Bett Butler, one of S&F’s favorite local jazz artists, hosted a four-hour songwriting workshop last Saturday for Gemini Ink’s Summer Literary Festival, and says the class-preparation process taught her a few things about some highly familiar, beloved standards.
For instance, Butler says she was struck by the daunting melodic intervals of Willie Nelson’s “Crazy,” the way Hoagy Carmichael’s “Stardust” artfully “breaks every rule” of pop song structure with its meandering tune and irregular rhymes, and how “Amazing Grace” achieves so much with only five notes.
Butler offered SA club patrons a class preview by playing these songs (along with “Habanera” from Carmen and “Lift Every Voice and Sing”) at a July 24 concert at Casbeers. The gig went so well, Butler and her quartet will revisit the songs she discussed in her class when they perform at Luna on Thursday, July 30. As with their Casbeers show, the group will be augmented by jazz/classical violinist Jonathan Raveneau. Showtime is 9 p.m.
Percussive dance ensemble Bombasta willl tape a performance for the eclectic Latino music TV show, Sonido Boombox, on Wednesday, July 29, at Austin’s Sazón (1816 S. Lamar). The gig will be staged on the restaurant’s outdoor patio and runs from 7-10 p.m.
