Capital Culture Magazine: Spring 2008

Free! Early Spring 2008

CONTENTS Official Publication of the

Publisher Editor Creative Director Editorial Assistant

Peggy Brady Randi Goldstein Tony Archer Daniel Lyons

Capital Culture Magazine is published bi-monthly by the Council on Culture & Arts with support from the Leon County Tourist Development Council. Capital Culture Magazine is distributed free of charge to visitors to and residents of Florida’s Big Bend Area.

Editorial, art, and photography submissions to Capital Culture Magazine are considered. Writer’s guidelines are available at www.cocanet.org. However, the publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts or art. Capital Culture Magazine reserves the right to publish any letters to the editor. Although COCA makes every effort to publish accurate information, we make no guarantee as to the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information in this magazine. All rights reserved.

Subscriptions to Capital Culture Magazine are available by joining the Council on Culture & Arts. Please visit www.cocanet.org/about/join. html to download an application or call (850) 224-2500. Copyright © 2008 Council on Culture & Arts

Alexander Jiménez

This conductor, percussionist, and teacher shares his expertise and love of music with hundreds of local kids every year.

reviews

Capital Culture Magazine is available in large print upon request. This publication is available in electronic format at COCA’s website at www. cocanet.org. The opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Council on Culture & Arts, or Capital Culture Magazine’s sponsors or advertisers.

A longtime legislative staffer discovers the joys of playing the blues.

interview

Reproduction of Capital Culture Magazine in whole or in part is permitted only with written permission from the Council on Culture & Arts. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited.

Whisperin’ Ken Winker Blows a Mean Blues Harp

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A college student discovers that the music scene is alive and well and thriving in Tallahassee.

SPECIAL CENTER SPREAD: Tallahassee’s

Music Scene At A Glance. (We bet you don’t know the half of it!)

adventures in the arts

Issue 5

Cloud 13 Records Founder and Proprietor Steev Taylor

Tallahassee’s own independent record label aims high.

profiles in the arts

Early Spring 2008

cover story

Vol. 2

Get Out and Listen

Sarah Mac Band’s Open Fire

page 6

Soft Targets’ Heavy Rainbow

page 13

A COCA publication sponsored in part by the City of Tallahassee, Leon County, the State of Florida, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

FROM THE PUBLISHER Music is all around us

Illustration by Nathan Archer

COCA is pleased to devote this issue to the wonderfully exciting and diverse music scene in the Tallahassee area. From jazz to blues to rock to classical, Tallahassee has local music in just about every style for every taste. Did you know…that former Tallahassee Mayor Steve Meisburg, with his partner John Paul Walters, was one of three acts signed when Casablanca Records was founded? (The other two were KISS and Donna Summer.) Did you know…that local music legend Velma Frye has been a regular on A Prairie Home Companion? Did you know…that Tallahassee musicians Marvin Goldstein and Pam Laws played “peace concerts” in Israel with Israeli Arab, Israeli Jewish and American jazz singers? Working on this issue has really reminded me of the extraordinary quality of our local musicians. To show off, this year we welcomed back our legislators with a “musical petting zoo,” organized by new volunteer Meghan Norman, and manned by members of public school music programs and members of the Tallahassee Symphony Youth Orchestras. These talented young musicians generously allowed legislators, lobbyists, and local public officials to “pet” their instruments, and gave them some firsthand experience with exactly how difficult it can be to make the right sound. With the renovations to Ruby Diamond Auditorium set to go, and plans in progress for cultural amenities at Cascades Park, the Arts on Gaines facility, and the Performing Arts Center, our community will soon have even more and better places to showcase the wonderful talent we have here.

Peggy Brady

Regular Features 1 2 2 10 17

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Capital Culture Magazine

From the Publisher Contributors News of Note More Than You Thought COCA Connection: All that’s new with COCA Directory of Arts and Cultural Organizations and Businesses

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Early Spring 2008 | 1

NEWS OF NOTE

FSU Alums He nry Polic II, Susan Russell a moment with and Davis Gain the Impossible es share Dreamer himse (second from lf, Richard G. right), Dean Em Fallon eritus of the Photo Credit: Sc ho ol of Theatre. David Rowell

CONTRIBUTORS Daniel Lyons was born in Ft. Lauderdale and grew up in the Broward County area. He moved to Tallahassee to attend Florida State, and plans to finish his degree in English this year. Dan has contributed writing to Satellite Magazine and spent two years as a DJ at V-89 and is currently Capital Culture Magazine’s Contributing Writer and Editorial Assistant. On the weekends you can find him either digging around the used record bins or paddling through one of the area’s beautiful waterways. And whichever sports season it is, you’ll find him in the stands rooting on the Noles. Ken Winker is a Senior Legislative Analyst with the Florida Senate Democratic Office, as well as being the Vice-Chair (and longest-serving member) of COCA’s board of directors. He has been a Florida legislative staffer for many years, in the office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, and committees on Workforce and Technical Skills, Water and Natural Resources, Community Colleges, Corrections, Juvenile Justice, and Commerce. In his spare time he is also a blues musician and was a founding member of the Apalachee Blues Society.

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Available Now!

www.FirstFridayTallahassee.com

Capital Culture Magazine

NEWS OF NOTE LeMoyne Center for the Visual Arts welcomed Grace Maloy as its new Executive Director in November. No stranger to Tallahassee, Grace previously worked with the Tallahassee Senior Center art program, and was the Executive Director of Gadsden Arts Center. Owners Clarence and Gerri Seay have opened B. Sharp’s Jazz Cafe at 648 W. Brevard Street, and feature local and national jazz musicians as well as a regular Wednesday night jam session. Clarence is a professional jazz musician who has played in Japan, China, India, and various locations across Europe. For more information and a schedule of events, visit their web site at www.b-sharps.com

KeeP uP THe GreaT WOrK

The School of Theatre at Florida State celebrated their sold-out holiday benefit concert of Man of La Mancha on Saturday, December 15 with a champagne reception on the stage of the Richard G. Fallon Theatre immediately following the performance. Man of La Mancha featured FSU alums Davis Gaines, Henry Polic II,and Susan Russell as well as guest artist Raymond Sage, under the direction of Fred Chappell and music direction of Tom Ossowski. All proceeds from the concert will benefit the School of Theatre.

Tana McLane and Sharri Moroshok, co-owners of Humidity Gallery, both exhibited their art jewelry design in CraftArt 2007, Florida Craftmen’s annual fine craft show in St. Petersburg, FL.

A Wise Investment

Invest in 52 acres of breathtaking Florida flora and fauna bordering beautiful Lake Bradford.

CONGraTulaTIONs

Local poet Mary Jane Ryals has been selected as the first ever “Poet Laureate of the Big Bend” by a committee of volunteers in conjunction with Big Bend Poets, Anhinga Press, and Tallahassee Writers’ Association. Recent FSU Film School graduate Z. Eric Yang was named Best Asian American Student Filmmaker by the Directors Guild of America for 2007. In addition, undergraduate Catherine Rehwinkel was the recipient of an Honorable Mention in the Best Woman Student Filmmaker category.

With a Tallahassee Museum Membership you get:

• The Museum’s bi-monthly newsletter • Discounts on most Museum classes, summer camp, and birthday parties • 10% discount at the Museum Store and Trail Break Café • UNLIMITED Museum admission

Charles Hazelip was recently honored with the Vivian LaValle Volunteer Award for his work with the art department at the Tallahassee Senior Center. In December, Young Actors Theatre presented its annual Zoli Awards. Acting awards went to Nathan Hyson (Best Ensemble Performer), Danielle Spisso (Best Supporting Actress for Grease), Charlie Johnson (Best Actor for Big, the Musical), Eden Joyner (Best Actress for The Lion, the

Witch and the Wardrobe), and Mickey Bahr (Best Supporting Actor for Big, the Musical). Other awards included the Fran Award (Camille Hayward), the Judy Award (Ariel Burton), the Elizabeth Holingsworth Anderson Memorial Award (Kaylan Grimes), and the Price Award (Liz Joyner).

GONe BuT NOT COMPleTelY

Goodwood Museum & Gardens undertook a comprehensive fundraising initiative, the Honoring History – Securing the Future campaign, for five projects including the new Carriage House Conference Center Complex and an endowment fund. To date, they have raised nearly $1.7 million towards their approximately $3 million goal for the campaign.

Capital Culture Magazine

Membership...

WadePhotography.com

WelCOMe

The gallery space of Thomas Eads Fine Art closed December 31, 2007, but Thomas remains in town and continues consulting with collectors, businesses wishing to display art, and photography students. TEFA focuses on regional contemporary art, and welcomes inquiries about the art and artists he represents.

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ene

at the music sc

i

t discovers th A college studen

and thriving is alive & well

in Tallahassee

have come to a bittersweet conclusion. I am completely blown away by the quality of the music being produced in this town . Unfortunately I have managed to ignore the local music community throughout my time as a student in Tallahassee, and won’t be here too much longer to enjoy it all. The main reason I ignored the local scen e for so long is that I made the erroneous assumption that “local” mus ic was the equivalent of “sub-par” mus ic. This was clearly a mistake. After digging into Tallahassee’s music scene, I want to urge both students and residents to get out and see some of the artists and groups that are crea ting some truly fantastic music here. The sheer number of bands, groups, ense mbles, and solo artists that create and perform music in Tallahassee makes it impossible for me to include all of them here. I couldn’t even mention all the ones I pers onally liked. I’ve had to pick and choose from some of the bands or musicians with estab lished careers as well as some newer ones that are creating something truly impressive in an array of different genres.

COVER STORY Longineu Parsons is probably the most popular name among the musicians who call Tallahassee home. The associate professor of trumpet at FAMU is hailed by national and international critics as one of the greatest trumpet players in the world today. And his trumpet playing is just the tip of the iceberg. Parsons plays multiple instruments, writes, composes, and sings as well. He has had the pleasure of sharing the stage or recording with artists like Cab Calloway, Nat “Cannonball” Adderley, Herbie Mann, Sun Ra, and Branford Marsalis. He has performed in more than 30 countries for ambassadors, presidents, and even the royal family. I had the pleasure of seeing Parsons play at the Railroad Square Fall Fever Fest and was not only impressed by his talent but by the pure enjoyment he showed playing for a crowd. We are truly lucky to have him. Another heavy hitter, Pat Puckett, has been playing music solo and in various bands in Tallahassee for 24 years. His brand of alt-country holds up to national bands of a similar mold, like Son Volt, 16 Horsepower, and Palace. Puckett’s beautifully crafted songs take influence from his own experiences with marriage and family, and he has had the satisfaction of playing with some of the very musicians who have influenced him – musicians like Alejandro Escovedo and Paul Harris (Nick Drake, Buffalo Springfield). So if you like music in the vein of Neil Young, be sure to keep an eye out for a show with Pat Puckett. He plays in town roughly every two months. If your taste in music is more on the dark side, be sure to look into the band Cruxshadows. Formed in 1992, the band has stayed focused artistically despite several line-up changes over the years, and even managed to produce a couple Billboard number ones.They must hold the title for “miles traveled by a band from Tallahassee,” playing between 100 and 120 shows a year internationally. Unfortunately, it is a rare occasion that they play here locally; their immense stage set-up, light show, and contingent of dancers mean that few venues in town can accommodate them. Another band whose longevity is a testament to their commitment to make music is Cream Abdul Babar.. This eight-piece group has been creating together since October of 1994. In fact, they played their first show on Halloween weekend only three days after their first practice. What started out as a crude punk band (only half of the members could actually play their instruments in the beginning) has since morphed into a group that creates and churns out some brutally gorgeous noise. They play metal in the same territory the Melvins, Neurosis, and Unsane. Thankfully they just came off a three-year Southeastern tour, and plan to get back to their routine of playing Tallahassee twice a year. If blues music is your remedy then surely check out Big Daddy and Red Hot Java. Formed in 1995, the group

By

Dan

takes influence from Chicago and New Orleans blues music, and are a self-described mix of Willie Dixon, Robert Cray, and Keb Mo. They have had the pleasure of opening up for legendary acts like Van Morrison, The Doobie Brothers, and Kool & the Gang. So if you are drowning in sorrows, get out and allow Big Daddy and Red Hot Java to lift your spirits. If you’re looking to music to get yourself out of a rut, I can’t recommend the power-pop group The Ums highly enough. Their humor and liveliness is infectious to the crowd, and it’s difficult to leave their performances in a foul mood. They write playful, unpretentious songs that are similar to those by Ben Folds Five or Beck, yet The Ums are making wonderfully original music that can’t be pinned to one genre. When watching these guys play, you’ll get a sense that they are enjoying every second on stage. You’d be hard pressed not to bust your best dance move, and if you don’t at least crack a smile you may not have a soul. Everyone needs to see this band at least once. If your best dance move belongs in the 1980s, then polish that baby off and go check out Girls on Film. This four-piece group (their names are so rad that I have to list them: Rio-lead vocals, Machine-Electronic Drums, Kazhmir-bass guitar, and Metro-keyboards, programming) plays what they call “Lipstick Synth-Pop,” one of the best descriptions for a band’s style I’ve ever heard. They mesh the dark dance beats and candy pop music that was popular a couple decades ago with perfect precision. Easily Tallahassee’s most

Lyons

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Girls on Film

Early Spring 2008 | 5

COVER STORY fashionable band, they’ve proved a hard act to follow by opening for groups like The Fixx, VHS or Beta, and Rasputina. If you’d rather steer clear of the word “synth”and your taste in music is more on the organic side, then you want to witness The Mayhaws.Their acoustic roots draw inspiration from Americana, American Traditional, and Bluegrass styles, and they throw some modern charm into the mix. The band has four members who conjoined two bands to form what is now The Mayhaws. They blend guitar, drum, stand-up bass, and mandolin to make some good ol’ Southern music. Another local group drawing on Southern influences is the rock band Full Black Out.Together for about four years now, they consider the Allman Brothers to be their major influence.Their musical talent is truly impressive, with every member holding their own, though the harmonica solos from Kip Kale stuck out as a highlight of the performance I saw. The energy that all the musicians in the band displayed really got the diverse

crowd moving. I say “diverse”because this particular show was proof of the varied music Tallahassee turns out. The group that opened up for Full Black Out was After the Smoke, a six piece hip-hop group that shows serious potential. With their superior beats, great songwriting, and clever lyrics, this group’s performance threw the crowd into party mode. The members cite Outkast, Stereolab, Jamiroquai, The Neptunes, and Stevie Wonder as influences on their sound. I impressed with not only their music but also their professionalism. If any group has the entrepreneurial spirit to reach people on a national scale, it is After the Smoke.Their hard work is evidenced not only by the new and fresh music they are creating, but by how well they promote themselves. Another young group showing signs of potential turned out to be my personal favorite: The Western Hold. They only played their first show in March of 2007, but wow, are these guys good! They play

instrumental songs that ebb and flow and drag you right along, with a similar sound to groups like Mogwai and Explosions in the Sky. Although they are a young band, The Western Hold has already opened for Jesu and Cream Abdul Babar, as well as being invited to play The Fest in Gainesville. Even after throwing out so much information, I feel like I’ve left out so much. I haven’t even come close to covering all of the great music this town is producing. But much of the enjoyment in being music fan is discovering it on your own. So go out to some of the wonderful venues we have here in town like The Warehouse,The Beta Bar,Big Daddy’s, Club Downunder, and all others who help local music to be heard. Also tune your radio to V-89 every Monday night from 10 pm to midnight for Hootenanny, where you can hear music created here in Tallahassee as well as live on-air performances by local acts. Just don’t make my mistake and put it off – start checking it out right away!

MusIC reVIeW Sarah Mac Band Open Fire

named Sarah those blindingly sensuous voices. Well, Sarah Mac is one that we can call our very own. She and her band mates, Charlie Vanture (lead guitar and backing vocals), Claire Swindell (bass guitar and backing vocals), and Keli Swearingen (Pearl Drums) formed their group here in Tallahassee in the spring of 2005. The band launched their latest album, Open Fire, with a release party on January 11 at The Warehouse on Gaines Street. Open Fire is the perfect CD to pop in the car on a sunny day, dance to in your kitchen, or groove to on the treadmill. Sarah’s smooth vocals and the band’s easy instrumentals totally complement a personal favorite “Summertime,” composed by George Gershwin. The title song, “Open Fire,”

is another smooth, but faster-moving composition that captures the essence of passion and melody. Its lyrics are those that anyone who has been brokenhearted can appreciate. Open Fire is available locally at Vinyl Fever and Textures Handmade Market, or online at cdbaby.com and iTunes. You can also see the band live at Springtime Tallahassee on March 29. For more information, check out their MySpace page or their web site at www.sarahmacband.com.

Pixel Records Release Date: January 11, 2008 Genre: Indie The Sarah Mac Band describes itself as “bluesy, jazzy rock with a healthy dose of soul,” but also says this on its website: “We would request that you listen to us and then make your own choice for what type of music we play.” So their genre is actually up to you. Sarah Mac (lead vocals, guitar and piano) is the perfect mix between the softness of Sarah McLaughlin and the passion and jazz of Sara Bareilles. There must be some magic that gives girls

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Bonnie Bower

Capital Culture Magazine

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Look Mexico (Touring) Infectious and accessible pop/rock

Cream Abdul Babar Tallahassee’s longest running noise band The Cruxshadows Our Goth ambassadors to the world The Beta Bar Host to a plethora of local and national independent musical acts

Floyd’s If you hear them on the rock radio station, good chance they will play a show here

The Warehouse Place for bands/musicians to run their own shows in a comfortable venue

Crooked Shooz Great band to knock back a few and hit the dance floor

Dayve Stewart and the Vibe Al Green’s sax player fronts this group Paradigm Music and food at this hip, upscale joint 90.5 FAMU Radio Jazz radio M-F 9-noon

Kid Hart Two piece blues-rock outfit led by guitar wizard Eric Hartsfield

V89 Radio (Hootenanny) 2 hour local radio show every Monday from 10PM to Midnight

Soular System Their funk powers make it impossible to stand against the wall

Mayday Parade Pop-punk group on Fearless Records

Café Cabernet Catch some great music at this fine restaurant and bar

Leon Anderson Director of Jazz Studies at FSU

Pam Laws Tallahassee’s premier jazz vocalist

Longineu Parsons World renowned trumpeter

DJ Demp Most popular party DJ in town

Skai Tally’s most popular R&B singer

The Moon North Florida’s leading nightclub and live music venue

Notty Black Member of the rap group Nappy Headz

Thrill Da Playa DJ, Producer, Promoter – this guy does it all

FSU College of Music Offer more than 450 concerts a year

Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra The professional voice of classical orchestral music, bringing Masterworkds to the community

Tallahassee Community Chorus Celebrating 20 years in 2008

The Artist Series Featuring nationally and internationally renowned visiting artists

Voices Angelorum Women’s choir performing classical music of excellence

Heritage Blues Festival Every year at the Bradfordville Blues Club American Legion Hall Great place to catch blues music and more

Chez Pierre The place to be in good weather for music under the oaks

Charles Atkins Tallahassee’s Soul Brother #1

Del Suggs Would go great with a beach bonfire Pat Puckett Plays rock/ country with a strong emphasis on lyrics

Tocamos Afro-Caribbean drum ensemble

The Ned Devines Traditional Irish Music

Tango Sur Argentinean Tango Music

Boys’ Choir of Tallahassee Extraordinary group of young men ages 8 to 18 who perform all over the world

Rick Lollar 21 year old guitar virtuoso Randy Webster (Big Daddy) Influenced by Chicago and New Orleans Blues

Bill Wharton – The Sauce Boss Get a lesson in blues and how to cook a great batch of gumbo

Capital Chordsman Tallahassee’s own Barbershop group

Tallahassee Swing Band Has had a weekly gig at the American Legion Hall every Tuesday since 1989

Mimi Hearn Talented vocalist who appears on many local recordings

Velma Frye Performed on “A Prairie Home Companion” nine times

FSU World Music Ensembles playing music from steel drums to Brazilian

(Note: this may not be a complete list of all musicians and/or music venues, and COCA does not endorse any particular artist or event. For listings of many other musicians and local music events, visit www.morethanyouthought.com.)

Whispering Ken Winker Blows a Mean

Blues HarP

Who Ever Said That You Can’t Teach an Old Dog New Tricks? by Ken Winker

S

hortly after the 2000 presidential election and the recount debacle in Florida, I became fascinated with the little tin and wooden instrument with ten holes to blow through, with the German name Hohner etched on its side: a harmonica. This instrument seems deceptively simple, but in the hands and mouth of someone who really knows how to play it, the harmonica can make sounds and express emotions that are just as at home in country music, classical, jazz, rock and roll, and my personal favorite, Blues. My musical experience to that point consisted of piano lessons in the fourth grade, singing in my high school chorus and church choir, and listening to lots of music on my record player, then my eight-track player, then my cassette player, my CD player, and now my iPod. But I wanted to learn to play the harmonica just like the great Blues musicians I was listening to – Little Walter, Big Mama Thornton, Paul Butterfield, James Cotton, and Charlie Musselwhite. Unfortunately the book and CD harmonica lessons didn’t seem to work for someone of my advanced age. I needed the personal interaction of a music teacher. But who teaches you how to play harmonica in Tallahassee?

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And then a friend of mine saw a flyer on her bulletin board at work from someone offering lessons in the piano, the clarinet, or, believe it or not, the harmonica. So I called Steve Sternberg, a local boogie-woogie piano player and award-winning songwriter, who performs at all sorts of events in the Tallahassee area. I soon started my once-a-week harmonica lessons with Steve, who became my mentor and my friend. One blow, three draw, five draw, five blow, open up the inside of your mouth. Here’s how to use your tongue to block certain holes while you blow and draw other holes. Make the harmonica sound like an increasingly faster high speed train... run out of air in your lungs... build up your breath... don’t get so tired... make single notes on the harmonica... practice your scales... learn to play this riff...practice, practice, PRACTICE! I learned to call the harmonica a “Blues harp” and I was becoming a Blues harp player. A year or so later, I headed for Davis and Elkins College in my home state of West Virginia to participate in a week of Blues harp lessons from a brilliant harmonica player named Joe Filisko. I also took lessons from other great Blues musicians such as Phil Wiggins and Otis Taylor. It was also where I met a talented 92-year-old West Virginia fiddler, Melvin Wine, who had

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Capital Culture Magazine

ADVENTURES IN THE ARTS himself learned fiddle tunes from my great-grandfather and my great-greatgrandfather, Pat and John Cogar.

B

ack in Tallahassee. “Ken, would you like to be part of my Christmas recital with my other students?” Steve asked around Thanksgiving. My chest tightened – not a good thing for a harp player. “You and I could play a Blues duet,” he encouraged. “It’ll be great!” So I practiced and had a great time playing the Blues and a few Christmas tunes in front of a most appreciative audience of retired folks. In the summer of 2004, my friend Randy Webster invited me on his 24th trip to Ireland to be part of a supporting act for his band, Red Hot Java. “Do you really think I’m good enough to go on the road and play the Blues?” I asked. “Yes,” he replied, “and we need to give you your own stage name. How about ‘Whispering’ Ken Winker?” I was almost afraid to ask why. He told me that even though I played the harp softly, I played it with

emotion. And since I was also learning how to play through a microphone and an amplifier, I would have the necessary volume to be heard despite my whispering ways. And so I became Whispering Ken Winker – a Blues musician! We played in pubs for two weeks in Northern Ireland, then along the west coast, and down south to Cork and Kinsale. Then we flew back to England, where I was thrilled to see my name in the London equivalent of the Limelight. We played in several clubs there, including one gig alongside one of Britain’s finest Blues musicians, Papa George. As my musical tour of Ireland and London ended, I knew that I had actually been taking another journey, one that continues to give me opportunities to meet new friends and have new experiences. And although the Blues is often about pain and sadness, the Blues also speaks to hope and the goodness of people. Music has always been and will always be an important part of my life.

Interested?

Check out one of these programs in the Tallahassee area. Places to perform, learn from other musicians, and have a great time gathering and making music. B Sharp’s Jazz Café, 648 West Brevard Street, 681-2400. Jazz jam sessions every Wednesday at 8 pm, plus Blues jams the first Sunday of the month from 2-6 pm. Big Bend Community Orchestra, 8934567. An all-volunteer organization open to all orchestral musicians in the Big Bend area. Rehearses Thursday evenings from 7-9:30 pm in Room 165, Communications & Humanities Building, on the Tallahassee Community College campus. Down Below at Barnacle Bill’s, 1830 N. Monroe Street, 459-5191. Hip-Hop Night, hosted by DJ Joshua “Mad Mardigan” Mclean and featuring live performances and open mic for MCs 18 and older. Finnegan’s Wake, 1122 Thomasville Road, 222-4225. Open bluegrass jam sessions on the first Sunday of every month from 7-10 pm. Also hosts Irish music jam on the second Sunday of the month from 7-10 pm. FSU Student Life Center Cyber Café, 942 Learning Way, 644-4455. Open mic night every other Wednesday from 8-10 pm. Lichgate on High Road, 1401 High Road, 567-3474. Monthly “Old Time Country Jams”every 3rd Thursday from 7 -10:30 pm. The Sweet Shop, 701 W. Jefferson Street, 224-2700. Open mic every Tuesday at 7 pm, hosted by V89. The Warehouse, 702 W. Gaines Street, 222-6188. Open jazz jam every Monday at 9 pm. Open mic night every Wednesday at 9 pm.

Ken Winker and friends jam one evening at Paradigm in downtown Tallahassee.

Capital Culture Magazine

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(Note: this may not be a complete listing of all opportunities to play music, and COCA does not endorse any particular event or opportunity. For listings of many other types of local music events, visit www.morethanyouthought.com.)

Early Spring 2008 | 11

INTERVIEW

byy Dan Lyons y

DL: How would you describe Cloud 13? ST: Cloud 13 is an online-focused independent label. The music is provided on-demand, so you can order a CD online, or download the music through iTunes or Amazon. My wife and I started the label initially just to release our own music. Since then we have taken on acts in town that we like, and the label is now run loosely as a collective. The artists whose music we release have their hands in keeping this thing afloat. DL: Why on-demand?

Cloud 13 Records promotional poster

If anyone is fully aware of the great music being made here in Tallahassee, it’s

Steev Taylor, founder and proprietor of Tallahassee’s own record label, Cloud 13 Records.

A musician himself, Taylor has been part of the local music scene for nearly 20 years, earlier with the band Pocket Novel Mystery, and now as part of the duo Tangemeenie with his wife, Lori. What started as a project to release Tangemeenie’s music has since turned into mission of sorts to promote the excellent music being created here in Tallahassee. The label, Cloud 13 Records, is home to the indie bands the The Grand Canyons, Soft Targets, and The Ums. Installments of The Fertile Compilation, which showcases music, poetry and visual art created in and around Tallahassee, are also released by the label. I recently sat down with Taylor and talked about the label, Tallahassee music, and the state of the music industry. Though his overall presence is laid back, Taylor’s enthusiasm for the Cloud 13 Records was clear and infectious.

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ST: The on-demand format allows for us to release music without going broke. So instead of printing up hundreds of CDs, we do a small initial pressing to supply the bands with CDs to sell at concerts. From then on, we print them as needed. Because a majority of our sales are from digital downloads, and we press the CDs in-house, it keeps our cost low. I take influence from the way Dischord Records in Washington D.C. used to have the mail-order format for their releases. Instead of going through all kinds of avenues to get a tape or CD, you went straight to the source. I also admired how they committed to the music being made within their own community. DL: Why Tallahassee? ST: Outside of the fact that I live here and have roots in the area, I believe that for a small town, Tallahassee has a lot of potential. You have the music school, some great venues that allow for the bands to play, and you have people that want to go out and listen to the music. Also, Tallahassee is a somewhat of a hub city; there is a constant flow of people in and out of the town. So it allows for the

Capital Culture Magazine

music to be spread outside the city limits with relative ease. I believe that Tallahassee can be known as one of the great music towns, and I hope that Cloud 13 can help get the city on the map, the way Sub-Pop in Seattle, Dischord in D.C., and Sun in Memphis have done. DL: How are the bands involved with running the label? ST: Well, most of all, we try to let the bands have as much say as possible in the day-to-day decision-making that affects their career. We generally don’t make a move without talking it over with the band first. I won’t say it’s always the most efficient way to do business, but it supports one of our larger aims of helping our bands learn firsthand about the business side of music. Beyond that, there are many different ways the bands help: They bring other local bands to our attention that might otherwise fly under our radar. They help with promotion by spreading the word about the label on the web and at live shows. In a couple of cases, we’ve literally had bands drop by the house to help print and package CDs.

DL: You seem to have some of the harder working bands in Tallahassee on Cloud 13. What is drawing them to the label rather than self-releasing their work? ST: For one thing, we offer a way for bands to release and sell their CDs without any initial costs. We can also keep track of sales, help the artists manage the business side of things, and offer insights from our own 18 plus years of experience being in bands and dealing with the industry. Managing everything yourself while still trying to make good music can quickly become difficult and expensive. We take some of that burden away. In the past, we’ve also helped bands find producers to work with and helped them establish relationships with reputable music promoters. We don’t have a large promotional budget, but we’ve paid for ad space in a couple of major music magazines and picked up some of the costs of a radio promotion campaign. We hope to keep expanding what we can offer our artists, in terms of advertising, promotion, and booking, but every band needs something a little different. (continued on page 16)

MusIC reVIeW Soft Targets Heavy Rainbow Cloud 13 Records Release Date: September 28, 2007 Genre: Indie/Pop Available at: • Vinyl Fever, cloud13records.com, iTunes, and cdbaby.com More information at: • www.softtargetsmusic.com

Tallahassee’s own Soft Targets return with their sophomore release, Heavy Rainbow. Jesse Corry (vocals/guitar) and Nathan Sadler (bass/keys/vocals) brought in Steven Gillespie, the drummer for popular local band‘The Ums,’to provide the beats and additional vocals, and the result is entirely impressive. They have dropped a beautiful album

Capital Culture Magazine

with some great, well-crafted songs. The music itself, the production, and even the packaging is well above what you might expect from a local group. The album opens with“Something Else,”and like most of the songs on Heavy Rainbow, it is mellow and introspective. (“Calm Me Down”has a jumpier beat to it, and“Under Control”is a bit more in-your-face than the other cuts on the album.) Corry’s emotions are evident in his sensitive vocals. Like Morrissey or Otis Redding, who wear their hearts on their sleeves, Corry’s feelings are clear to the listener. His tremendous vocal skills send a heartfelt message when combined with clever lyrics like,“I’ve got the shaky sick stomach of a boy who just got forced to fight.” Heavy Rainbow also showcases Soft Targets’ability to put together a nice harmony. Each member lends vocals to the songs, adding a real density to the straightforward compositions. Horns were added on“Sugar Glass”and strings on“Small Straight,”filling out the sound for each.

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There cannot be enough said about the production on Heavy Rainbow by former Tallahasseean Tim DeLaney. The album sounds clean and crisp, deserving of a good pair of headphones to truly appreciate what’s been created. Honestly, you’ll get lost in how gorgeous it sounds. So go out and grab this great album or check out Soft Targets live at one of the fine venues here in town. You might just find that your next favorite band is from your own backyard.

Daniel Lyons

Early Spring 2008 | 13

ts (art-related post their even to d te vi in is ne yo ts calendar. Ever community even ch/April 08... e iv ar ct M ra in te ed in st ne events po free, on-li e a th is of g om in t.c pl gh m sa nYouThou . Here is a small COCA’s MoreTha ar for no charge nd le ca e th to ) and otherwise

Art, Exhibits, & More

Put Together at 621 Gallery addresses how we assemble ourselves inside and out, with the ceramics of Charles E. Birnbaum of New York, quilting by Jeana Eve Klein of North Carolina, and images by Marcy Sperry of Chicago. Exhibit runs through March 30. For more information, call 224-6163. And April 4 through 27, 621 Gallery goes Primal, exploring the relationship between primitive nature and humanity. Gabi Etenberg of Nevada uses the camera to capture people and places that explain the tension of displacement within herself; Linda Frost of California addresses the suffering of animals in the name of science; Jane Hesser of Rhode Island explores the inner, primal nature of humanness that is expressed through animalistic imagery. For more information, call 224-6163. A new exhibit, Seminole People of Florida: Survival and Success, details the history of the Seminole people in Florida from the 1850s to the present. More than 150 artifacts reflecting the Seminole history, culture, and traditions plus historical photographs, a reconstructed trading post, and a Seminole chickee are included. Through June 1 at the Museum of Florida History. Also at the Museum of Florida History through April 30, in celebration of Women’s History Month, the new Curator’s Choice exhibit, Florida Women Win the Vote, highlights the history of the women’s suffrage movement. The display includes artifacts from the early 20th century donated by women’s rights activist Roxcy Bolton. Additional objects include campaign buttons and memorabilia promoting the power of women. For information about either exhibit, call 245-6400.

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Not everything is seen in black and white. In Photography in Sepia, Carole Robertson takes us to New York City and Paris, France – familiar scenes with a different perspective. See her contemporary cityscapes with an old-fashioned feel at the Old Armory Galleries at the Tallahassee Senior Center through April 22. For more information, contact 891-4016. The Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science hosts Enrique Chavarria: Surrealism and the Fantastic Paintings and Works on Paper from the Michael and Tonya Aranda Collection through May 25, 2008. Chavarria’s fantastic imagery brings together elements of both outer and inner reality, producing creations with both the quality and lucidity of the fantastic and sometimes disturbing world experienced in dreams. For more information, call 513-0700.

Dance

The FSU Department of Dance features A’keitha Carey and Kristen Sholes in the MFA Dance Concert on March 28 and 29 at the Nancy Smith Fichter Dance Theatre. Call 644-6500 for tickets, or go to www.tickets.fsu.edu to order online. Before Dancing with the Stars came the show that started it all: BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. Now the creatives behind this hit UK television program bring you the sensational stage production Simply Ballroom, starring celebrity host Debbie Reynolds, American Idol finalists Anthony Fedorov and Vonzell Solomon, and a cast of world-class dance champions. At the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center, March 29 and 30. For more information, call 850-222-0400 or 800-322-3602.

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Capital Culture Magazine

CALENDAR Dallas and the Bayreuth Festival. Hear her at Opperman Music Hall on the FSU Campus on March 27, with Timothy Hoekman on piano, as part of the Faculty Solo Artist Series presented by the FSU College of Music. For more information, call 644-9934. Conductor Alexander Jiminez leads the University Philharmonia in an evening of Barber, Boccherini, and RimskyKorsakov, featuring cellist Gregory Sauer. April 4 at Ruby Diamond Auditorium. Call 644-6500 for tickets, or go to www. tickets.fsu.edu to order online. On April 6, Goodwood Museum & Gardens along with the FSU International Center will present Cuba, part of the Housewright World Music Series at Goodwood. This free outdoor concert under the oaks features Cuban songs and instrumental music, under the direction of vocalist Christina Villaverde, and is perfect for families. For further information, call 894-2302. The Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Music Director Miriam Burns, presents Staircase to Heaven on April 26 at Ruby Diamond Auditorium. This concert features Rossini’s The Silken Staircase Overture, Liszt’s Piano Concerto No.1 with Andrew Armstrong on piano, and Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2. Call 644-6500 for tickets or go to www.tickets.fsu. edu to order online.

Join dance lovers and the Tallahassee Swing Band, along with Pauline Hurst and the Tallahassee Swing Dancers, for the popular Swing Dancin’ in the Street: a fun time in the spirit of a 1940s block party. Listen to or swing to those fabulous sounds of the 1930s and 1940s outside the Knott House Museum on April 5 (rain date: April 12). For information, call 922-2459. Join African Music and Dance for their Fourth Annual Concert of African Music and Dance on April 5 at Chiles High School. The concert will feature African classical choral music, contrasted with gospel music and jazz. Also featured will be a professional African traditional dance troupe specializing in West African music, which will be contrasted with Afro-Peruvian music. Audiences are encouraged to wear their African attire for a fashion show. For tickets, call 590-8445.

Music

Indulge your musical talents or come listen to others play in the Wednesday Night Jazz Jam Sessions at the brand new B Sharps’ Jazz Café, every Wednesday from 7- 10 pm. For more information, call 681-2400. Dramatic soprano Shirley Close has appeared in leading operatic roles in Munich, Cologne, Berlin, Mannheim, Washington, Miami,

Theatre

Meet the bible belt kin of the deceased Bud Turpin. They've got a funeral to plan. By the time they sort through their money problems and what to engrave on their father's headstone, they've put the "fun" in "funeral." Dearly Departed will be presented by FAMU Essential Theatre at the Charles Winter Wood Theatre April 2 through 6. Parental guidance is suggested. Call 561-2425 for tickets. The Mickee Faust Club, Tallahassee’s “community theatre for the weird community” presents its annual Spring Cabaret, The Year of the Rat, on April 4 to 6 and 11 to 13. Join the intrepid “Faustkateers” for an evening of political and socio-sexual satire, literary and cinematic parodies, old and new vaudeville, original and adapted songs, and fully staged bad jokes. For information, call 562-RATS (7287). Mary Lennox, a young orphaned girl transplanted from Colonial India to Victorian England, learns to overcome loneliness and reach out to help those around her in this beautiful musical retelling of Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic tale, The Secret Garden. The lush music and the mysterious garden where anything is possible are brought to life with a lively cast of characters, lyrically sensuous music and a romantic spirit of hope and transcendence. Don't miss The Secret Garden at Tallahassee Little Theatre, April 10 through 20. Call 224-4597 for information and tickets.

(Note: All events are subject to change without notice. Check www.MoreThanYouThought.com, or contact the individual organizations listed for updated information.)

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Early Spring 2008 | 15

CONTINUED More Than You Thought

Interview

(continued from page 9)

(continued from page 6)

She’s the adventurous spirit that lives inside everyone who lives for the moment and believes that “life is a banquet!” She’s Eve, St. Joan, Lady Godiva, and Florence Nightingale all rolled up into one larger-thanlife package. She’s Mame! Come see her April 11-13 and 18-20 at Quincy Music Theatre in Quincy. To reserve your tickets, visit www.qmtonline.com or call 875-9444.

DL: Cloud 13 seems to have an emphasis on cost effectiveness. In order to keep costs low, do the artists do their own recording, or is there someone specific you work with?

Murder, greed, corruption, violence, exploitation, adultery and treachery – the cornerstones of the sultry and alluring Broadway musical hit Chicago. It’s the story of seductive nightclub dancer Roxie Hart who finds that the road to fame can be a trail of blood. Throw in a cunning lawyer and a bit of razzle dazzle, and Roxie goes from cold hearted killer to the toast of the town. Part of the Tallahassee Broadway Series at the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center, April 14 and 15. Call 222-0400 for tickets.

Festivals

The Downtown Marketplace has returned! Every Saturday, March through December, from 8 am to 2 pm, downtown comes alive with live entertainment, food, music, art and fine crafts from local and regional artists, and book signings and literary chats by authors. Selected local farmers offer up nature’s best fresh produce of the season, and local galleries and museums provide free hands-on art activities for children. For more information, call 224-3252. On April 5, bring the family out to Wakulla Springs State Park for the annual Wakulla Springs Wildlife Festival. There will be nature tours, music by Sammy Tedder, Coon Bottom Creek and City Limits, and many artists displaying works highlighting regional wildlife and heritage.

16 | Early Spring 2008

Mame

is produced by arrange ment with, and the and dialogue materia music l furnished by Tams-W Library, Inc. / 560 itmark Music Lexington Avenue , New York, NY 10022.

Environmental exhibitors, wildlife shows, and activities for children are also available. For more information, call 561-7286. On April 10, 11, and 12, the Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science presents its 6th Annual Florida Wine Festival at the museum and on Kleman Plaza. This three-day event includes fine food, fine wine, and an extravaganza complete with Las Vegas style gaming and an entertainer who spans the decades. For further information, call 513-0700. LeMoyne Center for the Visual Arts presents the 8th Annual Chain of Parks Art Festival on April 19 and 20. This fine art festival features 125 highly accomplished artists from across the U.S. exhibiting works in Tallahassee’s historic downtown parks and along North Gadsden Street. An educational experience for all, plus an opportunity for art collectors to see a large national selection of fine works in one location. Amenities including a wine and beer garden and food court will also be offered. For information, call 222-8800.

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ST: We definitely try to stay as lowto-the-ground as possible. A couple of our artists have been fortunate enough to work with an excellent producer, Tim DeLaney, who is based in Atlanta. But more commonly, our artists produce their own recordings. I’m a producer myself, although my focus at the moment is on the new Tangemeenie record that Lori and I are working on. One of the new realities of the music industry is that technological advances have made it easier and cheaper to produce decent recordings, so more and more independent artists are producing their own recordings. Ultimately, those are the kinds of artists we get most excited about working with: artists who are self-sufficient and self-contained, but who recognize the benefits of pooling their talents and resources with other like-minded artists.

For more information about Tallahassee’s independent music label, visit www.cloud13records.com or visit them on MySpace or at their blog at cloud13records.blogspot.com.

Capital Culture Magazine

COCa Notes

CONNECTION New Faces You’ll be hearing a new voice answering the phone, as Dan Lyons is COCA’s new administrative assistant. Dan was an intern with COCA in the fall semester, working primarily on Capital Culture Magazine. Michael Winn of Catalyst Consultant Group is generously volunteering with COCA to help update and upgrade our web and database systems. He’s off to a terrific start by securing a donation of software licenses from SalesForce. com and helping to revamp our entire data flow.

COCA was awarded a grant of $375,000 from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation for the pre-development phase of the Arts on Gaines project. COCA Board Member Margo Bindhardt, who has been leading the Arts on Gaines effort, made the announcement at a press conference on January 22 at the top of the Capitol. She was joined at the podium by Mike Pate of the Knight Foundation, Tallahassee Mayor John Marks, Leon County Commission Vice-Chair Bryan Desloge, and Wendy Holmes of Artspace Projects, Inc. Special guests included Florida Secretary of State Kurt Browning, FSU Vice President for University Relations Lee Hinkle, FAMU Pharmacy Dean Henry Lewis III, and Leon County School Board Member Sheila Costigan. That same evening, COCA and Artspace presented the results of the housing/ market surveys to the general public. Nearly 100 interested artists, arts organizations, and other attended the event at the Marriott Residence Inn on Gaines Street to hear the latest. COCA has also been recommended for a Challenge Grant of $100,000 from the State of Florida, Division of Cultural Affairs, for pre-development of the Arts on Gaines Project. The Challenge Grant budget still needs to be approved by the legislature this session. On November 13, COCA hosted the Florida Arts Council members for dinner and a bus tour of the Gaines Street area. Representatives from the Performing Arts Center, FSU Mastercraftsman Program, Blueprint 2000, and other neighborhood arts and community projects met the Arts Council members at their sites and shared information about their projects. In addition to many Florida Arts Council members and COCA’s Chair, guests included Kurt Browning, Secretary of State, and County Commissioner Ed DePuy.

Congratulations COCA congratulates the award winners at its annual juried show, Photofest. First Place went to John Douglas, Second Place was awarded to Amy Higgins, and Third Place went to Jackie Bentz. Honorable Mentions were awarded to Robert Janus, Angela Petsis Petsis, Caroline V. Sturtz, and Nancy Worrell.

special Thanks COCA would like to thank the Marriott Residence Inn for donating the use of its conference rooms for COCA’s event in January. COCA also thanks The Olive Garden for donating lunch for a recent Board of Directors meeting.

Out and about • Leslie Puckett has begun a new part-time position as the Art Program Coordinator at the Tallahassee Senior Center, where she in charge of the center’s art exhibits and art classes. (But don’t worry – she’s still here at COCA the rest of the time!) • COCA’s Associate Director, Randi Goldstein, co-taught an improv theatre workshop at the new Mickee Faust Academy of Really Dramatic Arts in December, and is currently teaching Creative Improv at TCC. • COCA’s Arts in Public Places Director, Leslie Puckett, taught a workshop on making collaged holiday cards, and Education Director Amanda Thompson taught a needle felting class, both at LeMoyne Center for the Visual Arts.

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Early Spring 2008 | 17

arts & Cultural Organizations and Businesses Unless otherwise specified, all area codes are 850.

leGeND

See www.cocanet.org for expanded listings Highlighted are COCA members Official First Friday participant live performances and events exhibitions/attractions opportunities to participate adult classes things to buy programs/classes for kids

DaNCe

African Caribbean Dance Theatre 539-4087, www.fadf.org African Music and Dance, 508-2127, [email protected] Argentine Tango Society of Tallahassee 222-2211, www.tangotallahassee.com Community School of the Performing Arts and Culture, 574-2237 Corazon Dancers (305) 989-0739 Essence Dance Theatre 412-7525, [email protected] FSU Ballroom Dance Club www.fsuballroomdance.com FSU Department of Dance 644-1023, dance.fsu.edu Halimeda’s Oasis 421-5151, www.halimedasoasis.com Head Over Heels Dancewear 224-5140, www.head-over-heels.com In Step Studio 421-5151, www.instepstudio.com Killearn Performing Arts 443-7512 or 894-9364, www.killearnpa.com Kollage Dance Troupe 645-1385, kdtfl.tripod.com Maggie Allesee National Center For Choreography (MANCC) 645-2449, www.mancc.org Mahogany Dance Theatre, 561-2318, [email protected] Montgomery Schools of Dance 877-4874

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Mountain Dew Cloggers 386-1263, www.clogforfun.com Orchesis Contemporary Dance Theatre 599-8678 Performing Arts Center of Tallahassee, 562-1430, performingartscenteroftallahassee.com Prophecy School of the Arts 222-8085, www.prophecyarts.net Rhythm Rushers Bahamian Junkanoo Group 412-7087, [email protected] Sharon Davis Schools of Dance 893-5900 Southern Academy of Ballet Arts 222-0174 The Tallahassee Ballet 224-6917, www.tallaballet.com Tallahassee Community Friends of Old Time Dance, 421-1587 or 421-1838, www.tallydancer.com Tallahassee Swing Band Dances 894-3789, [email protected] Tallahassee Zydeco & Cajun Association (TAZACA) 212-0431, [email protected] Tribal Wallah Dance Troupe 459-0371, www.tribalwallah.net USA Dance, 562-1224, homepage.mac.com/ mweininger/tallusabda Wildwood Ballet, (850) 894-0264, www.wildwoodpca.org

FIlM & VIDeO

Diane Wilkins Productions 893-1441, dianewilkinsproductions.com FSU Film School 644-0453, filmschool.fsu.edu FSU Student Life Cinema 644-4455, movies.fsu.edu IMAX Theatre at the Challenger Learning Center 645-STAR, www.challengertlh.com Mike Vasilinda Productions 224-5420, www.mvptv.tv Rossier Productions, Inc. 224-0372, www.rossierprod.org Tallahassee Film Society 386-4404, www.tallahasseefilms.com Video 21, 878-3921

HIsTOrY/HerITaGe

Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park 487-4115, www.floridastateparks.org

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The Black Archives 561-2603 Claude Pepper Museum 644-9311, www.claudepepper.org/museum The Florida Historic Capitol & Legislative Research Center 487-1902, www.flhistoriccapitol.gov Goodwood Museum & Gardens 877-4202, www.goodwoodmuseum.org Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratories (Panacea, FL) 850-984-5297, www.gulfspecimen.org John G. Riley Center/Museum of African American History and Culture, 681-7881, www.rileymuseum.org Kirk Collection www.wfsu.org Knott House Museum 922-2459, museumoffloridahistory.com Lichgate on High Road 383-6556 Mission San Luis 487-3711, www.missionsanluis.org Museum of Florida History 245-6400, museumoffloridahistory.com Pebble Hill Plantation (Thomasville, GA) 229-226-2344, www.pebblehill.com San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park (St. Marks, FL), 922-6007 Tallahassee Automobile Museum 942-0137, www.tacm.com Tallahassee Museum 575-8684, www.tallahasseemuseum.org Tallahassee Trust for Historic Preservation 488-7100, www.taltrust.org

lITerarY

Anhinga Press 442-1408, www.anhinga.org Apalachee Press 942-5041, [email protected] Back Talk Poetry Troupe 459-7399, www.blackonblackrhyme.com CyPress Publications 576-8820, cypress-starpublications.com Digital Pulp 297-1373, www.digitalpulp.org Fiction Collective Two (FC2) 644-2260, www.fc2.org Florida Literary Arts Coalition www.floridaarts.org

Capital Culture Magazine

DIRECTORY LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library 606-2665, www.leoncountylibrary.org Paperback Rack 224-3455 Society of Childrens Book Writers & Illustrators 656-3410, [email protected] Tallahassee Writers’ Association 671-3731, www.twaonline.org Word Traffic Books 422-WORD, wordtraffi[email protected]

MulTI-DIsCIPlINarY

Center for Fine Arts Education 254-0123, www.cfaefl.org Downtown Marketplace 224-3252, www.tallahasseedowntown.com Florida Center for Performing Arts and Education, 893-2497, [email protected] Florida Arts and Community Enrichment (F.A.C.E.) 644-8533, [email protected] Pyramid Studios 513-1733, www.pyramidinc.org Seven Days of Opening Nights 644-7670, www.sevendaysfestival.org Tallafesta 878-5148, www.carnivaltallahassee.com Tallahassee Leon County Civic Center 487-1691, www.tlccc.org Thomasville Cultural Center (Thomasville, GA) 229-226-0588, thomasvilleculturalcenter.com Thomasville Entertainment Foundation (Thomasville, GA), 229-226-7404, www.tefconcerts.com Thomasville Road Academy of the Arts 422-7795, www.thomasvilleroad.org/academy.htm The Warehouse, 222-6188

MusIC

Apalachee Blues Society 668-5863, www.apalacheebluessociety.com The Artist Series 224-9934, www.theartistseries.com Barbershop Harmony Society 562-3876, www.capitalchordsmen.org Beethoven and Company 894-8700, www.beethovenandcompany.com The Beta Bar 425-2697, www.thebetabar.com Big Bend Community Orchestra 893-4567, www.bbco.org Boys’ Choir of Tallahassee 528-2403, www.boyschoirtlh.org Bradfordville Blues Club 906-0766, www.bradfordvilleblues.com Bradfordville Fine Arts Academy 893-0893, www.b-fbc.org Classical Guitar Society of Tallahassee 521-0700 or 668-1643, istal.com/cgst/index.html Club Downunder 644-6673, union.fsu.edu/cdu FAMU Music Department 599-3334 Florida State Opera 644-5248, music.fsu.edu/opera.htm

Floyd’s Music Store 222-3506, www.floydsmusicstore.com FSU College of Music 644-4774, music.fsu.edu Gordon’s String Music 386-7784 Home Music Educators 656-7613, www.homemusiceducators.com Jim’s Pianos 205-5467, www.jimspianos.com Mason’s School of Music 412-0102, www.masonsmusic.com The Moon 878-6900, www.moonevents.com Music Center 942-0626 MusicMasters 224-6158, www.musicm.com Music Xchange 681-7443, www.themusicxchange.com Musikgarten 668-2119, www.best-begin.com/ musikgartensignup.html Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (Live Oak, FL) 904-364-1683, www.musicliveshere.com Stringfest 668-6896, www.stringfest.com Stubbs Music Center 893-8754, www.stubbs.org Tallahassee Chapter, Nashville Songwriters Association, 509-2695, www.nashvillesongwriters.com Tallahassee Civic Chorale 878-2711, www.civicchorale.org Tallahassee Community Chorus 668-5394, www.tcchorus.org Tallahassee Community College Jazz Band 567-6336 or 201-8360 Tallahassee Girls’ Choir of CHOICE 576-7501 Tallahassee Music Guild 893-9346 Tallahassee Pipe Band 576-0708, www.saintandrewtallahassee.org The Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra 224-0461, www.tallahasseesymphony.org Tallahassee Symphony Youth Orchestras 224-9232, www.tallahasseesymphony.org Tallahassee Winds 668-7109, www.tallahasseewinds.org Tally Piano & Keyboard Studios 386-2425, www.tallypiano.com Tocamos 212-0325, www.tocamos.com Vinyl Fever 580-2480, www.vinylfever.com Voces Angelorum, 942-6075, www.voicesofangelstallahassee.org WFSU 487-3170, www.wfsu.org

THeaTre

Bainbridge Little Theater (Bainbridge, GA) 229-246-834, www.bainbridgelittletheater.com

Capital City Shakespeare in the Park 386-6476, [email protected] Curious Echo Radio Theater 228-2473, www.curiousecho.org Dixie Theatre (Apalachicola, FL) 850-653-3200, www.dixietheatre.com Dysfunction Junction myspace.com/dysfunctionjctimprov FAMU Essential Theatre 599-3430, www.essentialtheatre.us In the Moment Players 383-1718, www.inthemomentplayers.com The Laughing Stock 841-4063 Magic and Fun Costume Shop 224-6244 Mickee Faust Club 224-3089, www.mickeefaust.com Monticello Opera House (Monticello, FL) 997-4242, [email protected] Off Street Players 907-5743, [email protected] Quincy Music Theatre (Quincy, FL) 875-9444, www.qmtonline.com The School of Theatre at Florida State 644-6500, theatre.fsu.edu Swamp Gravy (Colquitt, GA) 229-758-5450, www.swampgravy.com Tallahassee Little Theatre 224-4597, tallahasseelittletheatre.org Theatre A La Carte 385-6700, www.theatrealacarte.org Theatre TCC! 201-8608, theatre.tcc.fl.edu Young Actors Theatre 386-6602, www.youngactorstheatre.com

VIsual arTs

1123@Midtown 562-8696 621 Gallery 224-6163, www.621gallery.com Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts (Valdosta, GA), 229-247-2787, www.turnercenter.org Artisans 395-7671, www.perditaross.com ArtisTree 893-2937, www.bigbendhospice.org Ars Magna @ The NHMFL 644-8053 Art Galleries at Tallahassee Community College 201-8713, www.tcc.fl.edu/dept/cohu/art/ artgallery.htm Artport Gallery 224-2500, www.cocanet.org Bali HI Trading Company 766-7175 Barbara Psimas Studios 894-1444, www.BarbaraPsimas.com Blue Abaco Trading Company 325-2323, www.blueabaco.com Bonifay Guild For The Arts (Bonifay, FL) 850-547-3530, www.bonifayguildforthearts.com (continued on page 20)

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DIRECTORY (continued) Unless otherwise specified, all area codes are 850.

leGeND

See www.cocanet.org for expanded listings Highlighted are COCA members Official First Friday participant live performances and events exhibitions/attractions opportunities to participate adult classes things to buy programs/classes for kids Brush and Palette Studio 893-1960, brushandpalettestudio.com Capital City Carvers 562-8460, carvers.mytalweb.com Capitol Complex Galleries 245-6480, www.florida-arts.org City Hall Art Gallery 224-2500, www.cocanet.org Color Wheel Gallery, 222-6873, www.thecolorwheelgallery.com Depot Agent Gallery 218-368-5924, james-glaser.com Et Ceterocks Gallery www.et-ceterocks.com First Street Gallery (Havana, FL) 539-5220, www.firststreetartgallery.com Florida Society of Goldsmiths, NW Chapter www.fsgnw.com FSU Big Bend Contemporary Gallery www.bigbendcontemporary.com FSU International Center Art Gallery 645-4793, internationalcenter.fsu.edu FSU Museum of Fine Arts Artists’ League 644-1299, www.billhumphries.com/ artistsleaguehome.html FSU Museum of Fine Arts 644-1254, www.mofa.fsu.edu FSU Oglesby Gallery 644-3898, union.fsu.edu/artcenter Foster Tanner Fine Arts Gallery 599-3161 Gadsden Arts Center (Quincy, FL) 875-4866, www.gadsdenarts.com Glasshopper, 668-5007 www.glasshopperonline.com Glassworks by Susan 222-5095 Historically Florida: Florida’s History Shops 245-6396, www.floridashistoryshop.com Humidity Gallery 264-5810, [email protected] Images of Tallahassee 894-5596, www.russellgraceimages.com It’s A Jem Fine Art (Havana, FL) 539-0335, www.itsajem.com James Glaser Studios 218-368-5924

20 | Early Spring 2008

J. Clinard Studio 942-7036, [email protected] Lafayette Park Arts & Crafts Center 891-3945, www.talgov.com/parks/ commcenter/lfartscrafts.cfm LeMoyne Center for the Visual Arts 222-8800, www.lemoyne.org Light N Up Artist Cooperative (Havana, FL) 539-0006 M Gallery 531-9925, [email protected] The Mary Brogan Museum of Art & Science 513-0700, www.thebrogan.org Picture Frames Unlimited 422-0088 Oglesby Union Art Center 644-4737, union.fsu.edu/artcenter Quilters Unlimited www.quilttallahassee.com Quincie’s Art Jewelry 222-8411, quinciehamby.com Railroad Square Art Park 224-1308, www.railroadsquare.com Ribits Enchanted Cottage 671-5859, ribitsenchantedcottage.com Sally Rude Antiques and Fine Art Gallery 222-4020, www.trocadero.com/mctc Signature Art Gallery 297-2422, www.signatureartgallery.com Simply Artistic, Inc. 402-0073, www.SimplyArtistic.net South of Soho Co-op Gallery www.southofsohogallery.com Southern Scenes Gallery & Frame 504-0555, www.southernscenesgallery.com Swamp Buddha Sumi-e 386-5041, [email protected] Tallahassee Polymer Clay Art Guild 656-2887, www.polymerclayart.org Tallahassee Senior Center for the Arts 891-4000, www.talgov.com Tallahassee Watercolor Society 385-9517, www.tfn.net/Watercolor Talleon Independent Artists 386-7176, www.tfn.net/talleon Ten Thousand Villages 906-9010, www.villagesoftallahassee.org Thomas Eads Fine Art 224-1435, thomaseadsfineart.com Turtle Island Trading Post 425-2490, turtleislandtradingpost.com Uniquely Yours 878-7111 Utrecht Art Supplies 877-0321, www.utrecht.com Visitors Center Gift Shop & Gallery 413-9200, www.seetallahassee.com Wild Women Art Gallery 224-1308, [email protected]

www.morethanyouthought.com

As the local arts agency for Tallahassee and Leon County, the Council on Culture & Arts works on behalf of the community to support the area’s diverse range of cultural events and traditions. Through innovative partnerships with community and educational groups, COCA seeks to enrich and improve the lives of citizens and visitors alike. Our professional staff and board of directors serve as a community resource to advocate for and support arts and culture in Florida’s Capital Area. COCA members include non-profit and commercial galleries, museums, theaters, music groups, dance companies, festivals, historic sites, film and video companies, educational organizations, and individual artists, as well as businesses and individuals interested in supporting local cultural activities. Council on Culture & Arts Staff Executive Director Peggy Brady Tony Archer Randi Goldstein Leslie Puckett Clint Riley Amanda Karioth Thompson Holly Thompson Council on Culture & Arts Board of Directors Chair Anne Mackenzie Vice Chair Ken Winker Treasurer/ Secretary Kay Stephenson Past Chair Michael H. Sheridan Exec. Comm. Margo H. Bindhardt Member At-Large Valliere Richard Auzenne Mickey Brady Alfredo A. Cruz Lydia A. McKinley-Floyd Longineu Parsons Mark Ravenscraft Susan Stratton Mike Vasilinda Stacey Webb Johanna Williams Ex-officios

John Marks, Mayor Bob Rackleff, County Commission Marge Banocy-Payne, TCC Valencia E. Matthews, FAMU Donna H. McHugh, FSU Dick Fallon, Cultural Ambassador

816 S. ML King Jr Boulevard Tallahassee, FL 32301 (850) 224-2500 office (850) 224-2515 fax [email protected] www.cocanet.org

Capital Culture Magazine

PROFILES IN THE ARTS Alex Jiménez is a busy guy. Not only is he the conductor of FSU’s University Symphony Orchestra and University Philharmonia, he also oversees the graduate orchestral conducting program for the FSU College of Music. A percussionist at heart, with a doctorate in percussion/orchestral conducting, he was the principal timpanist (that’s the guy who plays the REALLY big drums) of the Palm Beach Opera Orchestra and continues to serve as principal timpanist of the Music Festival of Santo Domingo. He plays a mean game of racquetball, is a Chicago Cubs fan, and likes to cook for his wife and two young daughters. But all that is only the beginning. Jiménez is also the Music Director of the Tallahassee Symphony Youth Orchestras, overseeing about 150 students ages eight to eighteen, in five orchestras, four chamber ensembles, and the Tallahassee Fiddlers. Despite his busy schedule, he takes time every Sunday afternoon to rehearse with the TSYO Symphony Orchestra, the most advanced group, which he personally conducts. “Most kids in other communities would never have access to a musician of Dr. Jiménez’ caliber at such a young age,” says Mandy Sauer, general manager of the TSYO. “Tallahassee is very lucky to have him.”

Alexander Jiménez

Capital Culture’s profiled artists are selected from the many visual, performing, literary, and media artists featured on COCA’s online Artist Directory. Listings in the Artist Directory are free, with enhanced listings available for COCA members. Visit the Directory online at www.cocanet.org.

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