Lots to Do

The 2005 Stony Brook Film Festival got underway on Thursday and runs for 10 days. Thursday, July 28, will feature the New York premier screening of Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, directed by the book's author, Sijie Dai.
Wine enthusiasts will probably enjoy the screening of Mondovino on Sunday, July 24. This screening will be followed by a panel discussion and a seperately ticketed wine tasting. More information can be found on the festival's web site - http://stonybrookfilmfestival.com

The Brookhaven Arts and Cultural Center at Bald Hill has been offering a number of reasonably priced, good quality musical concerts. July 23 has Toshi Reagon opening the show for the fabulous Ani DiFranco. On July 31. Mountain, with original band members, Corky Laing and guitar wizard Leslie West headlines the show. Opening for Mountain is The Kerry Kearny Band. Many of you will remember that the KKB has performed at the Long Beach Jazz Festival for the past two years and is slated to appear again in Sept. Information about times, tickets, and directions can be found at: www.brookhavenamphitheater.com

New "Van the Man"

Van Morrison's latest release Magic Time (MA MORR MT M22) is a lot like many of his other (more than 50) records - and I mean that in a good way. I think of Van the Man as the supplier of musical comfort food. Throughout this album there is a feeling of deja vu - of comfortable familiarity. This may be off-putting to some that expect new directions from this seasoned veteran - but I welcome it.
Morrison does show some of his versatility with a Sinatra-esque big band version of This Love of Mine and a cover of Perry Como's I'm Confessin. His voice is as powerful as ever and as always he's at his best with "blue-eyed soul" tunes like Stranded and Keep Mediocrity at Bay.
Van Morrison has had an incredible 41 year musical career and he has demonstrated quite clearly that he is not ready to stop now.

John Hiatt offers up another helping of musical comfort food with Master of Disaster (MA HIAT MOD H22). Backed by the North Mississippi All-Stars, Hiatt delivers a solid collection of what he does best - roots rock, Memphis boogie, and good old blues.

Lots of new stuff is being processed and will be appearing in the New Arrival section in the next few days. Keep looking!

*******************************************************************

Please note that Barry Brenner Jazz collection and the library's jazz collection which were housed seperately - are now together as one collection. This should help make it a bit easier to locate items.