11-28-16 Jive

Good evening, it's Monday, November 28th. 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 independent and local public affairs sources. Weeknights and weekends our student and community volunteers bring you the best in free-form programming.

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, a chat with author Marco Politi, a 40-plus-year Vatican watcher whose latest book is Pope Francis Among the Wolves: the Inside Story of a Revolution. In a book that packs tons of information into a remarkably quick-paced read, Politi, who’s based in Rome, takes us inside Francis’s world, a world of power struggles and threats – yes, even physuical threats – as the pope’s supporters and conservative hardliners battle for the future of the Catholic church. Thanks to those of you who’ve responded to my hitting you up for a donation to the station. And thanks in advance to those of you who keep meaning to get to it! The easy way to do it is by going to wesufm.or/pledge.    

Whether you tune in to WESU for daytime talk radio and free form music programming, we need you to show your support for community radio and help us pay the bills with a donation, today during our Fall Pledge Drive.

You can make that donation online at www.wesufm.org/pledge where you can also see our thank you gifts.  We appreciate your generosity.

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 they’ve got Intentional & Empowering Yoga at 1 pm. On Wednesday at 7 pm, film students from Wesleyan present, “Middletown Portraits: Four Films About the People Behind Our Storefronts,” showcasing four local businesses, with a Q & A session. On Thursday at 7 pm it’s the Acoustic Open Mic with Bob Gotta. On Friday at 8 they bring you Indigo Soul, a rhythm and voice trio with R & B, soul, and light pop. The Eric Mintel Quartet comes your way on Saturday at 8, performing A Charlie Brown Christmas in celebration of its fiftieth anniversary. On Sunday at 2 pm John Basinger performs a live reading of Book 2 from John Milton’s “Paradise Lost,” a continuation of the Paradise Lost Performance Project. Later at 7 pm, it’s the Great Make Believe 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, it’s the Monthly Monday Residency with Natalie Tuttle and John Torres. On Tuesday they headline This Criminal Soul, The Forest Room, Terri Lynn, and Eddy Crash. On Wednesday it’s another session of Words & Music. On Thursday you can catch Backwoods Payback, VRSA, and When The Deadbolt Breaks. Friday’s Happy Hour at 5 features Frank Critelli this week. Later, Friday night, it’s a Hip Hop for the Homeless event featuring Joey Batts and Them, Hose Oyola, and more. Café Nine’s Saturday afternoon Jazz Jam Session is with Mike Coppola and Friends this week. Saturday night there’s a records release show for Landing, appearing with Procedure Club, Rivener, and Solilians at The Nine. Manic Productions finishes out the weekend for the Sunday Buzz Matinee at 3, featuring The Helium Brothers and Eddie Seville. www.cafenine.com

Up in Hartford at Black-Eyed Sally’s, tonight’s Jazz Mondays series features Mike Carabello. 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 Tim McDonald.  On Thursday it’s Sally’s house band The Po’ Boys, with blues, rock, and boogie-woogie. On Friday, they bring you blues with The Delta Generators. On Saturday, it’s more blues with Poppa Chubby. www.blackeyedsallys.com

At Toad’s Place in New Haven, tonight it’s the Night of Smooth Jazz with Rohn Lawrence & Friends in Lilly’s Pad. On Thursday it’s the HOT 93.7 Christmas Party, with D.R.A.M, Justine Skye, and more. On Friday the headline Felly, Gyyps, Yonas, and The Mermaid Gang tour. Saturday brings another Original Saturday Night College Dance Party. On Sunday, in conjunction with the Yale Music Department, they host Jazz Into Africa/Africa Into Jazz with a variety of artists. www.toadsplace.com

At the Russell Library in Middletown, on Tuesday at noon there’s a Classic Mysteries Book Discussion, with this month’s selection of “The Moonstone” by Wilkie Collins. There’s a drop-in workshop on Wednesday at 2 for Make a Holiday Card. The Veterans Writing Group meets Thursday at 7. www.russelllibrary.org

Manic Productions brings Andrew W.K. to The Space in Hamden this Tuesday. On Wednesday, it’s Mothers, E, and Reduction Plan at Bar in New Haven. On Thursday you can catch Thank You Scientist, Moon Tooth, The Tea Club, and Mile Marker Zero at The Ballroom at The Outer Space in Hamden. Manic presents Pete Yorn at the Ballroom stage on Friday. On Saturday, it’s Turkuaz & The New Mastersounds at the College Street Music Hall in New Haven. And Sunday at College Street finishes out with Reverend Horton Heat, Unknown Hinson, Nashville P*ssy, and Lucky Tubb. www.manicproductions.org

Mindfulness After Work happens every Wednesday at the Hartford Mindfulness Center starting at 6:15. Register at www.hartfordmindfulnesscenter.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.   For info, call Lucile Blanchard at 860-347-0278.

The Wesleyan Center for the Arts hosts the Topazio Lecture this Thursday at 5 pm at Ring Performing Arts Hall, featuring Alan Trachtenberg speaking on “Recovery and Redemption in the Camera Eye: William Earle Wlliams’ New View of the American Civil War.” At 7 pm they sponsor Music from East Asia performed by the university’s three ensembles: the Taiko Drumming Ensemble, the Chinese Music Ensemble, and the Korean Drumming Ensemble. It takes place in Crowell Concert Hall. On Friday at 7 pm they present the Wesleyan Gamelan Ensemble performing a Javanese wayang puppet play in World Music Hall. There’s an African Drumming and Dance Concert at 8 pm in Crowell Concert Hall featuring Emmanual Attah Poku and the Kinewe African Dance ensemble from Tufts University. On Saturday at 8 pm the Wesleyan University Orchestra performs at Crowell Concert Hall. On Sunday at 2 pm they present the Worlds of Dance Concert at Crowell Concert Hall. At 3 pm on Sunday the Concert Choir performs a variety of selections at Memorial Chapel. Details at www.wesleyan.edu/cfa/

At Infinity Hall in Hartford, singer/songwriter Suzanne Vega takes the stage this Thursday. On Friday you can hear Americana and roots rock performed by Rusted Root. On Saturday at 1:30 they bring you the University of Hartford’s Jazz Stars of Tomorrow. Later, at 8 pm, it’s pop and soud with Javier Colon, appearing with Laura Clapp. On Sunday at 1 pm it’s the a capella Whiffenpoofs, with The Duke’s Men of Yale. Sunday night, it’s classic pop with Al Stewart.  www.infinityhall.com

The Women’s Committee of the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford hosts a Night of Illumination this Thursday at 5 pm. Purchase a tree or wreath, enjoy refreshments, and watch a screening of the holiday classic “Love, Actually.” Their Festivals of Trees and Traditions starts on Friday at 10 am and continues through the weekend. Details at www.wadsworthatheneum.org 

The Connecticut Forum presents a panel discussion, “The Future of Higher Education,” this Thursday at The Bushnell Center in Hartford at 8 pm. Panelists will discuss the future of college education and what needs to change. Details at www.ctforum.org

The Hartford Gay Men’s Chorus Holiday Concert happens this weekend at the Aetna Theater at the Wadsworth Athenaeum. Visit www.hmgc.org for times and ticket information.

The Mark Twain House in Hartford hosts its annual free tour of the home and museum this Saturday and Sunday. Details at www.marktwainhouse.org

Artists for World Peace holds its third annual Open House this Saturday from 1-6 pm at the DeKoven House in Middletown. There will be live music, food, a holiday marketplace, and an interfaith dialogue on peace. Details at https://www.facebook.com/CityArtsOffice/

The Middletown Recreation Division hosts a nature hike this Sunday at 10 am at Highland Forest, led by Beth Lapin. Call 860-262-2788 for details.

WESU's own Bill Denert will be in East Hampton this Sunday for a book signing for his children's book, “Tales From the Little Valley.” It’s taking place at 95 Main Street, right next to Po's Rice and Spice restaurant. Come on down and join the fun as Bill discusses his current book, along with news about his second book of the series to be published soon.

The Wadsworth Mansion in Middletown hosts its annual Holiday Market this Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm. Shop for holiday gifts including pottery, organic candles, clothing, and more. Details at www.wadsworthmansion.com

You can enjoy the Holiday Light Fantasia in Goodwin Park in Hartford throughout the season. Proceeds benefit Channel 3 Kids Camp. Details at www.holidaylightfantasia.org

The City of Hartford sponsors its seventh annual Winterfest again this year starting on Friday. Enjoy free ice skating at Bushnell Park. Visit Santa’s workshop and get your photo taken on Saturday from noon to 3 pm. Visit their Facebook page at Winterfest Hartford.

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

Through Thursday, Hartford’s Real Art Ways continues its run of “Tampopo,” a 4K restoration of the Japanese film about a band of ramen ronin who guide the widow of a noodle shop owner toward the perfect recipe, through Thursday. Tonight and Wednesday they’re screening “Gimme Danger,” chronicling the story of the great rock-n-roll band, The Stooges. There’s a one-time showing on Tuesday of “Tower,” a film exploring the 1966 mass shooting at the University of Texas. On Thursday they open “Miss Hokusai,” a Japanese film about the 19^th century artist Hokusai and his brilliant daughter.  It runs through the weekend.  www.realartways.org.  

Though Wednesday, Trinity College’s Cinestudio continues the run of “Arthropoid,” a film about the attempt to assassinate an SS Holocaust architect in WWII Czechoslovakia. On Thursday they open “Denial,” starring Rachel Weisz as a historian sued for libel by a Holocaust denier. It runs through Saturday. On Saturday there’s a free matinee showing of “Knucklehead,” about a mentally disabled man in Brooklyn’s housing projects, left unprotected after his brother is shot. There’s a Q & A session following. On Sunday they open “The Handmaiden,” a Korean film about a common pickpocket who meets a Japanese heiress.  www.cinestudio.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 75% Folk with Michael Benson offers Contemporary folk along with a mix of blues, jazz, world music, and movie soundtracks and more.

From 8-9:30 pm it’s Chip Austin’s Unfocused Folk, with Americana from Nashville and more performed by both emerging and veteran artists.

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.

From 10:30-11:30 pm it’s Meet Music with DJ Rami, introducing you to a new artist with each show.

At 11:30 stay tuned for Something Old, Something New with Aurora and DJ Dazzle, with a musical time machine that helps you connect current songs to the past.

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

From 1:30 to 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.