Music Reviews - Courant.com

Dave Matthews Delivers Robust Show At Comcast

By THOMAS KINTNER Special to the Courant — Sat, 26 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

River City Extension At The Space

Thu, 24 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

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A band that began in New Jersey with a few players in 2007 has grown to eight members and developed a style that makes for adroit musicians playing everything from folk to punk.

Joy Kills Sorrow in Canton

Thu, 24 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

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Joy Kills Sorrow may use classic bluegrass instrumentation and often make the usual bluegrass festival rounds, but the young Boston group prefers to be described as simply a "modern American string band."

Dave Matthews Band In Hartford

Thu, 24 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

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After putting a considerable hole in a lot of amphitheater concert schedules by taking most of last summer off, the Dave Matthews Band returns for a pair of dates this year.

7 Days of Jazz: Dezron Douglas, Lummie Spann At Polish National Home

By OWEN McNALLY, Special To The Courant — Thu, 24 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Hartford Players At Polish National Home Follow CT Lifestyle & Entertainment News On The Courant's Features Buzz Facebook Page

Bassist Dezron Douglas and alto saxophonist Lummie Spann , co-leaders of the hard-swinging, all-star New Jazz Workshop (NJW), have plenty to celebrate with the May 22 release of their band's new debut disc, "Underground" (NJW Music).

Dawes Plays Infinity Hall

By KENNETH PARTRIDGE, Special To The Courant — Thu, 24 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

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Like a lot of songwriters, Dawes frontman Taylor Goldsmith wrote his band's second album under the influence of the road.

7 Days of Jazz: Mary Halvorson Quintet At Firehouse 12

By OWEN MCNALLY, Special To The Courant — Thu, 17 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

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Guitarist/composer Mary Halvorson leads her quintet in a celebration of the release of their fine new album, "Bending Bridges," Friday at 8:30 and 10 p.m. at New Haven's Firehouse 12, 45 Crown St..

One Direction Plays Mohegan's Arena

Thu, 17 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

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The strongest new contender for the teen-pop throne hasn't emerged out of the backyard of Justin Bieber or the Jonas Brothers, but rather from across the pond. English boy band One Direction is making such a huge splash that it announced dates for its 2013 summer tour before even officially hitting the road for its first proper North American headlining jaunt, which kicks off at the Mohegan Sun Arena on Tuesday.

Maroon 5, Javier Colon At MGM

Thu, 17 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

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When Maroon 5 arrived on the scene a decade ago, the California pop-rock band's debut album was the definitive slow-grower.

Allo Darlin' Brings Adventurous Road Trip To New Haven

By KENNETH PARTRIDGE, Special to The Courant — Wed, 16 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

By the sound of it, Elizabeth Morris kicked off the last year of her 20s with a bang.

Jimmy Greene Playing Saturday In Hartford

By OWEN McNALLY, Special To The Courant — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:24:00 GMT

Saxophone Player Performs Saturday In Hartford, Will Teach In Danbury In Fall

Missed by family, friends and fans in Hartford during his three-year stint as a college professor in Canada, tenor saxophonist Jimmy Greene, a soft-spoken, 6-foot-6, jazz giant, comes home to perform Saturday, May 19, at 8 p.m. in the Hartford Symphony Orchestra's (HSO) popular "Jazz and Strings" series.

Lady Antebellum In Hartford

Mon, 14 May 2012 16:11:00 GMT

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With its signature vocal harmonies and heartfelt songwriting, it didn't take long for Lady Antebellum to become one of country music's most beloved groups. The trio of Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood formed in Nashville in 2006 and had a platinum debut album to its credit by 2008.

HSO's 'Pathetique' Program Wants Early, Enthusiastic Applause

By JEFFREY JOHNSON, Special To The Courant — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:01:00 GMT

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People who are new to the live classical music scene are often perplexed at the rules for applause. Since live classical music has become something like an act of public meditation and of silent sharing, it has become common to applaud only at the very end of a work. Does this hold true even if that work contains a rousing and climactic ending at the end of its first movement? Usually.

Ramblin' Jack Elliott In Canton

Thu, 10 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

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Ramblin' Jack Elliott, who hung out out with Beat writers Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg and toured with folk Woody Guthrie, ends its 32nd season of concerts at the Roaring Brook Nature Center in Canton Sunday, May 13, at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Percussionist Candido Camero Highlights Tribute To Jackie McLean

By OWEN MCNALLY — Thu, 10 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

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The Jackie McLean International Arts Festival Memorial Celebration , which opens Wednesday, May 16, ends with a glorious, big-bang, grand finale May 19 with a tribute concert at The Artists Collective celebrating the 91st birthday of Candido Camero , the legendary Cuban-born percussionist, NEA Jazz Master and ageless Conga King who still has hands of fire.

The Cranberries Perform At MGM Grand

Thu, 10 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

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Irish pop-rock band the Cranberries seemed to push all the right buttons with international audiences in the '90s. In the U.S., the group scored four consecutive Top 20 albums on the Billboard 200 and was a mainstay on rock radio with hits like "Linger," "Dreams,""Zombie"and "Ode to My Family."

Fountains of Wayne At Pearl Street

Thu, 10 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

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When Fountains of Wayne scored an MTV heavy rotation-fueled mega-hit with "Stacy's Mom" in 2003, it brought with it one wildly unexpected perk — a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist.

Florence & The Machine At Mohegan

Thu, 10 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

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Florence Welch made a major splash with her band Florence and the Machine's2009 debut, "Lungs." The album sold more than 3 million copies worldwide, took home "Best Album" honors at the Brits and helped her to a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist in the U.S., where "Dog Days are Over" emerged as one of the biggest anthems of 2010.

Races Performs At The Space

By KENNETH PARTRIDGE, Special To The Courant — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:16:00 GMT

Some 18 months after forming in California's San Fernando Valley, where leader Wade Ryff assembled the band for what was to have been a one-off solo gig, Races is moving a brisk pace.

Jazz Roundup: Jay Hoggard At Wesleyan, Afrikan Amerikan Trio At Wadsworth

By OWEN McNALLY, Special To The Courant — Thu, 03 May 2012 19:22:00 GMT

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Capturing the essence of the celebrated vibraphonist/composer Jay Hoggard , the renowned writer Amiri Baraka praised the longtime Connecticut artist for his "personal and unique approach to the instrument, which is warming and inspirational."

Nickelback at XL Center

Thu, 03 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

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Nickelback has been on quite a run since "How You Remind Me" hit the airwaves in 2001. The polarizing Canadian rock group — reviled by its critics and beloved by its fans — has sold nearly 45 million albums worldwide, with 20 singles crashing the charts for multiple radio formats, and was named Billboard Magazine's "Top Group of the Decade" in 2009.

M. Ward Solos At Toad's Place

Thu, 03 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

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As a singer, songwriter and producer, M. Ward has long been a sought-after collaborator. But in the three years since the release of his last solo album, high-profile side projects have become a sort of full-time job for the Portland, Oregon-based troubadour.

Billy Currington At Oakdale

Thu, 03 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

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Billy Currington has sold more than 11 million albums and scored seven No. 1 country hits since his debut in 2003. He's opened for some of the biggest names in country music, from Kenny Chesney and Brad Paisley to Sugarland and Carrie Underwood. For the first time in his career, in 2012 the easygoing Georgia native is finally treating his fans to a full-blown headlining tour.

Horsefeathers Plays Two Shows

Thu, 03 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

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Much like Sam Beam eventually pushed the delicate, bare-bones folk of his early Iron & Wine releases in new sonic directions, Justin Ringle makes his project Horse Feathers much more of a full-band affair on the Portland, Ore. group's new album, "Cynic's New Year."

7 Days Of Jazz: Darius Jones, Noah Preminger, T.S. Monk

By OWEN McNALLY, Special To The Courant — Thu, 03 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

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Besides being a kinetic explorer of the avant-garde aesthetic, alto saxophonist Darius Jones is also a soulful preacher, a romantic poet and a memoirist recounting his personal story through what he calls "the sonic tone poem" of his life.