10-31-16 Jive

Good evening, it's Monday, October 31^st. Happy Halloween!

This is the Jive at Five, our daily community calendar and rundown of nighttime programming here on 88.1 FM WESU Middletown. By day, WESU offers talk radio from NPR and Pacifica, as well as from  independent and local public affairs sources. Weeknights and weekends our student and community volunteers bring you the best in free-form programming.

Whether you tune in to WESU for daytime talk radio and free form music programming, or perhaps even the Jive at Five, please understand that WESU is listener-supported community radio and we need your help to build the momentum in our current Fall community pledge drive. Show your support for WESU and help us pay the bills with a donation, today. Please make that donation online at www.wesufm.org/pledge where you can also see our thank you gifts.  We appreciate your generosity.

I’m Maria Johnson, producer and host of Reasonably Catholic: Keeping the Faith, which airs every first, third and fifth Tuesday, from 4 to right before the Jive at Five. Tomorrow, at the risk of torturing you when you're so ready for the election to be over, we bring you the complete audio of the recent Al Smith Dinner, the NYC white tie Catholic Charities benefit at which the presidential candidates usually roast each other in a spirit of mutual respect. Last week's event was something else. If you missed it, tomorrow's your chance to hear our candidates deliver a raft of mean jokes, including the ones which didn't make the national news. It's both funny ha-ha and funny sad. Can't listen live? Find the audio archived at www.reasonablycatholic.com.

Now, here's a rundown of what's happening in our area this week:

Tonight, The Buttonwood Tree in Middletown presents their weekly Anything Goes Open Mic + Moments of Gratitude at 7:00 pm. On Tuesday it’s Laughter Yoga at 6:30 pm. The Acoustic Open Mic with Bob Gotta happens Thursday at 7 pm. On Friday at 8 pm, classical pianist Carolyn Halsted performs works by Barber and Chopin in addition to two original works, Nocturne in E flat, and Labyrinth. Annaita Ghandy’s Aligned with Source Workshop happens Saturday morning at 10:30, with this week’s theme of “Attracting the Best in Life.” At 1 pm, the International Beat Poetry Festival holds a Free Poets Collective with music and readings. The Jovan Alexandre Trio performs hard-bop and post-bop at 8 pm. On Sunday, Steinway Artist Robin Speilberg takes the piano at 3 pm, followed at 7 by comedy with the Make Believe Society Improv Show. The Hearing Voices Network meets Monday mornings at 10:30. Details at http://buttonwood.org

Tonight, down in New Haven at Café Nine, they bring you Milksop: Unsung, Dr. Caterwaul’s Cadre, and Xavier Serrano. On Tuesday they headline Canyon, and Jason Gerrish. Wednesday’s bill includes Some Kind of Nightmare, The Ratz, Zombii, and Bloodred Whiskey. On Thursday it’s The Stunning, appearing along with Lines West. Friday they bring you Wolf Harbor, On the Fritz, Gravity Senses, Strawberry Cheesesteak, and Stalemate. Saturday’s Jazz Jam Session at 4:30 showcases Mike Coppola and Friends, followed later by Dangerous Animals, Baka Fana, and more. The Sunday Buzz Matinee at 3 is a CD Release Show with Bronson Rock, and at 8 Café Nine brings you The Helium Brothers and Phil Rosenthal.  www.cafenine.com

Up in Hartford at Black-Eyed Sally’s, tonight’s Jazz Mondays series features the Jovan Alexandre Trio. On Tuesday nights, Michael Palin’s Other Orchestra works out new material on Sally’s stage. On Wednesdays they present their long-running Community Blues Jam hosted by Ed Bradley. On Thursday it’s Sally’s house band The Po’ Boys, with blues, rock, and boogie-woogie. On Friday, The Mighty Soul Drivers brings you classic Soul. On Saturday night the blues guitar virtuoso Jay Jesse Johnson takes Sally’s stage.  www.blackeyedsallys.com

At Toad’s Place in New Haven, tonight it’s the GWAR Halloween Specular with Zombii, Revenge Against God, and a costume contest. On Thursday they headline Young M.A. On Friday it’s another Bright Night Glow Party and EDM College Dance Party with loads of performers. www.toadsplace.com

Manic Productions presents “Great Good Fine OK”, Dreamers, and Mission Zero at The Ballroom at The Outer Space in Hamden. On Wednesday, they bring Ryley Walker, Circuit des Yeux, and Kath Bloom to Bar in New Haven. There’s a lot happening at the College Steet Music Hall, starting Thursday, with Fred Armisen. On Friday you can catch Patton Oswalt and Myq Kaplan. On Saturday, it’s Foals, Bear Hands, and Kiev. On Sunday, The Beach Boys take the Music Hall Stage at 7 pm. http://www.manicproductions.org/

At the Russell Library in Middletown, on Tuesday at 10 am there’s a Smoking Cessation Program in association with Middlesex Hospital. At 6 pm they present Social Media and Your Job Search: The Things You Just Can’t Ignore. The Veteran’s Writing Group meets every Thursday evening. On Saturday at 10:30 there’s a workshop on Revolutionary War Genealogy presented by the Wadsworth Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution; pre-registration is suggested. At 1:30the FaReLa piano/cello Duo presents an Exotic Romanticism Concert. On Sunday at 2 pm there’s an Opening Reception in collaboration with the Art Guild of Middletown for the art, prose, and poetry exhibition that runs through the month. www.russelllibrary.org

Wesleyan’s Center for the Arts holds an Opening Reception for “Flying Carpets” an exhibit of new paintings by David Schorr, Tuesday at 4:30 at the Zilkha Gallery. At 9 pm there’s a music recital, Happy Hybrid, by Tomek Arnold at World Music Hall. The Fall Senior Thesis Dance Concert happens Thursday through Saturday at 8 pm at the Patricelli ’92 Theater. On Friday, South African musician Derek Gripper performs at Crowell Concert Hall. They’re sponsoring a tour of the NYC Grolier Club Exhibit and Print Fair on Saturday. On Sunday, jazz guitarist Tony Lombardozzi performs at The Russell House at 3 pm. Full details at www.wesleyan.edu/cfa

Mindfulness After Work happens every Wednesday at the Hartford Mindfulness Center starting at 6:15. Register at www.hartfordmindfulnesscenter.org

Middletown’s Music Ambassador Old Lonesome Dave hosts a Jack ‘n’ Jill Open Mic Wednesday at the Mezzo Grille on Court St. at 7:30 pm. Tips and donations benefit the New Horizons Domestic Violence Services. www.arts2go.org 

Middletown Scottish country dancers offer classes for beginners & experienced dancers at First Church on Court Street in Middletown, Every Wednesday from 7-9:30p.   Partners not necessary but soft-soled shoes are! For information, call Lucile Blanchard at 860-347-0278.

At Infinity Hall in Hartford, they’ve got the English progressive rock group Renaissance on Thursday. You can enjoy folk and rock on Friday with Aztec Two-Step and Brewer & Shipley. It’s blues and rock show on Saturday with Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, appearing with The Gary Douglas Band. The Olate Dogs, winners of “America’s Got Talent,” come your way Sunday at 1 pm, followed by a late show with award-winning jazz artist Madeleine Peyroux. www.infinityhall.com

The 17^th annual Connecticut Veterans’ Day Parade happens this Sunday in Hartford, starting at 12:30 pm at the Capitol Building and making its way through Bushnell Park. www.ctveteransparade.org

On Sunday at the MAC650 Artspace in Middletown, there’s acoustic soul music by Elizabeth Dellinger, Paul Bryant Hudson, Orice Jenkins and more at 8:30 pm, along with a local artisan market. www.arts2go.org

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

Through Thursday, Hartford’s Real Art Ways continues the run of “A Man Called Ove,” (ooh-veh), a Swedish film about an isolated retiree whose life is changed by new neighbors. Also continuing is “Harry & Snowman,” a true Cinderella story about the transformative relationship between a Dutch immigrant and an Amish plow horse. Both runs through Thursday. On Friday they open “Aquarius,” a Portuguese film about a widow fighting developers who try to evict her from her home. It runs through the weekend. www.realartways.org.  

Though Thursday, Trinity College’s Cinestudio continues the run of “A Tale of Love and Darkness,” starring Natalie Portman as the mother of celebrated Israeli author Amos Ox. On Friday they open “Southside With You,” the story of the well-known first date in Chicago of a community organizer and his law firm supervisor who became the first black couple to occupy the White House. It runs through Saturday. Sunday’s matinee offering is the Bolshoi Ballet production of Shostakovich’s “The Bright Stream.” They also open “The Battle of Algiers,” a 4K restoration celebrating the 50^th anniversary of this Italian classic about Algeria’s war of independence. www.cinestudio.org   

Thursday night, Russell Library continues the 8^th annual Middletown International Film Festival, Common Ground, with a screening of “The Second Mother,” a Brazilian film about class barriers that are disrupted when a housekeeper’s daughter disappears, at 7 pm in the library’s Hubbard Room.  www.russelllibrary.org

Now here’s what’s on the air tonight on WESU Middletown:

Right after the jive, we’ve got Afternoon Jazz with Charles Henry, a well-rounded show for true jazz heads.

From 6-6:30 pm it’s Building Bridges, a weekly labor report from Pacifica.

At 6:30 until 8 pm stay tuned for a special Halloween episode of Back Down the Bayou, filling in for 75% Folk.

The Rumpus Room with Lord Lewis takes you from 8 to 9:30 pm, with the best in contemporary funk, soul, reggae, dub, and African and Latin beats.

Cruiser’s Radio Program with Jack Sullivan is next from 9:30 to 10:30 pm, taking you back to the Doo-Wop and Rock ‘n’ Roll of the ‘50’s and ‘60’s.

Rhyme & Reason follows from 10:30 to 11:30 with DJ Riela and DJ Tanner, bringing you songs inspired by a poem, highlighting local writers.

After that it’s The Weirding Way with DJ Atriedes from 11:30 to 12:30, an exploration of sonic moods with an indie/alternative focus.

At 12:30 am Green Tea Time with DJ Ari G presents coffeehouse-style music paired with "green" environmental news tidbits.

From 1:30-3 am it’s Connections with DJ EKL & McSteamz, exploring the complexity of music and the music production process.

Maximum Rock and Roll is next from 3 to 4 am, with the best in DIY punk garage rock, and hardcore.

BBC World News airs from 4 to 5 am, and we get the day started at 5 with NPR’s Morning Edition.

That’s all for today’s Jive at Five. If you missed anything, you can find the written version 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.

Still listening? Why? If it’s because you like hearing about the upcoming concerts in our area, or because you are interested in the evening line up at WESU, or you want to hear some great Jazz from Charles Henry…  Support this station with a donation during our fall pledge drive, happening tight now. donate online at www.wesufm.org/pledge