On a weekend when the UT Pride of the Southland Marching Band was playing the mournful “Tennessee Waltz” following the Vols’ loss to Auburn, the rest of Knoxville was enjoying its usual diverse musical buffet. I just can’t believe all the live music that goes on here. If you can’t find some good music in Knoxville, you must be dead!
Here are the highlights of our musical weekend:
The Johnson Swingtet Friday at Artscapes
Friday night saw The Johnson Swingtet playing “music to bid by” at the Knoxville Museum of Art for the annual Artscapes fundraiser. Several hundred folks browsed through the galleries and mingled with the artists for a silent and live auction to raise money for the museum. The Johnson Swingtet plays jazz and swing music from the 1930s – ’50s. The way I describe their eclectic music: it’s just happy.
From left, Kay and Jim Clayton, Anne and Dick Goldstine
Artist Heather Whiteside poses beside her painting
From left, Ellen Robinson, artist Marga Hayes McBride, and Peter Acly
Willene Chalmers, left, and Janet Vail
Architect Duane Grieve and Sylvia Peters
Hector Qirko, left, and R.B. Morris tune up prior to the second set at Saturday's house concert in South Knoxville
Hecor Qirko takes a break
Dale Lohrey and Emily Ellis grab a snack during intermission
The intermission buffet table
And Sunday, the downpour didn’t dampen the party spirit of several hundred folks who took cover in Sherri Lee’s four-bay garage on Cove Island Drive. The Knoxville Jazz Orchestra played under the breezeway rather than “under the stars” as advertised, but a good time was had by all. The food, catered by Scott and Company, bears special mention. It’s hard to properly cook filet mignon for hundreds, but they managed to do it. And the crab cakes also drew raves.
Knoxville Jazz Orchestra in the breezeway
Will Boyd takes a solo
Tim and Amy Williams
Bill Regas and Janet Testerman Crossley
Melinda Meador and Milton McNally
Sheena McCall and Ken Levine
Hostess Sherri Lee and Gerald Gibson
In addition to those photographed, here are some others who came: Jim and Natalie Haslam, Bill and Barbara Arant, Bill and Elisabeth Rukeyser, Bob and Marie Alcorn, Jay and Marga Hayes McBride, Sharon and Joe Pryse, Ann and Sam Furrow, Betsy Child, Lindsay and John J. Duncan III, Joe and Ronda Landsman, Laura and Carl Eshbaugh, Dr. John and Sylvia Lacey, Dick and Ann Ince, Jimmy and Ileen Cheek, Barbara and Bernie Bernstein, Sarah Stowers, Ross and Glady Faires, Mary Helen and Fran Olmsted, Ellen Robinson and Peter Acly.
Wow. What a musical whirlwind. Two things impressed me: first, we only scratched the surface. There were literally dozens of other musical offerings all over town. And, two: all three of these were well attended — sell-outs, even. I think it’s thrilling.
Did you have a musical weekend, too? Do tell!
Photo credit: The bottom three photos from the house concert Saturday are by Dr. Judy Roy.
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