‘Big Bands’ exhibit at MAC will feature Satchmo’s first cornet
Louis Armstrong’s first cornet is on the way to the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture.
Satchmo played this cornet at the New Orleans Colored Waif’s Home, where he lived as a child. The instrument will be the centerpiece object in the museum’s upcoming “Jumpin’ With the Big Bands” exhibit, which opens Dec. 5.
The cornet will be on loan to the MAC from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Armstrong first played tambourine in the home’s band and rapidly progressed to bugle and then to cornet – this very cornet.
The budding Satchmo’s talent was clear from the beginning. He soon became the leader of the band.
The cornet stayed at the home long after Armstrong left, and was used by other students until the 1960s.
“Jumpin’ With the Big Bands,” which has been in the works for years, tells the story of jazz and swing throughout the United States. It will run Dec. 5 through April 24.
Blues honorees
Another classic American musical form – the blues – was in the spotlight last week as the Inland Empire Blues Society handed out its annual Empire Awards.
We don’t have room to list all 21 categories, but here are a few of the big winners:
• Best Blues Band – Big Mumbo Blues Band.
• Best New Blues Band – The Delta Preachers.
• Best Blues Guitarist – Russ Schneider of the Crosstown Blues Band.
• Best Male Blues Vocalist – Pat Coast of the Culprits.
• Best Female Blues Vocalist – JJ White of JJ and the Tremors.
• Best Acoustic Blues Act – The Doghouse Boyz.
A new ‘Nutcracker’
This year, the Spokane Symphony has a new collaborator for its annual “Nutcracker”: Ballet Memphis.
This nationally recognized ballet troupe will be in town for four shows: Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 19, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; and Dec. 20, 2 p.m., all at the INB Performing Arts Center.
In keeping with tradition, the performances will include 70 young, local dancers, chosen through auditions.
Here are the dancers selected for the lead roles: Noah Huang as Fritz, Terry Grizzell as Grandfather, Renee Rahn as Grandmother and Oona Timmons as Mother Ginger.
Tickets are available by calling (509) 624-1200 or through TicketsWest outlets (800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com).
Holiday Pops
That’s not the only Christmas event planned by the Spokane Symphony. There’s also the annual Holiday Pops concert, Dec. 4-5 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 6 at 2 p.m., at the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox.
Irish tenor Ronan Tynan will be the guest star. The ticket information is the same as above.
A Mapplethorpe doc
The Spokane International Film Festival’s art series continues today with “Black White + Gray,” a documentary about the life of artist and curator Sam Wagstaff and his longtime relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe.
This is billed as a “raw look” at the lives and art of both Wagstaff and Mapplethorpe.
It unspools today at 2 p.m., at the Magic Lantern, 25 W. Main Ave. Tickets are $5 at the door.
Local photographer Rajah Bose will deliver an introduction.
Frankly, my dear …
Here’s your chance to see “Gone With the Wind” in a classic setting: the Bing Crosby Theater, 901 W. Sprague Ave., on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
It’s part of the Bing’s “Classic Movies of 1939” festival. No tickets necessary, but a $5 donation is suggested.
Muller and Maher
Two of the most familiar names in the Northwest folk scene – Heidi Muller and Dan Maher – will make a joint appearance on Nov. 22, 3 p.m. at Rick Singer’s downtown photography studio, 415 W. Main Ave.
Both have been fixtures on the folk scene for more than 25 years. Muller’s “Good Road” has been the theme song of Maher’s “Inland Folk” public radio show for more than 20 years.
Tickets are $15, available in advance by calling (509) 838-3333, or at the door (assuming they aren’t sold out).
Studio seats
I’m here to tell you that the new seats in the Firth Chew Studio Theatre at the Spokane Civic Theatre are far superior to the old ones. It’s amazing the difference good padding can make.
And now, word comes that you can “own” one of those seats. Sort of.
The Civic is “selling” 100 chairs as a way of raising funds to match the $25,000 challenge grant received from the M.J. Murdock Trust for further remodeling of the Studio Theatre.
So for $200, your name will be inscribed on a plaque on one of the chairs. Call the Civic at (509) 325-2507 to order yours.