Weekend Outlook: Cowboy Jazz, Water Everywhere
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What's that smooth sound filling the Northern Berkshire air? It's the harmony of horns, the swelling of saxophones and the tinkling of pianos. Yes, it's all that jazz.
Professionals and amateurs jazz musicians have been descending on Williamstown and its environs for not one but two festivals celebrating this homegrown musical tradition.
The annual Williamstown Jazz Festival kicked off a few days ago but it's not too late to soak in the sounds of saucy sax at various venues through April 17, among them the '62 Center for Theatre and Dance, the Clark Art Institute, Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, the Orchards Hotel, Spice Root, St. John's Episcopal Church and Cafe Latino. All events are open to the public and many are free or moderately priced.
Festival headliners are the Robert Glasper Trio and the Joe Lovano Quartet on Saturday, April 12, at 8:30 p.m. at the center. There's still time to make the Zydeco Dance Party featuring C.J. Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band on Friday, April 11, at 8 p.m at Mass MoCA.
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If that isn't enough, the 17th annual Intercollegiate Jazz Festival began Friday and continues Saturday, April 12, from 9 until 6:30 p.m. on the MainStage of the '62 Center. College bands from around the region are competing, including the Williamstown jazz ensemble. This free event is open to the public.
Don't forget to check out "40 Days and 40 Nights," a series of haunting photographs from New Orleans taken in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The monthlong photo exhibit by Donn Young, the official photographer for the Port of New Orleans, is on display at the '62 Center.
Blazing Saddles
Giddy up and mosey on over to the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown on Sunday for family day inspired by the museum's "Remington Looking West" exhibition.
<L2>Set from noon to 4, children will be able to ride a pony, create bucking bronco sculptures, visit the miniature horse petting zoo be entertained with the folksy humor of Cowboy Rudy, a cattle rancher from Idaho who has performed all across the United States.
Rudy will perform at 1 and 3 and will wander the museum continuing to entertain when he's not onstage. There'll be plenty of activities to keep the young 'uns entertained and gallery talks for the older crowd. Admission to the museum and family day is free.
Rain Delay
Williams and Amherst were supposed to bring their 149-year-old baseball rivalry back to where it all began — Wahconah Park in Pittsfield.
For Adults
"The Red Room" continues Saturdays at 8 p.m. at Main Street Stage at 57 Main St., North Adams. Doors open for an hour of life drawing and light refreshments. A different show each week begins at 9 — original skits, live music, poetry, readings and more. Tickets are $10.
For Everyone
St. Stanislaus School's eighth grade presents "Murder in the House of Horrors" in Kolbe Hall at St. Stanislaus' Church in Adams on Saturday at 7 p.m. The audience is invited to play along with the comic murder-mystery. Tickets are $6 adults and $3 students and available at the door.
The Berkshire Arts and Technology Public Charter School is performing "Annie" at the Adams school at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts' student-run Shakespeare Club is performing "Macbeth" in the Venable Theater at 2 and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.<R3>
Catch the Disney version of "Beauty and the Beast," music by Alan Menken, and lyrics by Tim Rice and Howard Ashman, at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday in the Taconic High School auditorium on Valentine Road in Pittsfield. Reservations: 413-448-9634.
Wahconah Regional High School in Dalton is offering the musical "Oklahoma!" by Rodgers and Hammerstein and presented by the Apollonian Players, at 8 p.m., also on Saturday, at the Windsor Road school.
Little Bit of Everything
ARTsModerne is featuring 100 eclectic works of contemporary and vintage art including paintings, collages, box-art, text-art, photography and constructions. Includes works of Alex Zenger, Sherry Steiner, Robert Cronin, Franco Pellegrino and Amy Cohen Banker, plus an assortment of vintage art on Saturday from noon to 5 at 151 Front St., Housatonic. Information: call 413-329-4141.
Waters of the World
The Sullivan Elementary School's third-grade art exhibit "Colors of Water" will be on display in the Community Gallery of the Visitors Center at Western Gateway Heritage State Park from April 7 to 19. An artists' reception will be held Saturday, April 12, from 2 to 4.
<L4>The exhibit explores the different colors that water appears and is part of the Service-Learning Project "Water is Essential" in Anna Saldo-Burke's class. The class produced a PowerPoint presentation that covers the topics of the water cycle, potable water, West Africa, "Water is Key," the Pacific Institute and the colors of water.
Artists include Annaka Bradley, Jesse Burdick, Anthony Corbosiero, Cheyanne Dempsey, Dakota Freeman, Austin Haig, Hunter Harpin, Aubrey O’Dell, Bradley Odell, Elissa Senecal and Noah St. Pierre. The park is located on Route 8 between State and Furnace streets in North Adams.
