Short Takes: Jazz, Gospel, Theater and More in Regional Entertainment Roundup

FREDDY COLE
Nat King Cole cast a decades-long shadow that extended to his daughter Natalie Cole.
But bet you didn’t know about Cole’s brother, Freddy Cole.
Check out the jazz pianist and his trio on Sept. 17 at the Renaissance Center in Kingsport, Tenn. Hear how the Cole family legacy of grand and timeless music touched Freddy, too.
Cole, 77, certainly bears a vocal resemblance to his brother. A pianist since age 5, he first recorded in 1952, though his career did not begin to take root however until the 1970s.
The raspy-voiced Cole has since released more than 20 albums including his latest “The Dreamer in Me.”
Hear his albums. Hear a singer with more jazz going on than his brother, a singer not quite as smooth yet no less a performer with power.

IF YOU GO
What: Arts Nights, City Lights Series
Who: Freddy Cole
When: Sept. 17, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Renaissance Center, 1200 E. Center St., Kingsport, Tenn.
Admission: $20 for adults, $18 for students and seniors
Info: (423) 392-8416 or (423) 392-8417
Web: http://www.freddycole.com
Video: http://www.freddycole.com/media.html

GAITHER VOCAL BAND
Think Beatles without the screams. Elvis Presley without the curled lip and swiveling hips.
In the world of gospel music, Bill Gaither reigns as king. His legendary Gaither Vocal Band has reunited and will bring the Bible via song to Freedom Hall in Johnson City on Sept. 19.
Expect some hallelujahs and have mercies, but screams and hip swiveling, well, those belong to the Beatles and Elvis.
Gaither may not appear so large. Yet though soft spoken and certainly not flashy, Gaither leads a vocal band that since the 1980s has led Southern contemporary gospel music with a stripped though often poignant style.
It’s not exactly music that prompts hysteria, but here they are, Gaither Vocal Band, gospel music superstars.

IF YOU GO
Who: Gaither Vocal Band
When: Sept. 19, 6 p.m.
Where: Freedom Hall, 1320 Pactolas Road, Johnson City, Tenn.
Admission: $36-$46
Info: (423) 461-4884
Web: http://www.gaither.com

OF MICE AND MEN
John Steinbeck wrote of what Americans thought, felt and dreamed.
The late Pulitzer Prize-winning author’s “Of Mice and Men” stands among his best and most widely staged novels.
Presented by Barter Theater and set for Sept. 24 at Niswonger Performing Arts Center in Greeneville, Tenn., “Of Mice and Men” features a rural and deceptively simple background into which Steinbeck paints his poignant story.
It’s the Great Depression. As suffering mounted in America, simple acts of kindness are needed more. People depend upon and need one another more during such hard times, as exhibited in the characters of George and Lennie.
Perhaps in no other time since the Depression has “Of Mice and Men” proven more relevant and indeed needed.

IF YOU GO
What: Barter Theatre’s “Of Mice and Men”
When: Sept. 24, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Niswonger Performing Arts Center, 212 Tusculum Blvd., Greeneville, Tenn.
Admission: $22.20 for adults, $19.25 group rate, $10 for students
Info: (423) 638-1679
Web: http://www.greenevillenpac.com

MUSIC NOTES
—Live concerts from the couch. That’s what new Web site http://www.rockpit.com will offer. Rockpit will officially launch its site on Sept. 25 at 9 p.m. with rock superstars Creed, live from Houston, Texas.
“Iconic bands like Creed and the live rock music experience deserve to be front and center again,” said Brian Lisi, Rockpit.com co-founder and CEO, “and the Rockpit.com platform is making this possible.”
Interested fans need to register now by going to http://www.rockpit.com for free access to the concert.
—On the heels of last week’s onslaught of Beatles albums newly remastered and in stores, Uncle Kracker leads this week’s offerings with the country-pop and rock “Happy Hour.” Heavy metal vets Megadeth bombard with “Endgame.” Dire Straits’ mastermind Mark Knopfler drops “Get Lucky,” former Kiss lead guitarist Ace Frehley cranks “Anomaly” and Bruce Hornsby mans the piano for “Levitate.”
—Class apparently does not accompany Kanye West. During MTV’s Video Music Awards Show on Sept. 13, the best-selling hip-hopper stormed on stage just as Taylor Swift attempted to speak after she won the VMA for Best Female Video. West grabbed Swift’s microphone, and amid a chorus of boos, expressed his near illegible opinion that Beyonce should have won.
Fellow pop singers aligned firmly in Swift’s corner. Pink, who was also up for the award said, “Kanye West is the biggest piece of (mess) on earth.” Pink later appeared on NBC’s “Today” and said that she wished she had won because of a purse she was carrying, “… with brass knuckles in it.”
—And so with Swift in mind, this week’s free MP3 download features the young pop country singer. Just go to http://www.lei15.bigmachinerecords.com and download her hit single, “Fifteen,” for no charge whatsoever.
Now take that, Mr. West.
Check back in next week for observations gathered from and comments made during this weekend’s Rhythm and Roots Reunion. Ought to be fun. Meantime, play a song or two, read the paper and by all means stay tuned.

TOM NETHERLAND is a freelance writer. He can be reached at .