleigh ride before dissolving into marvelous big-band swing.

And then comes the part we'd all been practicing for! The audience sing-along! It's not so often that anyone can sing at Severance Hall, especially when accompanied by a choir, organ and brass. In between two joyous versions of traditional carols by Mr. DiLorenzo--Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and Joy to the World, was a shimmering Silent Night, in an adaptation by Simon Wills & Todd Wilson. Heather Zweifel's trumpet solo was magnificent, set off by the blue lighting and twinkling lights hanging down across the rear of the stage.

The capacity crowd wanted still more, so the musicians rewarded us with an encore: Good King Wenceslas. Lovely.

For information about the Burning River Brass, their web-site is: www.burningriverbrass.com The Cleveland Orchestra will return on January 11. For tickets or information, call 216.231.1111 or visit the web-site: http://www.clevelandorchestra.com

From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATadelphia.net




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