Ashira

BANJO FEVER Few things get me more hot-and-bothered than some old-time banjo-and-fiddle music. OK, that’s not 100-percent true, but it’s always impressive to hear a master of the style do his/her thing. And Jimmy McCown is a master. The Kentucky native will bring his four-string goodness to the Capital Region this Sunday (March 30) for a concert and banjo/fiddle workshop, upstairs at the City Squire Restaurant in Schenectady. The concert will also feature music from our area’s own Blue Yonder. Tickets for the workshop and concert are $35; for the concert alone, it’s $10; Contact Janie Rothfield at 522-7445 to reserve your spot.

KNOW YOUR JAZZ Not to talk smack but we all know that Herbie Hancock’s Album of the Year Grammy win last month had nothing to do with jazz—it was Norah Jones who put that thing over the top. For fans of real jazz, in all of its many incarnations, several individuals and organizations in the Capital Region are doing their part to keep the public both informed and entertained, chief among them Jazz/Latino, Inc. They have two such events scheduled this week: Sunday (March 30), at their headquarters on Bonnie Drive in Guilderland, they’ll present an audiovisual presentation on octogenarian percussionist Candido Camero, with live music by Triple Play; on Wednesday (April 2), they’ll co-sponsor “Clave—The Key,” a presentation and performance by Grammy-nominated percussionist Bobby Sanabria, at the Guilderland Public Library. Visit jazzlatino.org to get up-to-date on all the organization’s goings-on.

IT’S LATIN FOR “FROM THE CHAPEL” A cappella music—that’s singing sans instrumental accompaniment for you noobs—is having a great ’08, and Congregation Agudat Achim in Schenectady is doing their part to help the trend continue. This Sunday (March 30), they’ll present New York City-based a cappella trio Ashira. Ashira (pictured) sing traditional and contemporary Jewish music, and the concert is sponsored by the Adult Education Committee and the Prager Jewish Music Fund. Contact Betty Weissman at 346-0501 for reservations.

BEHIND THE MUSIC Get a sneak peek into the creative process this Wednesday (April 2) when singer-songwriter Athena Burke hosts a Musician’s Open Studio at the Beacon Feed studio behind Hubbard Hall in Cambridge. Burke will preview her upcoming performance at the venue, and offer participants a look at how her songwriting and arranging processes work. For more information about the event, call Hubbard Hall at 677-2495 or visit hubbardhall.org

TIPS APPRECIATED The Lark Street Business Improvement District has announced a call for performers for this year’s Art on Lark. The annual event takes place on Lark Street on June 21, and for the first time, the festival will be closed to traffic so artists can display their works where they belong—in . . . the middle of the street? As usual, acoustic musicians will perform throughout the festival; performers typically receive a small stipend for their work, and you can always leave the guitar case open in hopes that some passersby might throw a couple bucks your way. Musicians, not to mention visual artists and other performers, are encouraged to submit their wares to the BID by May 1. Call 434-3861 or e-mail bid@larkstreet.org for further information.

—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.