Down On The Corner

By Paul Moffett

• Kush Griffith, a Louisville musician who played trumpet and did arranged for James Brown and Parliament Funkadelic, has had health problems for some time and now is in need of some assistance with medical expenses. There'll be a benefit for him on June 2 at Bobby J.'s Restaurant, 252 E. Market, featuring Maceo Parker and Melvin Parker, plus Louisville performers Project Redbook, Birdhouse, The Leisure Thieves and the ubiquitous Brigid Kaelin. There's a $10 ticket; showtime is 8p.m.

• Over at Touch 'n' Go/Quarterstick Records, there's an item reporting that Slint will stage a performance of Spiderland on July 13 at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago. Sonic Youth and GZA/Genius will play the same night. Check it out at http://pitchforkmusicfestival.com/ for all available info.

• The Public Radio Partnership, the management organization that runs Louisville's three public radio stations, is asking listeners to contact their Congressional Representatives in support of the Internet Radio Equality Act, which would roll back the recent increase in webcaster royalties mandated by the Copyright Royalty Board. They even offer some talking point scripts. Check it our at http://www.wfpk.org/crb_streams.htm

• There is a certain satisfaction in getting news about Louisville musicians from publicists normally associated with major labels and acts. Chris Volz, who is still touring with Flaw, has a record deal with Rock Ridge Music and promotion by Krista Mettler of Skye Media.

• As a measure of where the man has gotten to, consider this bit of detail from the press release: "Joining Volz in the studio for said recording experience were Matt Chiaravalle (Kittie, Crossbreed, Warren Zevon) and Jason Spiewak (Five.Bolt.Main) in both production capacity and as players on the record. Also performing on the record were: Danny Schuler (Biohazard), Chris Vitali (Orange 9mm), Johnny Pisano (Ryan Adams, Marky Ramone, Jesse Malin), and Rich Smalley (The NightRats, Looker)."

• The ongoing churning in the radio business has hit Louisville, where Radio One has agreed to sell five stations, according to the Courier-Journal. The company owns WDJX, WGZB, WLRS, WLRX, WMJM and WXMA in Louisville.

• The Louisville Youth Orchestra's summer camp for string players will be held June 25-29 at the Oldham County Arts Center in Crestwood. Participants will be coached by professional string instructors and musicians. Auditions for the LYO's 49th season will be September 7 through September 11.

Codas

Bickel, Doris D. Owen, 88, died May 1, 2007 She was a teacher of piano and harpsichord at the University of Louisville, and was made a Professor of Piano in 1971. She was a sought-after accompanist for singers and instrumentalists alike, and played in the Louisville Orchestra for several years. Well-known in musical circles outside Louisville, her house guests included Aaron Copland, and pianists John Browning and Richard Goode when they appeared with the LO. She was an avid supporter of the LO, Chamber Music Society, Kentucky Opera, and the Louisville Ballet. She was instrumental in founding the Friends of the School of Music.

Bittner, James A. "Jimmie," 95, died May 16, 2007. He was a promoter and entertainment consultant in his business, Bittner Entertainment. He also was an accomplished singer and songwriter and a member of the American Federation of Musicians.