2009 Polar Bear Plunge Chili Cookoff

Click pic for info or go to www.polarbearplungemem.org

I'm there (for the chili!)
Party on, Memphis!
iArtist

IHOP's 4th Annual National Pancake Day Celebration

With the goal of raising $1,000,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network and other local charities, IHOP is celebrating its 4th Annual National Pancake Day Celebration on Tuesday, February 24, 2009.

IHOP restaurants nationwide will offer guests a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. In return, IHOP will ask guests to donate what they would have paid for the pancakes, or more, to Children’s Miracle Network or other local charities.

Be there or be hungry!
Party on, Memphis!

Brooks Museum Art of Good Taste

Here are the upcoming events for the Brooks Museum Art of Good Taste events series.

The Fleming's Wine Dinner - February 22

Brooks Uncorked - April 10 at 7pm

Patrons Dinner - May 8 at 7pm

Grand Auction - May 9 at 5pm

For more info on Brooks Museum and the Art of Good Taste events please visit www.brooksmuseum.org/theartofgoodtaste or www.theartofgoodtaste.org

THE LEGENDARY HENRY BUTLER PERFORMS IN MEMPHIS ~ A BENEFIT FOR THE BLUES FOUNDATION

From the press release.

New Orleans Piano at its Finest.

Or in the astute words of the enigmatic Dr. John "He is the pride of New Orleans and a visionistical down-home cat and a hellified piano plunker to boot."

An eight-time Blues Music Award "Best Blues Instrumentalist - Piano" award nominee, Henry Butler knows no limitations. Although blinded by glaucoma since birth, Butler is also a world class photographer with his work displayed at exhibitions throughout the United States. Playing piano since the age of six, Butler is a master of musical diversity. Combining the percussive jazz piano playing of McCoy Tyner and the New Orleans style playing of Professor Longhair through his classically trained wizardry, Butler continues to craft a sound uniquely his own. A rich amalgam of jazz, Caribbean, classical, pop, blues and R&B influences, his music is as excitingly eclectic as that of his New Orleans birthplace.

Mastering baritone horn, valve trombone and drums, in addition to the piano, at the Louisiana State School for the Blind in Baton Rouge, as a youngster, Butler began formal vocal training in the eleventh grade. He went on to sing German lieder, French and Italian art songs and operatic arias at Southern and Michigan State Universities, earning a Masters degree in vocal music. He has taught music workshops throughout the country and initiated a number of different educational projects, including a residential jazz camp at Missouri State School for the Blind and a program for blind and visually impaired students at the University of New Orleans.

Mentored by influential jazz clarinetist and Michigan State University teacher Alvin Batiste, Butler was encouraged to explore Brazilian, Afro-Cuban and other Caribbean music. With Batiste’s help, he successfully applied for National Endowment for the Arts grants to study with keyboard players George Duke, then with Cannonball Adderley’s Quintet, and the late Sir Roland Hanna. He studied with Harold Mabern, pianist for the late Lee Morgan, for a summer and spent a long afternoon studying with Professor Longhair.

While his early albums were jazz trio recordings featuring such top-notch instrumentalists as Charlie Haden and Billy Higgins, on "Fivin’ Around" in 1986, and Ron Carter and Jack DeJohnette, on "The Village" two years later, Butler has increasingly turned to New Orleans music and the blues. His 1990 album, "Orleans Inspiration," recorded with Leo Nocentelli of the Meters, was followed by "Blues And More" in 1992. Although he briefly returned to jazz with "For All Seasons" in 1996, he’s remained immersed in the blues since releasing "Blues After Sunset" in 1998.

Collaborating with Corey Harris on a duo album, "Vu-Du Menz," in 2000, Butler spent the next three years touring with the Delta blues-influenced guitarist/vocalist. That fascination with the blues has continued to be reflected in his solo work. After releasing a power-packed, all electric, blues-rock album, "The Game Has Just Begun," in 2002 on the New Orleans-based indie label Basin Street Records, Butler took things even deeper with his second release on that label, "Homeland," released in April 2004. In April 2008 Butler released his debut live album, PiaNOLA Live, a love letter to his birthplace, a work reflecting the inspiration he has long drawn from New Orleans and demonstrating how he, in turn, has given back that energy, leaving an indelible mark on the city’s musical legacy.

Click pic for more info.

JAZZ FOR ST. JUDE

Memphis Drum Shop, 878 South Cooper, will present the fourth

annual JAZZ FOR ST. JUDE Benefit Friday, December 5, 2008, at 7 p.m.

Prior to the show, Memphis Drum Shop will be joined by the Mid-South

Jazz Foundation, Inc., to host a wine-and-cheese reception at 6:15 p.m.

The Memphis Jazz Orchestra, a 17-piece big band, will provide the

music; featured singers will be Marilyn Kennedy and Tom Prestigiacomo.

The evening will be a celebrated showcase of Christmas classics. Proceeds

will go to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Tickets are $35 and are

available at Memphis Drum Shop, 878 South Cooper. For more

information, please call 901.272.2328 or go on-line to

www.memphisdrumshop.com.