Democrat and Chronicle from Rochester, New York • Page 20

DemocratandChronicle.com DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE 6C WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2008 CONCERT REVIEW ROCHESTER INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL Gillespie tribute a real treat for sparse crowd rv-v I Mm Ukulele FROM PAGE 1C reinvented the ukulele. The instrument whose best-known practitioner might have been Tiny Tim has gone from cute toy to formidable instrument. The 31-year-old Honolulu native wrings virtually every characteristic you'd ji in expect from a (vltiLMlf guitar out of democratand his uke. Its CHR0NICLE.COM four strings What did you produced an think of the astonishing concerts? palate of Share your notes, far reviews by beyond the clicking on this beginner's story. "three-cord vamp," which Shimabukuro briefly demonstrated.

You've heard it in tiki bars. Showing off an astonishingly wide range of soft-to-loud dynamics, Shimabukuro picked Flamenco notes, played high on the frets for the Bruce Lee-inspired "Dragon" to produce a tinkling-brook effect, slapped a percussive beat on the ukulele's body, jumped around the stage like a punk and folded his fingers over the strings to produce chunky, noteless thumps and arpeggios that were music nonetheless. He did the Beatles' "In My Life," Erroll Garner's "Misty," Franz Schubert's "Ave Maria," the fierce version of George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," for which he's known, and an encore of Led Zeppelin's "Going to California." His originals included "Orange World," inspired by playing bluegrass festivals with ANNETTE LEIN staff photographer Jeanie Bryson, daughter of Dizzy Gillespie, rehearses at the Eastman Theatre before Tuesday evening's celebration of Gillespie's contributions to jazz, with an orchestra conducted by Jeff Tyzik. Scaggs FROM PAGE 1C can music. It wasn't the sorta soul thing that came out of Stax Records and the South, and a lot of the music I was exposed to growing up in Texas.

It was the new synergy of the black expression, really." Like many white musicians blue-eye soul is how they are often referred to by the musicologists Scaggs found that black sound to be a good fit. "That's my culture, as much as Hank Williams is my culture," he insists. "It's an Stripling was a perfect choice for the trumpet part, which is clearly designed for a soloist to emulate Gillespie (no easy task). Stripling's got impeccable tone and power as a player, and some of the master's witty playfulness as an entertainer. Rochester native Niewood matched his solos with fine playing of his own, whether on alto or flute.

Dobbins also contributed worthy playing, though his was a touch under-miked. The program's second half spotlighted Bryson, a skillful jazz vocalist who paid homage to her father by singing a few songs from Gillespie's small vocal portfolio. Most are humorous pieces, like "He Beeped" and "Ooh-Shoo-Be-Doo-Bee." The exception was a challenging slow ballad called "I Waited for You." Bryson had pitch problems with the difficult melody, but rallied in time to make it work. The highlights of the second set for this long-time Gillespie fan were the two big-band pieces that framed Bryson's performances Dizzy's two biggest hits, "Manteca" and the immortal "Night in Tunisia." Under Tyzik's able direction, horns played crisp ensembles, and soloists soared. Stripling put an exclamation mark on the "Tunisia" finale with an all-alone, breathtaking trumpet herald sequence that threatened to put cracks in the Eastman's fabled chandelier.

Somewhere, Dizzy's puffing out his giant cheeks with pride. 4 ties. Including the voice that he and pretty much only he felt wasn't up to the job. "Only in the last 10 years can I listen to my voice," Scaggs says. He's recorded new versions of songs like "Lowdown," ones he can listen to, and has an album of jazz standards coming out this fall.

Slim's didn't prove to be the outlet, or the distraction, that he had hoped. He's found others. "I'm happier now than I've ever been," Scaggs says. "My wife and I bought some property in Napa Hills and put in a couple of acres of grape vines. We're going to make wine." JSPEVAKDemocratandChronkle.com Alexander St.

$4. (585) 256-1000 or www.midnighttango.com. Kayak and Canoe Rentals: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 18.

Canaltown Paddlesports, off Union Street just west of the gazebo, next to the canal, Spencerport. $15 tandem or canoe and $12 single kayak, each per hour. (585) 355-7855 or www.canaltownpaddlesports.com. Swing Dance: 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. June 18.

DancEncounters, 1115 E. Main St. $6. (585)473-8550. Wednesday Night Paddling Race: Start the course between 6 and 7 p.m.

Wednesdays through Aug. 6. BayCreek Paddling Center, 1099 Empire Penfield. $5. (585) 288-2830 or www.baycreek.com.

Talks American Wars Book Group: The Rough Riders, by Theodore Roosevelt. 7 p.m. June 18. Barnes Noble Booksellers, The Mall at Greece Ridge, Greece Ridge Center Drive, Greece. Free.

(585) 227-4020 or www.bn.com. Book Discussion: Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen. 7 p.m. June 18. Ironde-quoit Public Library, Helen McGraw Branch, 2180 E.

Ridge Road, Ironde-quoit. Free. (585) 336-6060. Book Discussion: John Banville: The Sea. 7 p.m.

June 18. Brighton Memorial Library, 2300 Elmwood Brighton. Free. (585) 784-5300, TDD (585) 784-5302 or www.brightonlibrary.org. Theme Parks Darien Lake Theme Park Resort: 10:30 a.m.

to 10 p.m. June 18. 9993 Allegheny Road, Darien Center. Call for details. (585) 599-4641 or www.godarienlake Roseland Waterpark: 9:30 a.m.

to 3:30 p.m. June 18. 250 Eastern Canan-daigua. Call for details. (585) 396-2000 or www.roselandwaterpark.com.

Seabreeze Amusement Park: 10 a.m. June 18. Seabreeze Amusement Park and Raging Rivers Waterpark, 4600 Culver Road, Irondequoit. Call for details. (585) 323-1900 or www Get listed E-mail details of your event two weeks in advance to Roc-lnfo DemocratandChronicle.com (with Events Calendar in the subject line) or mail to Events Calendar, co Information News Desk, 55 Exchange Rochester, NY 14614.

Events must be open to the public. For more info, call (585) 258-9770. JACK GARNER One reason the jazz festival works so well here is because the Rochester audience normally has very good taste. I say "normally" because I'm afraid you blew it last night. Where were you for the Dizzy Gillespie tribute at the Eastman Theatre? With less than 1,000 on hand in the big house, a lot of jazz fans missed a special night.

Those of us who were there now have solid bragging rights. Jeff Tyzik led a stellar 21-piece big band through such Gillespie standards as "Manteca" and "Night in Tunisia," and soloists included saxophonist Gerry Niewood, trumpeter Byron Stripling, pianist Bill Dobbins, trombonist Mark Kellogg and drummer Dave Mancini. Lending authenticity to the project was the presence of Gillespie's talented vocalist daughter, Jeanie Bryson, who sang a set of rare Gillespie vocals, with playful titles such as "He Beeped When He Should Have Bopped." The first half of the night was devoted to Gillespiana, a superb, though rarely played suite, composed in tribute to Gillespie by Lalo Schifrin. Stretching mightily over 50 minutes and five movements, Gillespiana showcases elements of Gillespie's musical heritage the '40s big band sound, the '50s bebop, the Afro-Cuban move- ment and a more gentle move- ment expressing the lyricism one was always surprised to find in a guy named Dizzy. thing wrong with trying to make everything perfect? "It's a bad thing," Scaggs says.

"It's very limiting, really anti-creative. It's really stifling and smothering and claustrophobic to live like that. I still have to go through a dance with myself to get something I can hang my hat on. "We call it 'Chasing the They just don't feel as good as the demo. It's a very real thing.

Sometimes you just replay things too much. Insecurities and consciousness really compound in certain ways." But by 1988 he was back, releasing albums, moving forward on all of those insecuri DEM0CRATANDCHR0NICLE.COM Find hundreds of events and things to do. gate one hour before closing); $8 advance tickets available at all Wegmans locations and a $2 coupon is available on the RHBA Web site. (585) 272-8222 or www Humane Society at Lollypop Farm: Shelter hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Tuesdays to Fridays; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays; closed major holidays. 99 Victor Road, Perinton. Free.

(585) 223-1330 or www.lollypop.org. Lamberton Conservatory: Botanical garden featuring displays of exotic flowers and foliage plants from around the world in lush tropical settings. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

Highland Park, 180 Reservoir Ave. $1 seniors and ages 6-18; free ages 5 and younger. (585) 753-7270 or www.monroecounty.gov parks-highland. php. Seneca Park Zoo: 10 a.m.

to 5 p.m. daily. 2222 St. Paul St. $7 seniors; $5 ages 3-11; free zoo society members and ages 2 and younger.

(585) 467-9453 or www.senecaparkzoo.org. Performing Arts All Shook Up: A small sleepy town in the 1950s will never be the same after a mysterious stranger arrives riding on a motorcycle and carrying a guitar. Inspired by and featuring the songs of Elvis Presley. Performances run through June 21 2 and 7:30 p.m. June 18.

Merry-Go-Round Playhouse at Emerson Park, 6877 E. Lake Road (Route 38A), Auburn. Discounts available for seniors, students with ID and ages 17 and younger. (315) 255-1785, (800) 457-8897 or www.merry-go-round.com. Pride and Prejudice: Romantic comedy based on the classic novel by Jane Austen.

Performances continue through June 22. 8 p.m. June 18. Geva Theatre Center, 75 Woodbury Blvd. (585) 232-4382 or www RAPA Auditions: Roles for ages 8 to 15 for upcoming production of Annie Jr.

7 p.m. June 18. RAPA Playhouse, 727 E. Main St. Call for details.

(585) 325-3366 or www.rapaonline.us. The Musical of Musicals (The Sendup of Broadway musicals where one story becomes five charming and witty musicals. 2 p.m. June 18. Bristol Valley Theater, 151 S.

Main Naples. $28; $26 seniors; $15 college students; $10 children. (585) 374-631B or www.bvtnaples.org. Recreation Argentine Tango Dance with Jan Bares: 7 p.m. June 18.

Nasty D's, 140 ON TELEVISION 40-minute hole in the Gibbs Street outdoor stage, flip Shimabukuro an extra 50 bucks and let him play. A few thousand people need to see this guy. Today's jazz haiku Led Zep plink plink plink Plink plink plink wongo plink plink Shimabukuro Also heard on Day Five Dr. Lonnie Smith, in his turban, flowing robes and walking cane, was joined at the Big Tent by locals Melvin Henderson on guitar and Ulysses Owens on drums. Smith is a wizard on the Hammond B-3 organ, but his versatile vocals are a delight, particularly his low, guttural grumble on the Beatles' "Come ber of records, the last few years rising to a crest as big as the Silk Degrees album.

But I was tired; I just wanted to take time off. I had two young sons to take care of on the home front. "Six months turned into a year, and it became other things. I needed to get away from it all. I wasn't feeling entirely successful in certain areas.

I had a lot to take care of in my personal life. "I felt guilty about it for a while, but I got over it. I've always had a heavy work ethic, and that was always directed toward my music career. Now I wasn't thinking about recording THINGS TO DO TODAY Concerts All That Jazz: Students from the Hoch-stein Music Therapy Department. 6 p.m.

June 18. Hochstein Performance Hall, 50 N. Plymouth Ave. Free. (585) 454-4596 or www.hochstein.org, Eastman Youth Jazz Orchestra: Combo.

Rochester International Jazz Festival. 7:15 p.m. June 18. Rochester Area Community Foundation Jazz Street Stage, Gibbs Street and East Avenue. Free, www.rochesterjazz.com.

ECMS Saxology: Rochester International Jazz Festival. 6 p.m. June 18. Rochester Area Community Foundation Jazz Street Stage, Gibbs Street and East Avenue. Free, www.rochester jazz.com.

Jae Sinnett Quartet: Part of the Rochester International Jazz Festival. 6:45 and 8:45 p.m. June 18. Christ Church, 141 East Ave. $20.

(585) 454-3878 or www.rochesterjazz.com. Mike Cottone: 1 p.m. June 18. Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County, 115 South Ave. Call for details.

(585) 428-8350. Music Educators Jazz Ensemble: Rochester International Jazz Festival. 9:15 p.m. June 18. Rochester Area Community Foundation Jazz Street Stage, Gibbs Street and East Avenue.

Free, www.rochesterjazz.com. New Energy Jazz Orchestra: Rochester International Jazz Festival. 6 p.m. June 18. Robert Mondavi Big Tent, Gibbs and Main streets.

$20 or Club Pass. www.rochesterjazz.com. Rochester Area High School Jazz Bands: Rochester International Jazz Festival. 4:30 and 5:15 p.m. June 18.

Rochester Area Community Foundation Jazz Street Stage, Gibbs Street and East Avenue. Free. Rochester Jazz at the Philharmonic: All Star Jazz Session: 8 p.m. June 18. Eastman Theatre, 60 Gibbs St.

232-1900 or www Wegmans Concerts by the Shore Series: Me and the Boyz: 7 to 9 p.m. June 18. Ontario Beach Park, Lake and Beach avenues. Free. (585) 865-3320 or www.cityofrochester.gov.

ExposShows Victor Farmers Market: 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Oct. 15. Mead Square, Main Street and Maple Avenue, Victor. Free.

(585) 742-6320 Films Gloria: (1980, John Cassa) Gena Rowlands. 8 p.m. June 18. Dryden Theatre, George Eastman House, 900 East Ave. $5 students; $4 members.

(585) 271-3361 or www.eastmanhouse.org. Pulse: A Stomp Odyssey: 2 p.m. June 18. Strasenburgh Planetarium, Rochester Museum Science Center, 657 East Ave. $8 seniors and college students with ID; $7 ages 3-18.

(585) Together." He ducked beneath the organ and played the foot pedals with his hands, then picked out some notes by poking the keyboard with his nose, followed by the second version of "Misty" I'd heard this night. Locals Kinloch Nelson on guitar, bassist Brian Williams of Lumiere and Chuck Campbell of the Campbell Brothers jammed at Bernunzio's on "Get Rhythm." They must do that again immediately. Sweden's Wildbirds Peacedrums was like stumbling into the Middle Earth Folk Festival at Lutheran Church of the Reformation. You either loved or hated this duo blending swooping vocals and things that are banged on or shaken. JSPEVAKDemocratandChronicle.com and touring first.

And it was a big change going from 100 to 0 in a short time." The well-known story is that Scaggs was running a San Francisco nightclub called Slims. The lesser-known story is, "I couldn't go in there," Scaggs says. "I was everybody's best friend, and I'm actually a pretty private person. For the price of a beer, you're kind of on the spot. That was a hell of an enterprise for me, and an unsuccessful one, because I couldn't participate." He never turned his back on music, and he's never quite overcome his feelings of inadequacy.

But is there really any- KEN HUTH Pride and Prejudice heads into its final days at Geva. 271-1880 or www.rmsc.org. FoodDrink Strawberry Festival: Picnic food and assorted strawberry delights. 5 to 7 p.m. June 18.

Trinity Reformed Church, 909 N. Landing Road, Brighton. Call for details. (585) 381-5330. Strawberry Festival: Picnic food, entertainment and homegrown strawberries from Green Acres.

Music by Lou DeLio (accordion) and the Don Newcomb Band. 4 to 7:30 p.m. June 18. Greece Historical Museum, 595 Long Pond Road, Greece. $4.50.

(585) 225-7221 Just for Kids Pre-K Story Time: Jammy Time: Literature, games, songs, crafts and more for pre-K children and their families. 7 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays through June 20 (except Naples school holidays). Naples Library, 118 S. Main Naples.

Call for details. (585) 374-2757. Other Guided Tour of Rochester: Walking or van transportation available. Visits historic sites such as the George Eastman House, Susan B. Anthony House, Hiram Sibley Mansion and Frederick Douglass' office.

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 18. Washington Square Park, Clinton Avenue and Court Street. discounts available for students and seniors.

(585) 461-8336 or www.freewebs.com. Homearama 2008: Featuring seven homes, Including the "Build Green. Live Green." home. Sponsored by the Rochester Home Builders' Association. 2 to 8 p.m.

Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday; noon to 6 p.m. Sunday; through June 29. Magnolia Manor, off Route 31F east of Route 250, Perinton.

$9 (no tickets sold at the Pv Bela Fleck, with Shimabukuro making the ukulele sound like an "Orange Blossom Special" banjo, with a little "Dueling Banjos" riff tossed in for laughs. At the first of two packed Montage shows Tuesday night, an estimated 200 people were turned away at the door. Festival crowds generally drift from venue to venue, but the folks monitoring the Montage door counted only 11 people leaving during the 70-minute set. Shimabukuro returns today for two shows at High Fidelity, plus an 830 p.m. signing (and perhaps a little picking) at Ber-nunzio's Uptown Music.

Maybe the tiny ukulele needs such intimate rooms. But if I were fest producers John Nugent and Marc Iacona, I'd try to poke a interesting subject that can be exposed. Rock and roll came out of New Orleans, went up the river and through the Delta. A whole lot of what we do is based on that. It gets adulterated in some ways, gets enhanced in other ways.

We all owe something to it, and take something from it." He struggled for years with it; a critics' favorite, until he became a fans' favorite as well with Silk Degrees. But then, in 1980, he seemed to have disappeared. "I went on hiatus," Scaggs says. "I was working pretty much constantly for pretty much 10 years. I'd made a num Chris Matthews Show averages about 2.3 million viewers, less than CBS' Face the Nation and more than Fox's show with Chris Wallace.

Matthews was considered a candidate to replace Bob Schieffer on Face the Nation this year, until Schieffer decided to stay on a few more years. Matthews, who has a long history of strong opinions, would have to change his style to fit Russert's Meet the Press reportorial template. Washington hands David Gregory and Andrea Mitchell are lesser-known but fit into the objective reporting format that made Meet the Press with Russert the first stop for Washington newsmakers. Outsiders Gwen Ifill of PBS' Washington Week, a former NBC correspondent, and CNN's John King could fit the same mold. There's some sentiment within NBC News to have top anchor Brian Williams or retired anchor Tom Brokaw to sit in temporarily, perhaps through the election.

That course would give NBC the chance to find a new host and build a format around that person's strengths outside the crucible of an election season. i i I 1 HHHinjM-jJMii i in lii minimum ii'V nmnti 1 11 1 1 inn iiiinn inn mi mum ill The Associated Press file photo 2007 Tim Russert's death is a personal loss to his colleagues and a dilemma to NBC, which must choose the right successor. Grieving NBC has a decision to make DAVID BAUDER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Still reeling from Tim Russert's death, NBC News must now contemplate replacing the man who not only dominated the Sunday morning talk shows but also served as chief political commentator and ran the Washington bureau. The Meet the Press host had what was arguably the most important and far-reaching job in television news, particularly in an election year. He died of a heart attack Friday.

NBC wasn't talking about potential successors while planning Russert's memorial service to be televised at 4 p.m. today on MSNBC (cable channel 46) from the Kennedy Center. NBC has potential successors to Russert on Meef the Press already within the company. The decision has big financial implications because the show reportedly earns more than $60 million a year in profits with relatively few expenses. Hardball host Chris Matthews is the best-known internal candidate.

He already has a Sunday talk show syndicated by NBC Universal that's very competitive with the networks, despite taping on Friday. The.