12-7-15 Jive

Good evening, it's Monday, December 7th, and this is the Jive at Five, our daily community calendar and rundown of night time programming here on WESU 88.1 FM Middletown, your station for NPR, Pacifica, independent and local public affairs by day, and the best in free-form community programming week-nights and weekends. Thanks for joining us! 

I'm Maria Johnson, producer and host of Reasonably Catholic: Keeping t he Faith, which airs every first, third and fifth Tuesday, from 4 to right before the Jive at Five. The next episode, on Dec. 15, will introduce you to Wesleyan's new Catholic chaplain, Fr. William Wallace, who's also a lawyer, working most recently in New York City. How did he find his way to Wesleyan? Tune in to hear.

I also want to mention that we hope you’ll take your relationship with WESU one step further by supporting our Fall 2015 community pledge drive. WESU depends on listener support for over a third of our annual budget and we need  our listeners to do their part to keep this community station on air! We’ve hit the halfway mark but we still need over $9,000 in community support to meet our needs. Not only are there way-cool WESU pledge gifts, but if you mention Reasonably Catholic, I'll send you a free book of your choosing from a list posted at www.reasonablycatholic.com. Donate online at www.wesufm.org/pledge. 

Now here's some of what’s happening in our area this week:

In New Haven tonight at 8pm, its the monthly story telling series "Get to the Point!" On Tuesday, Redeyna, Belle of the Fall, and Jose Oyola play at 8 pm. Wednesday WPKN presents The Yawpers and Johnny Mainstream. On Thursday it's Hip Hop for the Homeless, a fundraiser bringing together musicians from around Connecticut at 8 pm. Friday's happy hour features Buzz Gordo's Ski Lodge, a curated mix of 70's AM radio. At 9 pm, Bridgeport's Big Moon take the stage with Tanuki Suit. Saturday’s weekly Jazz Jam Session is with Gary Grippo & Friends. Saturday night brings The Paul Collins Beat, come see the legend who fronted for The Nerves and The English Beat. Sunday night, Connecticut's revolving collection of musicans Some Such Things will perform at 8 pm. www.cafenine.com 

At Toad’s Place in New Haven, tonight you can catch a Night of Smooth Jazz with Rohn Lawrence & friends. On Wednesday, Modern Baseball will perform with Pup and Jeff Rosenstock at 7 pm. Friday night, they bring some heavy tunes from The World Is Beautiful And I Am No Longer Afraid To Die, along with Caspian at 7 pm. In Lilly's Pad also on Friday, its the College Battle of the Bands at 8 pm. toadsplace.com

Up in Hartford, Black-eyed Sally’s continues it’s the usual Jazz Mondays series at 8 pm. On Tuesday at 8 pm, Michael Palin’s Other Orchestra works out new material. This Wednesday Sally’s weekly Blues Jam features Ray Morant at 8 pm. Friday night get irie with Gong Tuff, the Tri-state area's premier Bob Marley Tribute Band. Saturday, Jeff Pitchell & Texas Flood bring you some blues and rnb at 9 pm. blackeyedsallys.com

Tonight, at the Buttonwood Tree in Middletown, you can catch their weekly Moments of Gratitude meditation at 7:45. That’s followed by their weekly Anything Goes Open Mic. Signups are at 7:30pm. Friday night, Jazz composer George Mastrogiannis will perform "A Tribute to Rock & Roll" at 8 pm. Saturday mornings at the Buttonwood Tree bring the Aligned with Source meditati on workshops. From 1-3 pm, family members can decorate an ornament at no charge. Saturday night, Turkish jazz guitar virtuoso Sinan Bakir presents a solo electric show at 8 pm. Sunday, Peter Loffredo presents "A Child's Christmas in Wales" at 3 pm. Throughout December at The Buttonwood Tree, Artists for World Peace  presents the exhibition "ART for LIFE" featuring photographs of Tanzania and Uganda by Claudia Paul and Lonzo Lowery,as well as paintings by Lorelei Chang and Kamar Thomas. buttonwood.org

Tonight and Wednesday at Oddfellows Playhouse, pre-audition workshops for the production of Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors are open to ages 12-19 and take place at 6 pm.  On Saturday, they present "Stage Whispers" an evening of original one-act plays by Carolyn Kirsch at 7:30 pm.

On Tuesday, The Middletown Symphonic Band will be performing a holiday concert beginning at 6:15 pm in Yerbury Chapel on the Connecticut Valley Hospital Campus. They will also perform two other concerts in early December, check their website for more details. middletownsymphonicband.org

Manic Productions brings several shows to New Haven venues this week, including The Funky Dawgz Brass Band and Tracy Jo and the Toads at Bar in New Haven Wednesday night at 9 pm. Manic Presents Gr ace Potter and Eliza Hardy Jones at 8 pm at the College Street Music Hall. manicproductions.org

The Middletown Scottish Country Dancers meet every Wednesday at First Church on Court St. You can also catch Their Holly Fair This Saturday.  Call 860-347-0278 for details.

Thursday, at the General Joseph Mansfield House on Main Street, catch historian John Banks, author of Hidden History of Connecticut Union Soldiers at 7 pm. 

At Infinity Hall Hartford this Thursday night you can catch Jason Gray Christmas Stories with special guests Carrolton and Jonny Diaz at 8 pm. Rusted Root takes the Infinity Hall Stage in Hartford Friday night at 8 pm. Saturday night brings Larry Carlton at 8 pm. On Sunday at 7:30, its Open Mic Night. Also at 7:30 is sounds of Frank, a "centennial celebration of the Music of Frank Sinatra." Details at infinityhall.com








On Friday, the Friends of the Russell Library Book sale will happen thru Sunday, starting at 9 am and closing at 6 pm. Come support your local library.   

Saturday, the Mac 650 gallery presents grpup vocal sutdy with vocalist/therapeutic musician Elizabeth Dellinger at 2 pm. and  an Opening Reception for their new gallery show, The Back Alleys of Paradise - Horrifically Beautiful works by Tab Hujar inspired by the Tim Burton classic "Nightmare Before Christmas" movie with  Music by Lizzienrose  www.mac650.com/ for info.  

On Saturday, you can support Green Street Teaching and Learning  Center in its first ever artist trunk show at 10 am. Items will include one-of-a-kind art pieces, hand made scarves, jewelry, and much more. At 10:30, its an ornament decorating workshop as a part of the Holiday on Main Street festivities.

Middletown’s holiday on main street 2015 activities continue on Saturday. Comple te details and added activities are published online at holidayonmain.com


At the First Church in Middletown on Sunday, they present a Candlelight Christmas Concert at 4 pm. 

Here’s what’s happening at The Wesleyan University Center for the Arts this week: Tonight, The Weslyan Ebony Singers present their winter concert, an evening of gospel music at 8 pm in the Crowell Concert Hall.

On Tuesday, students from the Wesleyan chamber music program will perform at 12 pm in the Crowell Concert Hall. Also, at 7 pm, the Wesleyan Wind Ensemble will perform pieces for winds and percussion at 7 pm in the Crowell Concert Hall. In the CFA Hall at 9 pm, Datum-Datura will present an evening of sound, image, and the influence of language. 

Wedesday, the Wesleyan Organ Students will perform a seasonal program at the South Church in Middletown at 12 pm. This is a Free event! Also on Wednesday, the students of South Indian voice will perform their fall semester recital at 7 pm. 

Thursday afternoon brings the students of experimental music together to perform John Cage's "Musicircus" at 1 pm in the Crowell Concert Hall.  In the World Music Hall at 7 pm, the music of central Java will be showcased as a part of the Javanese Gamelan Ensemble final concert. In the Crowell Concert Hall, the students of Jazz Improvisation present Happening '15, a culmination of creative music and campus activity at 8 pm. 

Friday and Saturday night is the Winter Dance Concert, a series of works from advanced student choreographers at the CFA Theater at 8 pm. 

On Sunday, the Wesleyan Potters present the final day of the 60th Annual Exhibit & Sale, one of the oldest juried craft shows in the country.  

Also on Saturday night at Wesleyan, you can experience the culture of Java with beginning students of the Wesleyan Gamelan Ensemble. The concert will include a prelude by the Wesleyan Youth Gamelan Ensemble. This event is free  and open to the public and happens at The World Music Hall. Free!

Wesleyan’s "Introduction to Dance" and beginning dance students will perform works of various styles, including Bharata Natyam at Crowell Concert Hall Sunday afternoon at 2. More information at wesleyan.edu/cfa    

Now here's a rundown of cinema off the beaten track in Central Connecticut:

Up in Hartford at Real Art Ways,On Wednesday, Heart of a Dog, directed by Laurie Anderson will end its run. Also on Wednesday, its Other Peoples Stories at 7:30 pm. On Friday, The Wonders, an Italian film about a family of beekeepers living in stark isolation will begin its run. Saturday and Sunday, you can catch the animated classic "Iron Giant." Also on Saturday, Speak Up, a storytelling event centered around the theme "Nightlife", will start at 8 pm. O n Sunday, Joe Morris and Stephen Haynes present an evening of improvised music with special guests at 3 pm. More info at www.realartways.org

Trinity College’s Cinestudio ends its run on Tuesday of 99 Homes, a movie starring Andrew Garfield about a recently evicted construction worker who falls into criminal work with a real estate shark. On Tuesday, they show National Theater's live broadcast of Jane Eyre. On Wednesday, they present a free screening of The Price of the Ticket, a documentary about writer James Baldwin. On Thursday, its Freeheld, a film about the 'sanctity of marriage' and the struggles faced by same sex couples,  staring Julianne Moore, Ellen Page, and Steve Carell. Friday and Saturday, Cinestudio presents The Martian, a sci fi epic about an astronaut trapped on mars, directed by Ridley Scott and staring Matt Damon. Sunday its the encore screening of Jane Eyre. Also on Sunday, Hitchcock/Truffaut a documentary about an interview between the two legendary filmmakers, begins its run. More information and showtimes at cinestudio.org.

Now here's what's on the air tonight on WESU:  

Right after the Jive, stay tuned for an hour of Afternoon Jazz with Charles Henry.

From 6-6:30 its The Production Report with Kiley and Allis for a 30 minute rundown of entertainment industry news,  reviews, interviews and predictions.

Then at 6:30-8, it’s 75% Folk with Michael Benson, offering contemporary folk along with a mix of blues, jazz, world music and movie soundtracks. 

From 8 to 9:30 p.m. it’s Rumpus Room with Lord Lewis, with the best in vintage and contemporary heavy funk, soul, club jazz, reggae, afro and Latin dance floor grooves.

Then stay tuned for an hour of Scandinavian Sounds with DJ Northern Lights, bringing you music from Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Iceland, and showcasing Eurovision artists, folk, and genres in-between.

From 10:30-11 it’s Romancipation with Dr. Love and DJ Smooth, where you can hear advice on dating, love, and all of the above.  

From 11 to midnight it’s Sleep Paralysis with Erin and Ethan, who chat about dreams, float on sounds, and poke around in the subconscious.

At Midnight catch Your Turn with Rachel Day, where a different guest each week will chronologically share songs that were fundamental in shaping who they are. 

Next up at 1 a.m. it’s an hour of Word on the Hill with DJ Breej, providing a platform for silenced minorities on campus to discuss a specific struggle and how it relates them to Wesleyan and beyond.

From 2 to 3 a.m. stay up for Fear Factor with DJ Korean Queen for a radio show about fears, phobias, and music!

From 3 to 4 a.m. it’s Maximum Rock and Roll for a late night dose of loud rock and roll!

BBC World news comes your way from at 4 and we begin tomorrow’s broadcast day with Morning Edition from NPR at 5am.

That’s all for today’s Jive At Five. If you missed anything, you can find the script online at wesufm.org/jive. And tune in each and every weekday at 4:55 p.m. to hear about what’s going on in the community and on the air right here at WESU 88.1 FM, a community service of Wesleyan University since 1939.

And if you value WESU as a source for information and entertainment in your life, how about supporting the station with a donation? You can help us meet our goal and end this pledge drive as early as possible with your donation online at wesufm.org.  Thanks so much - Now stay tuned for Afternoon Jazz with Charles Henry (and if you like his show, let us know by making a donation!)