ANNIVERSARY PJ PARTY WITH JAKE LEG STOMPERS TO BENEFIT MOVEMBER In celebration of Mayday Brewery’s fourth anniversary—and founder Ozzy Nelson’s birthday— the local craft brewery will host an inaugural Pajama Jam from 1–9 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3. Staying true to tradition, Mayday’s anniversary party will benefit Movember, a global initiative aimed at raising awareness about prostate cancer through the growing of moustaches. Attendees can enjoy a performance by Jake Leg Stompers, and small batch Peanut Butter & Jam beer. Local Movember organizer Jonathan Taylor said he’s excited about another year of celebrating the moustache for charity. “Ozzy and his team excel at putting together fun events that the community can enjoy, having a great time while raising money for a good cause at the same time,” Taylor said. “Movember encourages men to grow a mustache for the month of November as their ‘awareness ribbon’ to raise money for men’s health and cancer research.” Admission is free and Mayday’s doors will open at 1 p.m. Nelson will get the crowd warmed up with a one-of-a-kind brewery tour (in his pajamas, of course) at 3, 4 and 5 p.m, and live music kicks off at 6 p.m. For more information on Mayday, visit maydaybrewery.com; to donate, visit mobro.co/jtaylor.
Even in a city like Nashville, where the level of talent on hand requires a redefinition of musical excellence, there are moments when something of magnificence sails above and beyond even an elevated norm like Nashville’s. The Schermerhorn Symphony Center hosted one of those experiences on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 20, when world-famous violinist Itzhak Perlman appeared in recital with pianist Rohan De Silva. Perlman and De Silva performed for more than 90 minutes, offering compositions by names both familiar and lesser-known, with many highlights appearing late in the concert, after three programmed selections by Beethoven, Franck and Stravinsky were presented. Perlman, whose fame has spread further than perhaps any other living performer from the classical realm, received a nearly swooning response from the audience when he reprised his recorded performance of John Williams’ “Theme From Schindler’s List” and proceeded to display breathtaking technique in three other short pieces. While it goes without say-
ing that the two musicians played flawlessly, there is more than mere technical perfection to be considered when a master violinist such as Perlman lifts his bow. Perlman’s mastery produced performances with deep and profound expression, augmented by very funny comments that brought to mind the late pianist and humorist Victor Borge. “This is [the composer’s work] number five. That means he wrote other pieces.” It bears mention that this was a performance done without a microphone. Unless you’re listening to a street musician, it’s a rare opportunity indeed in the 21st century to hear music performed in a strictly acoustic context. The result was (for this listener, at least) the need to “lean in” and experience the performance with an intention usually not necessary, and Perlman’s gentle good humor and casual attitude in the midst of “serious music” easily traveled to the seats in the rear of the Schermerhorn. The effect of the world’s finest living violinist, playing one of the world’s most magnificent Stradivarius violins inside one of the world’s most acoustically extraordinary venues is difficult to adequately convey. In a city loaded with “you had to be there” moments, an afternoon of sublime perfection such as this is one to remember. — STEVE MORLEY PHOTO BY LISA MARIE MAZZUCCO
VIOLIN VIRTUOSO ITZHAK PERLMAN VISITS MUSIC CITY
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