Daily Archives: 08/06/2012

Austin Classical Guitar – Miró Quartet with Jorge Caballero

(Community Matters) Matthew Hinsley has created the new IT performing arts organization. I’m not sure what we expected but I had no idea of two things. I had no idea the Austin Classical Guitar Society now commanded audiences the size to fill the Long Center’s Dell Hall, and I had no idea they now commanded the attention of Austin’s most important supporters of musical arts.  I knew the evening would be extraordinary – we’ve been to a few of Matthew’s events since becoming friends over 10 years ago, and he only produces exceptional performances. Of course, the Miro Quartet needs no introduction; that Matthew persuaded them to play under ACGS speaks volumes.

It’s hard for me to hear fine sounds – my ears (or maybe it’s my attention) just don’t usually distinguish nuances. Though, by the second act, I was following the layering of strings, comparing the music to a wine. There are good varietals, perfectly good wines, but far fewer high-quality blends which spectacularly and memorably showoff a vintner’s skills.

so many of Austin’s leading performing arts patrons & friends were there Saturday night including Tana & Joe Christie, Terry & Joe Long, Gail & Jeff Kodosky, Jo Ann Christian, Gary Cooper & Richard Hartgrove, Bill Dickson, Carolyn, Marc & Dan Seriff, Forrest Preece, Cameron Lockley & Trey Alford, Sarah & Ernie Butler . . .

We’re signed up for Flamenco Austin – Spanish wines, tapas and “Explosive Flamenco” on the Great Terrace.

Israel’s Fading Democracy

(Community Matters) A provocative & important piece in the NY Times

“A long-overdue constitution could create a state that belongs to all her citizens and in which the government behaves with fairness and equality toward all persons without prejudice based on religion, race or gender. Those are the principles on which Israel was founded and the values that bound Israel and America together in the past. ” – Avraham Burg, a former speaker of the Knesset and the chairman of Molad, the Center for Renewal of Democracy

AP photo:  A section of Israel’s barrier between the Shuafat refugee camp and the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Pisgat Zeev.

Civil Discourse

(Community Matters) Woody Allen vs William Buckley – too funny

Graham Reynolds Composing at Dive Bar

(Community Matters)bummed can’t make show tonight at Dive Bar but there’s every Monday this month. Tonight’s guests: Adam Sultan- guitar and Alexis Buffum- violin. 8/13: Adrian Quesada, Grammy winning producer and guitarist from Grupo Fantasmo.

8/20: John Mills. We play my film/tv music and covers of classic film/tv music.

8/27: COUNTRY BLOW-OUT FINALE WITH REDD VOLKAERT on guitar, plus Ricky Davis on pedal steel.