Grainbelt

NERDS ON FILM Our old friend Howard Glassman is still hanging his hat on the dream that his beloved New York Mets might one day overcome years of frustration and again win a World Series. In fact, he’s banking his reputation on it: Grainbelt, Glassman’s current musical outlet, provided most of the soundtrack for Mathematically Alive: A Story of Fandom, an award-winning film that follows Mets fans through the 2005 and 2006 baseball seasons, including the team’s ill-fated run in the 2006 National League Championship Series. On Friday (March 7) at 7 PM, the film will receive its Capital Region premiere at the Linda, WAMC’s Performing Arts Studio (339 Central Ave., Albany), followed by a panel discussion and Q&A with the film’s directors, Joseph Coburn and Katherine Foronjy. After all of that, Grainbelt will rock the blues away at Valentine’s (17 New Scotland Ave., Albany). For info on the events, call the Linda (465-5233 ext. 4) or Valentine’s (432-6572); for more on the film, check out mathematicallyalive.com.

FIVE NIGHTS AT THE IMPROV If you’re a musician looking to expand your horizons, this isn’t a bad place to start—providing you’re into s’mores and bug spray and whatnot. Instrumental trio Medeski Martin & Wood have announced the first Camp MMW, to be held Aug. 5-10 at the Full Moon Resort in the Catskills. The trio invite instrumentalists ages 16 and up to shack up with them and, hopefully, absorb some greatness (or develop their own) through a series of master classes, workshops and jam sessions—not to mention campfires and meals and other such outdoorsy stuff. Applications are available at mmw.net/campmmw, along with pricing (brace yourself) and instructions and all that good stuff. Space is limited to 80 students, and apps are due by May 1.

DULCET TONES If you’re in search of an educational musical experience but can’t quite afford to drop five days (and three months’ rent), this weekend’s Mountain Dulcimer Music Fest might be your ticket. The folk festival, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, will be held at the Calvary United Methodist Church in Latham this Friday and Saturday (March 7-8), and features a series of workshops and open jams, plus a Saturday-night concert featuring instructors/performers Susan Trump, Sue Carpenter and Steve Eulberg. It’s open to players of all skill levels and, yes, mountain dulcimer rentals are available. To register for the festival, or to purchase tickets to the concert (admission is included with festival registration), call Lori Keddell at 762-7526 or visit www.bhsinging.info/daa.

KNOW YOUR ROOTS The folks at Jazz/Latino, Inc. will present another of their fine educational programs this weekend, and it looks to be mamboriffic. (If Rachael Ray can invent words, so can I.) From Mambo to HipHop is a documentary film about “musical crosspollination” featuring the likes of Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri and many more. The film will be shown this Sunday (March 9) at 4 PM at the Amrose Sable Gallery (306 Hudson Ave., Albany). A $10 donation is suggested; call 466-9990 for more info.

—John Brodeur

Let us know about local-music news and happenings for inclusion in Rough Mix: E-mail John Brodeur at jbrodeur@metroland .net or call (518) 463-2500 ext. 145.