The Music Behind Brother Wolf, Pianist Alexander Schimpf, The Dixie Swim Club, and FREEPORT Jazz

Today on the show we visit the dark hills and hollows of the Blue Ridge Mountains where good and evil engage in their never ending struggle for supremacy! It's Brother Wolf by Triad Stage's Preston Lane. His gripping tall tale is told with the helping musical hands of Laurelyn Dossett and Riley Baugus, and they're here to sing about it. German piano soloist sensation Alexander Schimpf is here to tell another gripping musical tale. It's the powerful Piano Concerto No. 5 by Ludwig van Beethoven, and it's no coincidence that this epic concerto comes with a nickname The Emperor. Then we'll find comic relief at the Outer Banks and a little vacation with The Dixie Swim Club. The poolside drinks are cold, the gossip's hot, and The Stained Glass Playhouse actors are here to bring it alive. We'll chill things back down with some smooth jazz courtesy of FREEPORT.

Laurelyn Dossett and Riley Baugus

In the hills and hollows of the Blue Ridge, good and evil are in constant struggle. Demons lurk in the dark forests and the early pioneers are under constant threat. So begins the liner for Brother Wolf, the play by Triad Stage Artistic Director Preston Lane. It's filled with epic storytelling, and outstanding original music composed by acclaimed singer/songwriter Laurelyn Dossett. Laurelyn says that when Preston first approached her in search of that authentic sounding score for Brother Wolf she said she knew right away it had to sound like Riley Baugus.

Riley is a musician's musician, and he's highly sought after for bringing out the best of old time American banjo and song. In fact Billboard Magazine said Riley's vocals, “…sound like they've been echoing through the Appalachian Mountains for about 150 years."

He and Laurelyn will perform live for the duration of the run of Brother Wolf which opens Friday night May 9th at 8:00 PM in Hanesbrands Theatre in Winston-Salem.

Laurelyn's song from Brother Wolf, “Anna Lee,” is featured on the 2011 Grammy-winning Levon Helm CD “Ramble at the Ryman.” Riley was a contributor to the Grammy award winning Album Of The Year, "Raising Sand" by Alison Krauss and Robert Plant, and his banjo playing was featured on Willie Nelson's Grammy nominated recording "Country Music". On Friday, May 9th this dynamic musical duo will combine their considerable musical forces during opening night for Preston Lane's Brother Wolf at Hanesbrands Theatre in Winston-Salem. The show starts at 8:00PM.  Robert Kirk recorded the original soundtrack for Brother Wolf recorded live from the theatre at Triad Stage.

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Alexander Schimpf

From 2008-2011, German pianist Alexander Schimpf won three major piano competitions beginning with the German Music Competition. That was followed the next year with a First Prize finish in the International Beethoven Competition in Vienna. Two years later, Alexander was the first German pianist ever to win the Cleveland International Piano Competition. That was his first trip to the States, and since then he's been a frequent visitor with a recital in Carnegie Hall and performances with numerous orchestras throughout the country.

This weekend he'll join the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5, the “Emperor”.

On Friday, May 9^th, at 8, Alexander and violinist/conductor Dmitry Sitkovetsky will share an evening of chamber music and a performance of Antonin Dvorak's Piano Quintet in the University of NC at Greensboro Recital Hall. And then on Saturday night May 10^th at 8:00 pm in Dana Auditorium, he'll join Dmitry once again this time with the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5. 

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The Dixie Swim Club

The Dixie Swim Club, directed by Michael Ackerman, continues at the Stained Glass Playhouse through May 18^th. The play follows the lives of five women from their college heydays through to their late 70s with humor, but also with care. The journey takes us beyond the characters' stereotypes and into their fascinating multi-layered lives. There's Sheree the controlling team leader, Lexie the narcissistic sexpot of the group, Jeri the nun in training and their two friends. Stained Glass Playhouse Kathy Cissna plays Sheree, and Cheryl Ann Roberts plays Lexie.

Today's show includes a scene from The Dixie Swim Club. Stained Glass Playhouse actor Cheryl Ann Roberts played Lexie and Kathy Cissna played Sheree. They were joined by director Michael Ackerman. The comedy runs through Sunday, May 18^th with evening shows at 8:00 PM and weekend matinees at 3:00 PM in the Stained Glass Playhouse. 

Michael says round up a group of your best buds and make an evening of it. The Dixie Swim Club is fun for gals and guys alike. 

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Freeport Jazz

 FREEPORT Jazz offers a winning combination of Smooth, Contemporary, and straight ahead Jazz music that'll get your fingers snappin' in a hurry. The four piece band is Steve Thornton on saxes and flute, Jo Daniels on keyboards, drummer Tony Testa, and Scott Marvill on basses and guitar.

Their new CD release is "Live at the 2012 Hillsborough Jazz Festival" available at CD Baby and most other digital download sites. FREEPORT just signed with Viaggio Artist Management out of Philadelphia and a brand-spanking new CD is underway.

You can hear FREEPORT live recurring every-other Wednesday at the Dine and Unwine Music Series at TAVO Restaurant & Tavern in Greensboro. Next Wednesday night, May 14^th they'll be performing from 6pm - 10pm.