I got an email press release today about the JazzFest this weekend. Anybody going? I should be there.
Lansing, MI (August 2, 2010) – The 16th annual Lansing JazzFest (held August 6-7) will offer attendees an educational experience, thanks to the MICA Stage’s performers and instructors.
The Michigan Institute for Contemporary Art (MICA) is a non-profit organization acting as a catalyst for quality arts programming, historic renovation and community development. Educational opportunities in the arts are the focus of the MICA Stage.
Opening the stage Friday is the Jazz Percussion Clinic, featuring Dave Zerbe on percussion, Ed Fedewa on bass and Arlene McDaniels on piano. Zerbe started playing the drums when he was two years old and hasn’t stopped since. This director of percussion studies and bands has taught at Alma College since 1988.
“I wanted to teach because I had the desire to pass on what I have learned and help to spread a different philosophy of percussion instrument playing,” Zerbe says.
Also on Friday night is the Saxophone Workshop with Andrew Bishop. Bishop is an active composer, saxophonist, and clarinetist in highly diversified musical idioms. He holds five degrees in music and has received over 20 commissions from professional organizations and universities, in addition to numerous residencies, recognitions and awards from well-known national organizations.
Closing out the night Friday is The Michigan Trombone Project. Comprised of some of the finest trombone players in Michigan, along with a solid rhythm section, the Michigan Trombone Project delivers a new level of excellence in jazz trombone performance. The Michigan Trombone Project is the creation of Carl Poposki.
First thing Saturday, the Children’s Ballet Theatre takes the stage. For 30 years, CBT has thrilled mid-Michigan audiences with the talent and exuberance of its young dancers, ages 8 to 18. Under the direction of Artistic Director Gregory George, these dancers participate in creating their own choreography and exploring the inner artist. This diversity will be reflected in their performance at the JazzFest, where the CBT dancers will present an eclectic mélange of classical and contemporary ballet.
Following them is Happendance, a cultural treasure in the Lansing area and Michigan’s longest-running professional modern dance company. The dancers, age 12 to 18, are selected by audition and commit to pre-professional training and rehearsal in a variety of dance styles.
The Trumpet Showcase with Derrick Gardner, Etienne Charles and Mike Sailors will feature these three extraordinary jazz trumpet masters, each of whom will also be performing on the main stage line-up with their respective bands.
For something fresh and new, don’t miss the Jazz Guitar Clinic with Elden Kelly. A guitarist, singer and songwriter, he entrances audiences with a style composed of diverse elements that speak about something fresh, relevant, urgent and new in today’s world.
Jazz incorporates some of the most creative improvisational solo performances by musicians who are truly artistic masters. A solid rhythm section provides the heartbeat from which jazz performers explore their musical artistry and express themselves. The Rhythm Section Workshop will highlight the inner workings of laying down the groove, taking place on the MICA stage Saturday.
Closing the stage out on Saturday will be a Singer/Songwriter Workshop with Tracy Kash Thomas. Thomas, an award-winning performer and composer, will discuss songwriting concepts and tools she uses in her unique brand of songwriting. She will answer questions such as, “How does one write a song? Where do the ideas come from? Where do you start?”
For all of this and much more, join Old Town in celebrating the 2010 Lansing JazzFest!
The Lansing JazzFest is a free community music festival, attracting attendees from across the city, state, and region. It is produced annually by the Michigan Institute for Contemporary Art (MICA) and Old Town Business and Art Development Association (OTBADA), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to quality arts programming, the preservation of historic buildings and economic development. JazzFest is still accepting volunteers. See www.jazzlansing.com or call 517-371-4600 for more information.
RE: sprawl- I have not seen an example of" good" sprawl, especally when it is not driven by a large increase in population. Generally it is bad for the environment, bad for cities, and expensive for almost everyone in the long run! Someone show me good sprawl!
Yup, and if I remember right the city limits stop at the west and south edge of the trailer park.
I've taken deliveries there and I have to say, it's horrible. The roads are hardly roads and the trailers themselves are about the worst that I've seen. I hope they find another use for the site, I don't see much chance of the place improving under its current owner.
I've been thinking about the factory complex at Mt. Hope and Washington for awhile now and its potential for redevelopment, I think I've mentioned it before. It seems like such a great opportunity for something special because of its location along with the size of the site, variety of buildings and open land for new development. After reading the City Pulse story, Discontent at the Market, I started thinking that maybe downtown, on the riverfront isn't really the best spot for the type of market a city market ought to be. But I think the buildings that currently have the Atlas Drop Forge in them are the perfect spot for an Eastern Market type of City Market, and that thought rekindled my interest in this site. Turning the drop forge buildings into Eastern Market-like sheds would be the perfect low cost, high impact redevelopment that would be a catalyst for the rest of the site. I have a few thoughts on the site and I'd like to know what any of you think, or if you have your own ideas, or if you think it wouldn't be worth redevelopment at all, which may be reasonable. I'll try to be quick since this is already too long.
To begin with, I think the rail line needs to be replaced by a road. At first I thought it should be a trail, but the site needs a real road going through it to support development. The rail line would allow a road that could angle off Washington and go all the way to MLK or even Holmes if you wanted. The first thought I had about the site was how glassing in some of the gaps in the multistory factory buildings would make for some great atriums. The easiest and best use I could think of was a mall. I still think it would be a great idea since people love the "urban experience," but also love indoor malls, but I also doubt anyone would invest in bringing a mall to these buildings. So the big question for me is how to use the big multifloor buildings? Obviously some mix of residential, retail and office but it's a lot of space, the only other idea I have would be to market a portion of the space to medical offices since the hospital is so close. I was going to go on about all the potential for carving interesting spaces out of old industrial buildings, but the old Ottawa Plant speaks volumes about the feel I'd want to emulate here. Anyways, any thoughts, ideas or criticisms would be welcome.
It looks like the Days Inn on West Saginaw in Delta Township has a death sentence. The property is being marketed for redevelopment. Below is a link to the flyer marketing the property.
I was at this location today and talked to one of the owners and he said the plans are for a new hotel and retail complex to be built. He said that they had plans for a Hilton to be located next to exit ramp for 96 and that in the retail side there would be a Subway and Five Guys Burgers moving into the retail portion. I don't know how credible this info is in regards to the actual tenants nor whether or not the hotel would be built either but he did have specific names of businesses and also said that demolition of the current Days Inn would start in November of this year. If you look at the flyer it doesn't say anything about a hotel but does show the retail and a restaurant. Either way this location will be developed given the location and easy access to the freeway not to mention it is on Saginaw Hwy.
Comments
I'd like to see a building like this around here. Anything that's cheaper, greener and can draw positive attention seems like a win all around.
I've taken deliveries there and I have to say, it's horrible. The roads are hardly roads and the trailers themselves are about the worst that I've seen. I hope they find another use for the site, I don't see much chance of the place improving under its current owner.
To begin with, I think the rail line needs to be replaced by a road. At first I thought it should be a trail, but the site needs a real road going through it to support development. The rail line would allow a road that could angle off Washington and go all the way to MLK or even Holmes if you wanted. The first thought I had about the site was how glassing in some of the gaps in the multistory factory buildings would make for some great atriums. The easiest and best use I could think of was a mall. I still think it would be a great idea since people love the "urban experience," but also love indoor malls, but I also doubt anyone would invest in bringing a mall to these buildings. So the big question for me is how to use the big multifloor buildings? Obviously some mix of residential, retail and office but it's a lot of space, the only other idea I have would be to market a portion of the space to medical offices since the hospital is so close. I was going to go on about all the potential for carving interesting spaces out of old industrial buildings, but the old Ottawa Plant speaks volumes about the feel I'd want to emulate here. Anyways, any thoughts, ideas or criticisms would be welcome.
http://search.midamericagrp.com/property_files/flyer_52689.pdf
I was at this location today and talked to one of the owners and he said the plans are for a new hotel and retail complex to be built. He said that they had plans for a Hilton to be located next to exit ramp for 96 and that in the retail side there would be a Subway and Five Guys Burgers moving into the retail portion. I don't know how credible this info is in regards to the actual tenants nor whether or not the hotel would be built either but he did have specific names of businesses and also said that demolition of the current Days Inn would start in November of this year. If you look at the flyer it doesn't say anything about a hotel but does show the retail and a restaurant. Either way this location will be developed given the location and easy access to the freeway not to mention it is on Saginaw Hwy.