The holiday theme and some Saturday night blues top best bets this week.
On Friday night the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra’s Holiday Pops concert features Irish-American vocalist Cathie Ryan for “A Winter’s Heart Celtic Music Celebration.”
Led by music director José-Luis Novo, the symphony and Ryan with her two-piece band will take the stage at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts for a night of traditional and original holiday songs mixed with rousing jigs and reels.
Cathie Ryan has been in the vanguard of Irish music for over 25 years, including five solo albums, many awards and countless musical collaborations.
Ryan has a knack for unearthing gems from Irish and American song traditions, creating her own heart-stirring originals, and for showcasing writers whose work deserves wider recognition.
The show features the full Annapolis Symphony Orchestra plus Ryan and her award-winning band featuring Patsy O’Brien on guitar and Patrick Mangan on fiddle.
Cathie Ryan Band has built a loyal following by touring internationally and singing “songs of the heart” at performing arts centers, festivals, folk clubs, and with symphony orchestras. She and the band have been featured on national and public television throughout the world. Their radio highlights include NPR’s “Mountain Stage” and “Thistle and Shamrock,” PRI’s “The World,” BBC in England and Northern Ireland, Radio Scotland, and RTÉ and RnaG in Ireland.
Tickets are $47 to $95 and are available at annapolissymphony.org or through the box office at 410-263-0907.
On Saturday night blues man Linwood Taylor and Still Standing plays at Blair’s Londontown Pub and Grill. There is no cover charge for the 9 p.m. show.
For more than 30 years Taylor has been playing the blues, fronting his own band and touring for two years with Joe Louis Walker.
He has played across the country and abroad but is centered here in the mid-Atlantic.
met and played with many of his early heroes including the late Albert Collins and more recently Joe Louis Walker. Not many blues artists can say they’ve recorded with H.R. of the Bad Brains (hardcore punk band formed in D.C. in the late 1970s) as well as performed with Albert Collins, but Taylor can.
Still Standing comprises a rhythm section featuring Wolf Crescenze and drummer Joe Wells.
Crescenze has been leading blues jams across the area for years including Wednesdays at Londontowne (where Taylor leads the jam every other week). He has been a player since his garage band days in the late ’60s and over the years played with Pinetop Perkins, Guitar Shorty, Zac Harmon, Tab Benoit, The Nighthawks’ Mark Wenner and scores more.
Wells is also a veteran having played with Tom Principato and Memphis Gold plus providing a solid groove behind players like Coco Montoya, Bob Margolin, Bill Kirchen, Jimmy Thackery and many others.
49 West hosts three nights of Yule-themed jazz starting Sunday night with pianist Stef Staggiari and singer Sue Mathews, plus Steve Abshire on guitar.
Staggiari, Matthews and Abshire, all of who have been steady contributors to the jazz scene in Annapolis, will celebrate the of Solstice and the holidays. There will be “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire” and “Santa Baby” too.
It’s a popular show so there are two shows at 4 and 8 p.m. in the limited seating venue. Tickets are $25 and available at 49westcoffeehouse.com.
On Wednesday night it’s Starr’s Christmas Jazz Jam. Starr has been hosting jazz jams at 49 West for ages but this will be a special holiday edition.
Starr on bass, flute and vocals will lead group singing of holiday songs for this jam. Larry Scott is at the piano, Kevin Whisman is on drums and Dick Glass is “all brass” on the flugelhorn, though he also can swing on the bass. The first set will be all jazz ,the second set welcomes jazz instrumentalists and singers from the audience and then the whole house will join in song for set three. Tickets are $10 for the jam beginning at 7 p.m.
Next Friday the Redd Brothers Christmas hits 49 West.
Chuck Redd is an amazing vibraphonist and especially at Christmas.
He’ll bring both jazz and classical tones on the vibes while brother Robert’s piano work soars. This is the 14th year presenting a Redd Christmas in Annapolis and it has become a tradition for many. Chuck performed for almost 20 years with the Charlie Byrd Trio at The Maryland Inn. These musicians are definitely part of the Annapolis jazz family.
Tickets are $25 at for the 8 p.m. show and available via 49westcoffeehouse.com.
