THE GAZETTE
Wednesday, October 16, 2013 o
Page B-9
Hit a home run with a Dubbel
BREWS BROTHERS STEVEN FRANK AND ARNOLD MELTZER
REEVES
Continued from Page B-5 tradition of jazz; taking famous songs and giving them a jazz perspective.” Reeves was born in Detroit and grew up in Denver. She said in her family, “music was not just entertainment, but a way of life.” Both of Reeves’ parents were musicians and her uncle was a bass player in the Denver Symphony Orchestra. “My uncle was really at the center for a lot of the music for the young people in our family.” That included George Duke, Reeves’ cousin and a renowned jazz-funk keyboardist. Duke passed away in August at age 67. Though she sang with fam-
MAGIC
Continued from Page B-5 lives in Alexandria, Va., spends his days making magic cool for a whole new generation. Though Halloween is his busiest time of year, Romano works year-round performing in schools, at parties
MUSIC
Continued from Page B-5 think that maybe we don’t have all the pressures and stresses and disappointments in life. We do, of course, have all those things. We have the joy of writing songs about them instead of just internalizing them. From the friction that everyone has in
DANCES Hollywood Ballroom, Oct. 16, free International Quickstep Routine lesson at 7:30 p.m., Social Ballroom Dance at 8:15 p.m. ($16); Oct. 17, 24, Tea Dance from 12:30–3:30 p.m. ($6); Oct. 18, drop-in lessons from 7:30-9 p.m., West Coast Swing Dancing with Dance Jam Productions at 9 p.m. ($15); Oct. 20, free Tango lesson at 7 p.m., Social Ballroom Dance at 8 p.m. ($16); Oct. 23, free International Quickstep Routine lesson at 7:30 p.m., Social Ballroom Dance at 8:15 p.m. ($16), 2126 Industrial Highway, Silver Spring, 301-3261181, www.hollywoodballroomdc. com
Dubbel is a Belgian-style brown ale originally brewed at Trappist monasteries but now produced by many other breweries in Belgium and the United States. For many people Dubbels are their first introduction to Belgian beers because of their soft and sweet flavors. These are modern re-creations of beers brewed in the Middle Ages at monasteries.
Modern Dubbels were first brewed by the Trappist Abbey of Westmalle in 1856 as a strong version of a brown beer. In 1926 the recipe was reformulated to, among other things, slightly increase its strength. This Dubbel Bruin beer was quickly copied and became widespread. The name Dubbel probably derives from an earlier time with widespread illiteracy, when Belgian Abbey brewers marked their casks with x, xx and xxx, denoting increasing levels of alcohol, but only relative strength was intended. The marks also indicated greater volumes of ingredients in the brewing mash. Eventually the Abbey brewers replaced the various x markings with single, dubbel and tripel. Dubbels and tripels were used for holidays and religious celebrations. Dubbels are brewed with dark candi sugar, a special cane or beet sugar that has been caramelized. Different from most brown beers, which derive their color from roasted malts that add chocolate and coffee flavors, the candi sugar adds the color and flavors of burnt sugar and raisins. Other flavors come from the use of special Belgian yeasts. Many of the best versions are bottle conditioned. They are dark amber to dark brown, usually with a reddish hue. Dubbels have a medium-full body and an aroma of malty sweetness, and may have notes of chocolate, caramel, dark fruits and occasionally apples or bananas. Flavors including dark fruits (plums, raisins, dried cherries) are common and clove-like spiciness is optional, with the flavors balanced toward malts. Dubbels have a full mouth feel, and a low hop presence (15-30 International Bittering Units), mostly from noble-type floral hops. The alcohol content ranges from 6.25 to 8.5 percent alcohol by volume. Dubbels are robust beers that, among the meats, pair well with barbecue, stews, rib roasts, lamb and duck. They also compliment seared scal-
IN THE ARTS
Glen Echo Park is at 7300 MacArthur Blvd. Blues, Capital Blues: Thurs-
days, 8:15 p.m. beginner lesson, 9-11:30 p.m. dancing to DJs, Glen Echo Park’s Spanish Ballroom Annex, $8, www.capitalblues.org. Contra, Oct. 18, Steve Gester calls to Triple Helix; Oct. 25, Will Mentor with Perpetual Emotion, 7:30 p.m. lesson, 8:30 p.m. dance, Glen Echo Park Spanish Ballroom, $10, www.fridaynightdance.org. Contra & Square, Oct. 20, Jean Gorrindo with Crab Apples; Oct. 27, Costume Dance with Perpetual e-Motion, Will Mentor calling, 7:30 p.m., Glen Echo Park Spanish Ballroom, $12 for general, $9 for members, $5 for students, www. fsgw.org. English Country, Oct. 16, Caller: Stephanie Smith; Oct. 23, Special Guest Jacqueline Schwab on piano; Oct. 30, Caller: Marth Siegel, 8 p.m., Glen Echo Town Hall (upstairs), www.fsgw.org.
Now and Then Dance Studio, Saturday Ballroom dances,
BREWS BROTHERS
Ommegang Abbey Ale hails from Cooperstown, N.Y. lops, washed rind and cheddar cheeses, and sweets such as dark chocolate, truffles and chocolate bread pudding. Westmalle Dubbel (6.5% ABV) is brewed by the Trappist Abbey of Westmalle in Westmalle, Belgium. This classic of the style has a wonderful medium sweet malt aroma with a touch of melon. Complex and sherry-like, the Westmalle Dubbel has a muted sweet malt front and a middle of currants, melon and a splash of alcohol. The currants, melon and malt flavors grow in the finish and last into the aftertaste before fading. Ratings: 9/9. Allagash Dubbel (7% ABV), produced by Allagash Brewing in Portland, Maine, has a light, dull raisin nose leading to a medium sweet malt front. The raisins burst into the middle,
reaching medium, and lasting into the finish and aftertaste. A touch of bitter hops joins in the aftertaste and lingers. Ratings: 6.5/6.5. Ommegang (8.5% ABV) is made by Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, N.Y. Its candi sugar, fruit and plum bouquet presages a light sugar front with hints of dark fruit. The effervescent middle displays a moderate dark cherry and with notes of dark plum that continue in the finish, merging with a light yeast. In the aftertaste, the fruity character lingers, joined by a touch of licorice and a slight alcoholic warmth. Ratings: 8.0/7.5. Peres Trappist Ale (7% ABV), popularly known as Chimay Red, is brewed at the Scourmont Abbey in Chimay, Belgium. Chimay Red has a re-
ily for years, Reeves said it wasn’t until junior high school that she realized just how much she loved performing in front of other people. “I was doing a project with our choir,” she remembered. “I had been singing at home but I never sang in front of audiences. And I loved the feeling that I got. It was empowering. I loved that the audience responded the way it did. It was an incredible experience and I thought, ‘I want to do this.’” Reeves pays tribute to some of the artists she grew up with on “Beautiful Life,” including a cover of “I Want You,” by Marvin Gaye. “[I grew up] listening to people like Marvin Gaye and loved ‘The Temptations,’” Reeves said. “Motown music was very much a part of our lives at that time.”
strained cherry nose. The medium candi sugar sweet front leads into a light sweet cherry middle that lasts into the finish, where a modest raisin is added. These flavors continue into the slightly dry aftertaste, where the cherry fades but the raisin and candi sweetness linger. Ratings: 7.5/7.5. Other dubbels include Flying Fish Abbey Dubbel (Somerdale, N.J., 7.2% ABV, 7.5/7.5); Brewers Art Resurrection (Pottstown, Pa., 7% ABV, 6.5/6.5); Dogfish Head Raison D’Etre
(Milton, Del., 8% ABV, 8.5/8.5;
Sierra Nevada Ovila Dubbel
(Chico, Calif., 7.5% ABV, 7/6.5); Legacy Dear Abbey Dubbel
(Reading, Pa., 7.5% ABV, 7.5/7);
New Belgium Abbey (Fort Col-
lins, Colo., 7% ABV, 8/7.5) and
Goose Island Pere Jacques (Chi-
cago, Ill., 8 percent ABV, 7.5/7).
But it was another, perhaps more surprising genre of music that has helped to shape Reeves’ sound over the course of her successful career. “When I first started performing in Los Angeles, I worked on a project with Caldera and with Eduardo de Barrio from Argentina,” Reeves said. Caldera was an American jazz-funk band with a heavy Latin influence. Reeves said she was immediately drawn to Latin music. “I just loved it,” she said. Reeves’ immersion into the Latin genre continued into the 1980s when Reeves caught the attention of Latin-jazz and salsa musician and composer Tito Puente and Brazilian musician Sérgio Mendes. The Latin influence has remained a constant staple
second and fourth Saturdays, beginner group lesson at 8 p.m., open dancing at 9 p.m., $10 cash at door (all men admitted at half price throughout October), 10111 Darnestown Road, Rockville. 301424-0007, www.nowandthendancestudios.com. Scottish Country Dancing, 8-10 p.m. Mondays, steps and formations taught. No experience, partner necessary, T-39 Building on NIH campus, Wisconsin Avenue and South Drive, Bethesda, 240505-0339. Swing, Nov. 9, WWII Canteen Dance with the Eric Felten Jazz Orchestra; Dec. 14, Daryl Davis, lesson at 8 p.m., dancing at 9 p.m., Glen Echo Park, $15, www.flyingfeet.org. Waltz, Oct. 6, Larry, Elke and Friends; Oct. 20, Gigmeisters, 2:45-3:30 p.m. lesson, 3:30-6 p.m., dance, $10, www.waltztimedances.org.
MUSIC & DANCE Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club, Abbe Buck, 7:30 p.m. Oct.
16; Ingratitude: A Tribute to Earth, Wind & Fire, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18; The Fabulous Hubcabs, 8 p.m. Oct. 19; Deaf Dog and the Indictments & Feels So Good Band, 7 p.m. Oct. 20, call for tickets, 7719 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda. 240-330-4500, www.bethesdabluesjazz.com. BlackRock Center for the Arts, Buskin & Batteau, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17; Furever (film), 8 p.m. Oct. 18;
in Reeves’ career and a personal favorite even though she said she doesn’t always understand the lyrics. “Miriam Makeba, Celia Cruz, all of these people that I ended up listening to and hearing them in concert and stuff and not really knowing what they’re saying,” Reeves said. “There were records I would play over and over and over again and started to understand the power of music is beyond words.” Reeves honors the universal language of music in “Tango,” a track off of “Beautiful Life.” “‘Tango’ is a wordless song and it is inspired by all of the records I have in my collection of people’s music who I love ...” Reeves said. While the Latin feel of “Beauti-
The Spooky Magic of Joe Romano, 1 p.m. Oct. 19; Carolyn Malachi, 8 p.m. Oct. 19; Julie Fowlis, 8 p.m. Oct. 25-26, call for tickets, 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown. 301-528-2260, www.blackrockcenter.org. Fillmore Silver Spring, Rusko — The Lift Off Tour with Special Guests Roni Size and Dynamite MC, 8 p.m. Oct. 18; Aaron Carter, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20, 8656 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, 301-960-9999, FillmoreSilverSpring.com, www. livenation.com.
Institute of Musical Traditions — Takoma Park, Celtic Voices:
Lisa Moscatiello, Barbara Tresidder Ryan & Loralyn Coles, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 16; Takoma Park Community Center, call for prices, times, Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Ave., Takoma Park, 301-960-3655, www.imtfolk.org. Institute of Musical Traditions — Rockville, Avril Smith,
Becky Warren & Friends, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21, Saint Mark Presbyterian Church, 10701 Old Georgetown Road, Rockville, call for prices, www.imtfolk.org. Strathmore, Afternoon Tea, 1 p.m. Oct. 16, 22-23, 29-30; Loren Westbrook-Fritts, rock cellist, with Primitivity, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 16; Franz Ferdinand, 8 p.m. Oct. 17; Dianne Reeves, 8 p.m. Oct. 18; The D.C. Arts Scene and Beyond, 10 a.m. Oct. 19; BSO: Romantic Tchaikovsky, 8 p.m. Oct. 19; Kids EuroFestival: Have you Ever Been? Marco Bonisimo, 11 a.m., 1 p.m. Oct. 20; Beijing Symphony Orchestra, 7 p.m. Oct. 20; The Mancuso-Suzda Project, avant garde jazz duo, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23; BSO: Brahms’ Third Symphony, 8 p.m. Oct. 24; Maurice Steger Trio, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 25; WPAS: Yuja Wang, piano, 8 p.m. Oct. 25; Mandolin Workshop: Crossover Techniques for Bach, Bluegrass and Beyond, 10 a.m. Oct. 26; Ikebana: Japanese Flower Power Workshop, noon, Oct. 26; National Philharmonic: Mostly Schumann - Zuill Bailey Cello Recital, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 26; National Philharmonic: Romantic Sentiments, 8 p.m. Oct. 26; National Philharmonic: Romantic Sentiments, 3 p.m. Oct. 27; Voice, 7 p.m., 9:30 p.m. Oct. 30-31; Chris Thile, 8 p.m. Oct. 30; Bootsy Collins, 8 p.m. Oct. 31, call for venue, Locations: Mansion, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda; Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, 301581-5100, www.strathmore.org.
ON STAGE Adventure Theatre, “Goodnight Moon,” to Oct. 27, call for prices, times, Adventure Theatre MTC, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, 301-634-2270, www.adventuretheatre-mtc.org. Imagination Stage, “Lulu and the Brontosaurus,” to Oct. 27, call for prices, times, Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, www.imaginationstage. org Olney Theatre Center, Bedlam Theatre presents “Hamlet” and “Saint Joan,” to Oct. 20, call for prices, times, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, 301-924-3400, www.olneytheatre.org.
ful Life” is nothing new for Reeves, the record’s soulful vibe is. “I wanted a record that had a fresh kind of framework around it,” Reeves said. “Be myself but do something that is new and current ... I had never done a soulful infused record ... it was something different.” Whether it’s her familiar Latin feel or the less familiar soulful sound audiences connect with Friday night, Reeves said she hopes people leave “uplifted.” “When I’m in front of them, I’m uplifted,” Reeves said. “Given the times we’re in ... hopefully it’s a place where they can feel really, really good and forget what’s going on for a minute and have some peace.” chedgepeth@gazette.net
DIANNE REEVES n When: 8 p.m. Friday n Where: Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda n Tickets: $29-$70 n For information: 301-5815100, strathmore. org
and corporate events. When school is in session, Romano travels to elementary schools as far north as Long Island, N.Y., and as far south as Richmond, Va., for his program “Books: The Magic is Real!” Romano started the program in 1998 and teaches academic subjects such as reading and math
and character education and conflict resolution through illusions and magic tricks. “You have to find that balance,” Romano said. “When it comes to the entertainment portion, I’m really looking at the kids and for the educational aspect, I’m looking at the teachers.”
One of the leading school shows in the Northeast, Romano hopes to expand “The Magic is Real!” to schools in other states across the country. “We sold a license [for the show] to someone in Seattle. That’s the first step in franchising our show,” Romano said. “I think I’d like to expand our
brand more in other states.” Romano also has his eyes set on TV. “I wouldn’t mind giving ‘America’s Got Talent’ a shot,” he said. While “America’s Got Talent” reaches an older audience, Romano’s already managed to capture the attention of his
younger fans. “I think I know what kids kind of gravitate toward ...” he said. “To keep kids’ attention for 45 minutes is a challenge ... It’s a challenge to combine a message with magic and I like that. It’s a fun thing to do.”
their lives, we farm songs.” Stay and Quinn spent most of last year on the road, traveling from place to place performing. The two read a lot of different books during their travels. “There’s a lot of downtime when you’re on the road and we both like to read,” Stay said. “It’s a small van, so we only have a certain number of books. We were reading the same books
over the course of a week and we’d chat about them. I thought it would just be fun if we saw where those stories took us.” From those conversations came Friction Farm’s latest album, “I Read Your Book,” a collection of songs inspired by those books. The books ranged in theme from “The Voyage of the Beagle” to “Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter.”
“[We didn’t do it] with the intent of making a CD,” Stay said. “It was, ‘Let’s make some songs and see what it does for us musically and just put it aside.’ In the end, we came up with … songs based on the books. “It’s not necessarily a straight line from the book to the song.” For those who have never had the chance to see Friction
Farm perform, Stay said nothing can quite compare to a live show. “Obviously, we’re going to play music from this CD and the previous ones,” Stay said. “The reason I think people should come out to a live show, rather than just buy the CD, is that it’s a very different experience. We do a lot of chatting with the audience and talk about where the
songs come from and our life on the road. We sort of feed off their energy in terms of figuring out where the set list is going to go. It’s a very different experience than sitting on your own and listening. It’s more energetic, it’s more spontaneous. It’s very much a cooperative effort with the audience.”
chedgepeth@gazette.net
wfranklin@gazette.net