Rockers drool over vintage Fender Stratocasters and Gibson Les Pauls.
Those beautiful guitars built last century sell for as much as maybe $200,000.
But they don't quite compare with the history and monetary value of what world-class violinist Vadim Gluzman will play this weekend when he joins the Sarasota Orchestra for the organization's Masterworks: Virtuoso program.
The 20-year-old writes and performs little ditties about puppy love and an army of teens — at least I'm assuming that's her fanbase — makes a purchase.
She's not much of a vocalist but that certainly hasn't hindered her amazing rise to superstardom.
Swift's massive record sales have saved not just Nashville but greatly helped the entire music industry. For this, the young woman has been given practically every major award the industry has to offer.
Swift became the youngest person to win Songwriter of the Year Tuesday night at the BMI Awards. Previously the youngest person was Bill Anderson (23) followed by Johnny Cash (24). Read "Taylor Swift named BMI songwriter of the year."
Taylor Swift at the 2010 Grammys struggling to sing with Stevie Nicks
Some of my favorite films are about country singers.
Robert Altman wonderfully maligns Music City with his 1975 masterpiece "Nashville." The film includes numerous great performances including one by Keith Carradine. The actor won an Oscar for singing his original song "I'm Easy."
Robert Duvall set the bar with 1983's "Tender Mercies." He turned in a sublime performance, sang his own songs and won his lone Oscar.
Duvall plays a supporting part in 2009's "Crazy Heart." It features Jeff Bridges in a similar, singing, Oscar-winning role in a movie surely inspired by "Tender Mercies."
Before playing the world's most obnoxious rapper, Joaquin Phoenix depicted Johnny Cash opposite Oscar-winning Reese Witherspoon (as June Carter Cash) in 2005's "Walk the Line."
And then there's Sissy Spacek, who won a much-deserved Academy Award for playing Loretta Lynn in 1980's "Coal Miner's Daughter."
In the new flick "Country Strong," Gwyneth Paltrow plays a superstar Nashville singer who, like the protagonists of "Tender Mercies" and "Crazy Heart," battles drug and/or alcohol addiction. The cast also includes a bearded Tim McGraw. And judging by the trailer (see below) this film looks like a big, fat Thanksgiving turkey. Of course, I could be wrong. Read "Gwyneth Paltrow talks 'country strong' at premiere."
Heavy metal elder statesman Ozzy Osbourne will bring his impressive stash of Black Sabbath and solo classics to the St. Pete Times Forum on February 18.
In honor of Keith Richards remaining the coolest rock star alive and his new autobiography "Life," which someone better buy me for Christmas, here's a list of his best recordings.
And by "his," I mean ones featuring rock's foremost libertine on lead vocals. All songs are from Rolling Stones records unless otherwise noted.
Top 10 Keith Richards songs
1. "Before They Make Me Run," off "Some Girls" (see clip below)
2. "Happy," off "Exile on Main Street"
3. "You Got the Silver," off "Let it Bleed"
4. "Little T&A," off "Tattoo You"
5. "Thru and Thru" (live), off "Rarities 1971-2003"
6. "Memory Motel," off "Black and Blue"
7. "Coming Down Again," off "Goats Head Soup"
8. "Connection" (live), off "Shine a Light"
9. "You Win Again," off the Hank Williams tribute album "Timeless"
10. "The Worst," off "Voodoo Lounge"
Trombone Shorty at Sarasota Blues Festival on Nov. 6.
Multi-threat musician Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews had thousands on their feet, smiling and cheering Saturday at the Sarasota Blues Festival.
New Orleans' hottest export adroitly played trombone and trumpet while leading his ace, six-piece backing unit — lead guitar, bass guitar, percussion, drums, tenor sax, baritone sax — through a winningly eclectic set of funk, jazz, blues and rock.
Andrews has been a virtuoso horn player since his teens but as someone who has seen the 24-year-old perform numerous times in the past five years, it's worth noting his growth as a vocalist. His voice has become remarkably stronger and more flexible. He implemented scatting and more complicated, jazzing phrasing akin to his horn playing into his singing Saturday. Andrews has also developed an effective falsetto for the sexy time numbers and a show-stopping banshee yell borrowed from the James Brown playbook.
Trombone Shorty publicity photo.
And his charisma and confidence continue to rocket off the chart. Andrews simply exudes positive energy. Just watching him animatedly cajole extra notes from his band-mates during their solos proved wildly entertaining.
Whereas Andrews previously relied on classic rock and hip-hop covers to elate audiences, he now holds listeners attention with minimal gimmickry and a set list largely consisting of self-penned originals culled from his new Verve/Universal, major label debut "Backatown." The disc features the catchy single "Something Beautiful," which was a highlight Saturday, and easily ranks as one of the more interesting and satisfying releases of the year.
Andrews still pays homage to his hero Louis Armstong but no longer with the expected "When the Saints Go Marching In." Instead, the Crescent City's current star offered a truly life-affirming rendition of the popular Satchmo recording "On the Sunny Side of the Street." During that song and numerous others Andrews and a Sarasota Blues Festival crowd not exactly known known for embracing young, genre-defying artists, completely connected. Standing in the front row and feeling the love shared between the performer and audience proved to be one of my more moving concert experiences of recent memory.
Buzz Worthy is a forum for Bradenton Herald features writer/columnist Marty Clear to share his thoughts on the Bradenton-Sarasota arts, theater and music scene as well as the national entertainment scene, including television and movies. He welcomes feedback on all these topics.
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