News, reviews, and features about artists and their work
November 27 is Jimi Hendrix’s birthday. Because he died just shy of his 28th birthday, his image is forever imprinted on our minds as one of eternal youth. Considering his genius, you’d think he’d studied music from an early age. You might think his love of music was nurtured by all who knew him. That’s not the way it was, though. Besides that, Hendrix didn’t begin his musical journey with a guitar.
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World Market is holding a contest to determine the best presentation of a Christmas classic. All you have to do is make a video and submit it. The winner will receive a number of prizes, including a recording session at a Los Angeles studio with engineer, song mixing, on-site vocal coach & producer. It’s important, if you are going to enter, to read the rules and make sure you comply. The deadline for the Cost Plus World Market Star Maker Song contest is 12-8-18, but that competition isn’t the only holiday option coming your way.
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Over the weekend, Rebecca performed solo at Amelia Island Coffee, a shop smack in the middle of the central district on the island. A group of us decided to head that way to spend the afternoon and maybe get in a little early Christmas shopping. Amelia Island has always been one of my favorite places in Florida. The town is friendly, picturesque, and very accommodating to visitors. While she was setting up equipment and everyone in our party was getting settled, I strolled Centre Street. There’s something there for everyone. As I shopped, I encountered people from all over the
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We took in the musical ‘1776, A Musical Revolution’ at the Alhambra theater in Jacksonville, FL last week, and if you didn’t, you missed a great show. It was no small feat for the creators, Sherman Edwards (music and lyrics) and Peter Stone (the book), to come up with a presentation that made history funny, witty, and informative. There were some amazing actors on board too. Throughout the night, the audience laughed and applauded, with many recognizing not much has changed in terms of partisan rancor.
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Rebecca Day, founder of The Crazy Daysies, tied the knot in a ceremony in Jacksonville, Florida on November 10, 2018. It’s impossible to ignore her husband Joshua’s last name, Knight. How entertaining is it that we have a couple named Knight and Day? We had her wedding here at home with a little more than 50 very close friends and family members. Pulling off an at-home wedding isn’t a piece of cake, but in the long run, every effort was worth it.
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Posting new content has been impossible this week, and I’ll likely not be able to post again until next week. I’m taking a brief vacation for a very good reason. Our daughter is getting married. At our house. The wedding is small—around 50 guests or so. As mom of the bride, I am focused right now on things like decorating, the ceremony, feeding our guests, and trying to figure out who drinks what beer or wine.
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The first time I went to Porchfest in the Springfield community of Jacksonville (FL), I was in awe of everyone coming together to share music and admiration for the unique homes. Porchfest is a free event. People can stroll the wide streets and hear music on porches throughout the neighborhood. Food trucks, kids’ activities, and a big mix of musical styles await those who come out for the 2018 festival.
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Part 3 of 3 What was the world of poetry like before most Americans gained access to the Internet? For one thing, fewer poets were published. In order to get into a print magazine, your work was vetted by an editor. Universities controlled most public readings. In one sense, you had to be known to the ‘knowns’ in order to climb the ladder of publication and rewards. Although much has changed since that time, much remains the same.
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Pt. 2 of 3 Jennifer Reeser, in case you missed the first article in our series about her, is no ordinary writer. Exceptional poet, widely praised translator, essayist, and reviewer, Reeser has long refused to confine her intellect to one form or genre. Years ago, a famous poet’s son who became an accomplished writer told how his father “made his head.” As with everything, seeds of one’s future are sown at a very young age.
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Pt. 1 of 3 Let’s face it. Poetry can be boring. On the other hand, poetry can be exhilarating when the writer dares to tread on murky ground. Jennifer Reeser does the latter. Her work has appeared in numerous anthologies and in her own collections, and you never know what subject she will tackle next. A master sonneteer and expert at other forms as well, her poems fall flawlessly on the ear. Among those I found extremely interesting is Reeser’s collection The Lalaurie Horror, described as a “poetic ghost tour” of a mansion once owned by an alleged female serial
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