December is a busy month, and I’ll be traveling around Florida for several gigs, but my favorite things are happening right here at home. Friday, December 11th, is the annual AIM for the Holidays concert at the hospital presented by Shands Arts in Medicine. It’s been my privilege to put on this concert for fifteen years, featuring all kinds of acts doing holiday music and music of many cultures. This year we’ve added the new South Tower Cancer Center location, and some new acts including the Ed Milla Jazz group and Silver & Ivory, along with “regulars” like the Gainesville Flute Ensemble and Rabbi Shaya Isenberg.
We also started a new AIM program today, Tunes in the Tunnel! My fellow musicians and I played bowed psaltery, recorder, guitar and silver flutes in the new Tunnel that people walk through to cross Archer Road. It’s kind of like buskers in the subways–but it’s a nice walk, and you don’t even have to put money in the guitar case! The acoustics are great, and the sound carries almost all the way through. We’re still experimenting with where to set up, whether to stay in one place or walk, having people start from each end and walk to the middle–we’re open to suggestion. Come join us for Tunes in the Tunnel at 2:00 every Friday in December.
In the past few weeks I’ve spent a lot of time in Melrose, and what a happenin’ place it is! Art, nature, and fun all converge to keep this unique, cozy community cookin’…and Saturday, December 12th should be no exception as the Patchwork girls perform at Bellamy Road for the art gallery’s bonfire and marshmallow roast. Music starts at 5:00 on the outdoor stage, near the bonfire, right after the Audobon birdwalk and before the 7:00 gallerytalk.
Then on Monday the 14th–I’m REALLY looking forward to singing jazz again right here in Gainesville! I’ll be part of Marty Liquori’s Jazztet band, along with the versatile Vic Donnell on keys and the amazing Mr. P. on drums. Hope you can make it out to Gainesville’s favorite jazz scene at Leonardo’s 706, where we’ll be scattin’ and swingin’, starting at 6:30!
One of the most beloved community events of the year is our annual Vets for Peace Winter Solstice concert on Saturday, December 19th, hosted by the inimitable Bill Hutchinson. This is a magical gathering, on the longest night of the year when the world starts “turning toward the morning”. A truly transcendental evening of music and mystery, unity and harmony–Come sing along with your annual favorites, enjoy new surprises, and get into the Solstice spirit.
I hope to see you out and about! Thanks for visiting my blog. If you have a moment, please visit my website www.cathydewitt.com where we’ve got 2-for-1 CDs, and check out Empower’s online newsletter, which is featuring my video and interview this month! http://www.empowerma.com/interview_cathydew.
