John Edwin Mason: Documentary, Motorsports, Photo History

Silent Movie, Cool Jazz: The Free Bridge Quintet Plays Faust

This going to be fun. And I'm willing to bet my next paycheck that it's also going to be a fantastic artistic experience. On Saturday night, November 7th, the University of Virginia's Free Bridge Quintet will supply the music at a screening of F.W. Murnau classic silent film, Faust. The... Read more →

Cyrus Chestnut, Terri Allard, Free Bridge Quintet: Habitat for Humanity Benefit Concert

This was a just about the perfect afternoon and evening. Brilliant, original music, performed by musicians that love and admire, all for a truly great cause -- Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville. It happened a couple of weeks ago, and I should have gotten these photos up on the... Read more →

John D'earth & the Dave Matthews Band Horns at Miller's

The Dave Matthews Band is in town for a couple of shows, and it was no surprise when the band's sax and trumpet players showed up at Miller's on Thursday night to jam with John D'earth's fine band. No surprise for a bunch of reasons... John's gig at Miller's is... Read more →

Funky Friday: Warren Wolf, "One for Lenny."

Warren Wolf, a tremendously talented young vibes player, is in town to play a concert with the University of Virginia Jazz Ensemble, on Saturday night, and to lead a masterclass, on Saturday afternoon. This is great news. I was lucky enough to hear Wolf and the jazz ensemble rehearse last... Read more →

Nikon Packs It In, iPhone Bails Me Out: Shooting a Sound Check with the Free Bridge Quintet and Hod O'Brien

No excuses. When somebody gives you an assignment, you come back with photos. No excuses. So, yesterday evening, I'm shooting the sound check for the Free Bridge Quintet's concert "A Celebration of Dizzy Gillespie," and my Nikon D7000 decides that it doesn't want to autofocus with the Nikon 35/2 that... Read more →

Celebrating Dizzy: The Free Bridge Quintet & Hod O'Brien, in Concert, 21 October 2011

It's short notice I know, but, folks, you'll want to hear this... Tomorrow night, the Free Bridge Quintet will welcome guest pianist Hod O'Brien to the stage of the University of Virginia's Cabell Hall for a celebration of the life and music of Dizzy Gillespie. The gig starts at 8:00,... Read more →

All Night Jazz Jam at Fellini's for the George Melvin Educational Fund

Last Saturday, the Charlottesville Jazz Society and Fellini's #9 (a great restaurant and my neighborhood pub) hosted an all night jazz jam session to benefit the George Melvin Educational Fund. George, who passed away last year, was a truly beloved figure on Charlottesville's musical scene -- a wonderful teacher and... Read more →