Jazzin'

By Tim Roberts

"I used to have a band and no CD. Now I've got a CD and no band," Jak Son Renfro laughs over the telephone. He's been shopping his DisArmageddon CD, an ambitious, intelligent work described as an apocalyptic jazz pop opera. (See the review elsewhere in this issue) Backed by the Ron Hayden Group, Peter Rhee, and Rick Debow, Renfro, known for his work in Serpent Wisdom, had played with the DisArmageddon musicians only once, and that was during a debut party for the CD several weeks ago at Clifton's Pizza Co.

The work, which was almost ten years in the making, may end up exclusively as a recording, which may be unfortunate. There is enough imagery and drama in the work to provide some spectacular staging. Renfro's piercing, firm voice superbly handles all vocals, so perhaps the piece could be done as a solo with a small ensemble of ballet dancers pantomiming the story in the background.

But there are no plans to do further live performances, Renfro says. Hayden's band is booked for the next few months, so your only chance to hear DisArmageddon right now is to buy it. You can find it at any of the normal music outlets in the Bardstown/Bonnycastle culture knot.

Big Stars Coming to the City (or close by)

Pat Metheny comes to the Palace Theater on Thursday, November 6 at 8:00 p.m.. Tickets are $17.50 and $23.50.

Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter make an appearance (and will most likely play some, too) as part of the Kentucky Center for the Arts Lonesome Pine Special. You can see them on Thursday, November 20, at 8 p.m. in the Bomhard Theatre. Tickets are $22.50 and going fast.

T. S. Monk brings a cluster of all-star jazz talent to the University of Kentucky's Singletary Center for the Arts on Friday, November 14. His 12-member "Monk on Monk" show, a tribute to his late father, Thelonious, will include Bobby Watson, Danilo Perez, Neena Freelon, and Howard Johnson. The performance starts at 8 p.m.. Tickets available through Ticketmaster, or call 1-606-257-8427.

The Rippingtons will be at Jim Porter's Goodtime Emporium on Thursday, November 13 at 8 p.m.. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and Jim Porter's.

You can catch Splatch at O'Shea's on Saturday, November 1. Their CD release party at Barnes & Noble on October 17 gave the bookstore as big a jolt as you'd get from chugging a quart of Starbucks coffee. Their debut CD (reviewed last issue) is available throughout the city.

The next show in the Louisville Jazz Society's First Monday jazz series will feature the Lynn Ariale Trio on November 3 at 7:30 in the Seelbach Bar. Tickets are $8.00 for jazz society members, $12.00 for non-members.

The Joyce Cooling show set for the Backstage Café on Saturday, November 6 has been canceled, as it fell on the same night as Pat Metheny at the Palace. Look for a re-schedule on the next tour through.

The Everett Green Quartet will launch the Bank One Jazz Cabaret Series in the Clark-Todd Recital Hall on Sunday, November 16. The show starts at 6 p.m., and your $13.50 ticket price includes hors d'oeuvres and coffee. A cash bar is also available.

Other forthcoming Jazz Cabaret shows are For-U on December 14, Standard Time on January 25, and Soundchaser to close out the series on February 22.

Live Jazz in Louisville: What Separates Us from Sheer Barbarism.