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River City Brass Band

Like other aspects of the '50s, such as McCarthyism and bad science-fiction movies, its pop music should be left in the past.

The River City Brass Band, however, is shoo-bopping its way through a tribute that makes for the ensemble's weakest concert of the year. Music director Denis Colwell says he wanted this piece to be a listenable end-of-the-season offering, but it does so little to display the strengths of this fine band, it falters greatly.

Does it matter? Not for some. The audience in McCandless Friday responded enthusiastically, even though the concert was dominated by "Fever," "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?" and "Mooning" from "Grease."

On a brighter note. the premiere of Marilyn Taft Thomas' "Snapshots of a Great City" showed how the band can provide uncharacteristic sonorities when it is challenged. Is also did a fine arrangement of Dave Brubeck's "Blue Rondo a la Turk."

If a '50s tribute is here, can a disco homage be far behind? Let's hope not.

The concert will be repeated at 8 p.m. today, Upper St. Clair High School, 1825 McLaughlin Run Road, Upper St. Clair; 8 p.m. Thursday, Gateway High School, 3000 Gateway Campus Blvd., Monroeville; 3 p.m. Sunday, Baldwin High School, 4653 Clairton Blvd. Admission: Prices vary. Details: 412- 434-7222.

-- Bob Karlovits

Bowfire

The fiddle group known as Bowfire plays with a great deal of energy, but some interpersonal electricity was lacking at its concert at Heinz Hall, Downtown.

Bowfire, made up of 10 fiddlers and a five-piece rhythm section including a cellist, made its Pittsburgh debut April 28 with a lively two hours of music. It showed off all sorts of fiddle playing in songs that were rooted in Celtic music, jazz, rock, bluegrass and even small doses of the classics.

Fiddlers Stephanie Cadman and Jon Pilatzke also drew cheers for their over-the-top step-dancing. But that energy stopped at the music. No one in the band introduced songs or group members. That was left to the program, which cost $10, by the way.

On the plus side, that meant music and no words, and those sounds rolled along with music from klezmer to a sultry tango also featuring Cadman.

The fiddle work was fine, but that lack of stage presence gave some coolness to the show. An enthusiastic audience didn't seem to mind though, giving the band a standing ovation.

-- Bob Karlovits

Sean Jones

Trumpeter Sean Jones wrapped up an April-long celebration of jazz at the Cabaret Theater, Downtown, with a show that gave the legends some new life.

The show April 29 was the finale of the Living Legends series in which the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust celebrated Jazz Appreciation Month.

Jones showed he is on his way to that status. He offered a "Trumpet Showcase" in which he played familiar songs of some famous horn men, doing them in their styles.

That is no mean feat, and the teacher from Duquesne University, Uptown, showed why he is grabbing such a spot on the national jazz scene.

In the first set, for instance, he opened with a muted "Blue 'n' Boogie," paying tribute to Dizzy Gillespie, then rolled through "West End Blues" and "Stardust" for Louis Armstrong, "Lil Jazz" for Roy Eldridge and "Jessica's Day" for Gillespie, again.

But the most stunning moment was his emulation of Clifford Brown on "Cherokee," in which he showed a speed and range that matches Brown's.

Jones was supported by pianist Michael Murray, bassist Tony DePaolis and drummer James Johnson III, three other young players gaining some attention.

Another full house showed they seemed to be getting the clue that these were players to watch. Especially Jones.

-- Bob Karlovits

Diva nights at Blue

Some of the area's top female vocalists found reason for singing at the second anniversary of Diva nights at Blue, the jazz-leaning restaurant in McCandless.

Jason Eisenreich, the new owner of the restaurant, has maintained the Tuesday night sessions for the singers and found a hefty crowd was willing the celebrate the birthday on April 29.

Lisa Ferraro sang and acted as host for a lineup that included Donna Bailey, Shari Richards, Lisa Bleil, Antoinette Mangas and 15-year-old Kelly Faibrother. There also was an unscheduled stop by Tom Glovier and his wife, Jessie, better known as the heart of the Phoenix Jazz Project.

The music ranged from Jessie Glovier's lovely "Beautiful" to a rousing "Respect" by Bleil, Ferraro and Richards.

The audience even paid attention to the music when the Pittsburgh Penguins-New York Rangers game was on the flat screens over the bar.

That says something, eh?

-- Bob Karlovits

'Laughing Stock'

Little Lake Theatre Company kicked off its 60th season last weekend with a farce that's both hilarious and delightfully sentimental.

"Laughing Stock" follows the abundant travails and occasional triumphs of a summer-stock theater company whose ambitious season includes doing "Hamlet," "Charlie's Aunt" and "Dracula" in revolving repertory.

The farce is directed by Sunny Disney Fitchett who, after 107 productions and 16 years as artistic director at Little Lake Theatre, is intimately familiar with the subject matter. The solid cast is headed by the always interesting actor Art DeConciliis in his 102 appearance at the theater.

Although a slow starter, "Laughing Stock" builds speed and laughs before reaching its surprisingly moving conclusion. It should be enjoyed by those who ever worked in or loves summer barn theater productions.

"Laughing Stock" continues through May 17 at Little Lake Theatre, 500 Lakeside Drive South, Canonsburg, Washington County. Performances: 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Admission: $13.50 and $15, $10 for ages 15 and younger.

Details: 724-745-6300.

-- Alice T. Carter

Children's Festival Chorus

Joyous and expert music making by the Children's Festival Chorus delighted a large audience Sunday afternoon at the Byham Theater, Downtown. The occasion was the group's 25th anniversary, and included alumni performing in a couple of numbers.

The world premiere of "Pittsburgh Portraits" was a highlight. It was composed by Jeffrey Nytch to poems by four children in the chorus and one alumnus, and is a fine addition to the celebration of the city's 250th birthday celebrations.

The purity and shapeliness of the singing heard Sunday has been a consistent characteristic of this group of young artists ages 8 to 15. The talents of the groups' members have been nurtured and refined by artistic director Christine Jordanoff since 1986.

Several pieces let the performers add a little stage pizzazz, such as Aaron Copland's "I Bought Me a Cat," but the topper was the acted-out stanzas of "Soldier, Soldier," whose composer is anonymous.

This concert must have been especially exciting for the young poets who experienced their words turned into music, and then performed it with friends to such enthusiastic applause.

-- Mark Kanny

'The Outsiders'

The young actors and actresses with Prime Stage Theatre are doing a superb job of portraying the vicious social cliques in the classic "The Outsiders," a stage production that will show three more times this weekend at the North Side's New Hazlett Theater.

Prime Stage's live play, based on the 1967 book by S.E. Hinton, explores the dynamics of two very different social cliques -- the rough, outcast Greasers and the rich, hip Socs (pronounced SOSH-ez) -- that are hostile to each other. But, as the story unfolds, the audience -- and the characters, to some degree -- realize that these rival teenage gangs are more alike underneath outer appearances than people would think.

Actors Jeremy Hois, Brendan Conaway and Thomas A. Kolis Jr. portray the Curtis brothers (Ponyboy, Sodapop and Darrel "Darry," respectively) with a remarkable likeness to the original characters in the 1983 movie. Kolis even bears a notable physical resemblance to Patrick Swayze, who played the Darry character in the movie.

"The Outsiders" will be performed again at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Admission: $20, $15 for senior citizens, and $10 for college students and those 18 and younger. Details: 412-394-3353.

-- Kellie B. Gormly

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