It’s tough to lure people from a cozy living room when the thermometer needs only one digit to report on the weather outside. Our Fair City’s purveyors of art and culture want you to know, though, that they’re up to the challenge – even as many are packing up the holiday boxes. It’s an especially hot week for music, same as it ever was.
Old business
Before we delve into the new, the clock is winding down on some worthy events that might have slipped your mind while you were shoveling. All three end Sunday.
- “Cincinnati Art Museum, Discovering Ansel Adams” | 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams. 513-721-2787 (ARTS). DETAILS: The museum has extended its hours for the final days of this show to make sure you have a chance to see these iconic American photographs.
- Behringer-Crawford Museum, Holly Jolly Days | 1600 Montague Road, Devou Park, Covington. 859-491-4003. DETAILS: The Christmas season hasn’t ended quite yet. Citing the weather, Behringer-Crawford extended its annual holiday display by a week.
- Weston Art Gallery, three exhibitions | 650 Walnut St., downtown. 513-977-4165. DETAILS: Simultaneous shows of work by Richard W. James (“No True Scotsman”), Julie Byrne (“My Boat”) and Pamela Hignite (“Memory Keepers”).
Thursday, Jan. 16
Cincinnati Museum Center, “Stand Up History” | 6 p.m. 1301 Western Ave., West End. 513-287-7000. DETAILS: The last Stand Up History event sold out so fast, the Museum Center scheduled another. No wonder, with a lineup of Greg Hand, Dean Regas and Molly Wellman. I promise you have never heard Cincinnati history like this before. Be prepared for the juicy stuff – you know, the stuff you actually want to know.
Friday, Jan. 17
Clifton Cultural Arts Center, “Fib3r is Art” | 6 p.m. 3412 Clifton Ave., Clifton. 513-497-2860. DETAILS: If you still think fiber arts means grandma’s knitting, think again. It’s the third go-round of CCAC’s triennial fiber art exhibition. This year’s show features work by more than 40 artists to highlight the versatility of the medium in myriad modes, aesthetics and styles. Through Feb. 7
Cincinnati World Cinema, “Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen – A Journey, A Song” | 7 p.m. Garfield Theatre, 719 Race St., downtown. 859-957-3456 (FILM). DETAILS: CWC cues up this documentary that explores Leonard Cohen’s life, his heritage, his spirituality and the creative process behind his iconic song “Hallelujah.”Features a diverse array of artists, including Bob Dylan, Jeff Buckley, Brandi Carlile, Judy Collins and Rufus Wainwright. Second screening at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Saturday, Jan. 18
Fitton Center for Creative Arts, “Good Grief!” | 7:30 p.m. 101 S. Monument Ave., Hamilton. 513-863-8873. DETAILS: Vince Guaraldi released nearly 20 albums before his sudden death at age 47. Today, he’s known for music he wrote for the early animated Charlie Brown holiday shows (and particularly Christmas). The Phil DeGreg Trio celebrates Guaraldi’s legacy – including those Peanuts classics on the banks of the Great Miami.
Sunday, Jan. 19
Cincinnati String Project, “Resilience” | 5 p.m. All Saints Episcopal Church, 6301 Parkman Place, Pleasant Ridge. 513-375-2136. DETAILS: Cincinnati String Project, in its new configuration, presents a program by women composers across the centuries – Fanny Mendelssohn, Lili Boulanger, Florence Price, Rhiannon Giddens and Jessie Montgomery. Much more than just a performing ensemble, proceeds for this performance benefit CSP’s ongoing education programs.
Monday, Jan. 20
Martin Luther King Jr. Day:
Multiple civic groups, organizations and artists will come together to celebrate the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on his namesake holiday and to reflect on the state of society today. Activities include:
- National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, 2025 King Legacy Celebration | 8:30 a.m. 50 East Freedom Way. DETAILS: Courtis Fuller emcees a morning of music, reflection and call to action. Freedom Center admission is free all day.
- MLK Jr. Coalition of Cincinnati, “Jubilee for MLK’s Beloved Community” | This is the organization’s 50th year honoring King. First is the commemorative march, at 10:30 a.m., from the Freedom Center to Washington Park. That’s followed at noon by the annual program across the street in Music Hall. Music again plays a central role, including a new segment for children, “Land of Superheroes” presented by the Bootsy Collins Foundation Greater Cincinnati. Keynote speaker is Hasan Kwame Jeffries, professor of history at Ohio State (and brother of Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the U.S. House minority leader).
- Memorial Hall, Jazz at the Memo | 7 p.m. 1225 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. 513-977-8838. Trombonist Mark Fields leads a quartet featuring Erwin Stucky on piano, Justin Dawson on bass and Phil Tipton on drums in an MLK Day exploration of the music of Black composers. They’re some of the best players in town.
The Woodward, “Stop Making Sense” | 7:30 p.m. 1404 Main St., Over-the-Rhine. 513-345-7981. DETAILS: It’s billed as “the greatest concert film of all time.” Debatable, but if you’re of a certain age and feeling sad that the ’80s are … well … decades past (or you don’t get what all the hype was about), this film of a December 1983 Talking Heads performance at Hollywood’s Pantages Theater is a classic. Assembled by Jonathan Demme (yes, from “Silence of the Lambs”), it captures David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz and Jerry Harrison at their peak. The film has undergone a complete restoration for its 40th anniversary.
Tuesday, Jan. 21
Donald Broerman & Michael Ronstadt, “Music Live at Lunch” | 12:10 p.m. Christ Church Cathedral, 318 E. Fourth St., downtown. 513-621-1817. DETAILS: Bring your lunch (or buy one at the church), then relax and listen to cellist Broerman and and guitarist Ronstadt perform their own compositions. The concert is free.
Xavier Music Series: Dave King and Chris Speed | 8 p.m. Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside. 513-745-3162. DETAILS: For many years, one of my favorite warnings headed the New Yorker’s music listings: “Musicians lead complicated lives,” it said before adding that performance schedules were subject to last-minute changes. Here’s a case in point. Happy Apple, the music collective co-founded by drummer Dave King, will not be able to appear as scheduled on XU’s eclectic music series. Instead, King will perform with saxophonist Chris Speed. Don’t worry, though; that’s a step down only in quantity, not quality.
Discover more from Movers & Makers
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.