Wednesday, August 4,2010

Everybody dance now

Community Dance Project brings together professionals, students and energetic amateurs

by Lawrence Cosentino

“There’s an intrinsic impulse in every human to move to music, but you don’t always give yourself permission,” Newman said. “I want people in the audience to look at the dancers and say, ‘I could do that.’” The mass dance draws its energy from R

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Wednesday, August 4,2010

The therapist is way, way in

For Stanley Jordan, making music just comes naturally

by Lawrence Cosentino

Jordan isn’t turning his back on razzledazzle. “State of Nature” closes with a joyful, Grammy-nominated stomp through Joe Jackson’s “Steppin’ Out.” As headliner at Lansing’s JazzFest, he’ll treat the crowd to a solo set unleashing the famous “tapping” style that lets him play two melodies, even two guitars, at once.

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Wednesday, August 4,2010

Andrew Kratzat: Sit back and relax

by Lawrence Cosentino

You might not think “improvisation” and “dentistry” would go together. In fact, you might dread the slightest possibility. But you are not Andrew Kratzat.

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Wednesday, August 4,2010

Etienne Charles: Blue Note ' with bare feet

by Lawrence Cosentino

If there’s one character Charles identifies with, it’s Papa Bois, the serene protector of the woods. “He’s known to have a bullhorn,” Charles said. “That image of him goin’ up and blowing on the horn is what I imagined when I wrote it.”.

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Wednesday, August 4,2010

Derrick Gardner: Honoring an idol

by Lawrence Cosentino

The file of jazz goodies in Gardner’s head isn’t slim, but two of jazz’s most rhythm-a-licious hits are on top: pianist Ahmad Jamal’s deep bumpgroove on “Poinciana” and the sizzling swingon-bossa sandwich Art Blakey pressed together for “Pensativa.”.

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Wednesday, July 21,2010

Now they’re cooking with gas

How BWL’s proposed plant changes the game

by Lawrence Cosentino

The proposed $182 million plant would burn natural gas to turn a turbine, generating electricity ' about 100 megawatts for the proposed BWL plant, making up most of the 120 megawatts lost when the oldest Eckert units shut down in four to eight years.

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Wednesday, July 21,2010

Is that the train, ma?

Grand Trunk depot’s longest wait may be over

by Lawrence Cosentino

The crenellated Jacobean Revival confection will be restored as part of a $182 million project centering on a new natural gas-powered cogeneration plant. The depot will be used for BWL meetings and events, but will also be opened up to the surrounding community.

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Wednesday, July 21,2010

Boilers and business

How a power plant became an urban development

by Lawrence Cosentino

REO Town, the historic district south of Lansing’s hub, is home to several new businesses, loft apartment projects and a new art gallery, but the area’s renaissance has slowed in recent years. The bustle of 1,000 to 1,200 construction jobs is expected to jump-start a new wave of activity.

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Wednesday, July 14,2010

'It isn't such a nasty river anymore'

2010 Grand River Expedition pushes currents of change

by Lawrence Cosentino

Say you want to canoe down the Au Sable River in northern Michigan for a few days and hang with the deer, eagles and smallmouth bass. The local Chamber of Commerce will stuff your rucksack with dozens of brochures for campgrounds where you can stab a wienie and sleep under the stars.

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Wednesday, July 14,2010

Taken by Gypsies

Virtuoso guitarist digs a Django groove

by Lawrence Cosentino

Jorgenson, 54, has backed a lot of heavyweight artists, from Sting and Streisand to Luciano Pavarotti, Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. He scored critically and commercially in the country-jazz Desert Rose Band and the three-guitar supergroup The Hellecasters.

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