A highly selective preview of cultural events taking place this weekend in the greater Hudson, N.Y., region, including a soul-pop legend; a reading by four emerging writers; a gallery show by a half-dozen women artists, a jazz couple playing “Silly Love Songs”; and a whole lot more.
Joan Osborne
JOAN OSBORNE to BRING BLUESY POP-ROCK to HELSINKI HUDSON
(HUDSON, N.Y.) – Singer-songwriter Joan Osborne brings her blues-inflected original pop-rock compositions to Club Helsinki Hudson on Friday, December 9, at 8pm. Osborne has rightfully earned a reputation as one of the great voices of her generation — both a commanding, passionate performer and a frank, emotionally evocative songwriter. Osborne is widely known for her beloved hit song, “(What If God Was) One of Us,” as well as her live performances of “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” and “Heat Wave” in the Grammy Award-winning documentary “Standing in the Shadows of Motown.”
A multi-platinum selling recording artist and seven-time Grammy Award nominee, the soulful vocalist and noted song interpreter is a highly sought-after collaborator and guest performer who has performed alongside many notable artists, including The Dead, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, Luciano Pavarotti, Emmylou Harris, Taj Mahal, the Holmes Brothers, and Patti Smith.
Counting such legendary artists as Etta James and Ray Charles as influences, Osborne is firmly rooted in R&B and soul, as evidenced by the soul covers she has recorded on her albums “How Sweet It Is” and “Breakfast in Bed,” in addition to “Bring It on Home,” which garnered a Best Blues Album nomination at the 2013 Grammy Awards.
Annie Bielski (photo Jersey Waltz)
HALLIE GOODMAN, DANI GRAMMERSTORF FRENCH, ANNA VICTORIA, and ANNIE BIELSKI to READ at SPOTTY DOG
(HUDSON, N.Y.) – Writers Hallie Goodman, Dani Grammerstorf French, Anna Victoria, and Annie Bielski will read from their works at Spotty Dog Books & Ale on Saturday, December 10, at 7pm, as part of Volume, the free monthly reading and music series every second Saturday of the month. The readings – a showcase of emerging writers in Hudson – will be followed by book-signing and a set by DJ Andy French.
‘Man Music’ by Louise LaPlante
WOMEN ARTISTS FEATURED in MIXED-MEDIA SHOW at CARRIE HADDAD GALLERY
(HUDSON, N.Y.) – Works by six female Hudson Valley artists working in a variety of media are featured in a new winter exhibition featuring a large-scale fabric installation and finely detailed drawings, painting, and collage at Carrie Haddad Gallery, opening Wednesday, December 7, with an artists’ reception on Saturday, December 10, from 5 to 7pm. Artists featured include Kate Hamilton, Andrea Moreau, Louise Laplante, Elizabeth Coyne, Laura Von Rosk, Allyson Levy, and Eileen Murphy. Their work offers unique commentary on the political, personal, and environmental observations of what it means to live in a global community today. The work remains on view through January 22.
John Pizzarelli (photo Timothy White)
PIZZARELLI and MOLASKEY to SING McCARTNEY at MAHAIWE
(GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.) – It may seem unnecessary to say that husband-and-wife jazz duo John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey will sing “Silly Love Songs” at the Mahaiwe on Sunday, December 11 at 7pm, since they always sing silly love songs, aka pop standards, but they literally will sing “Silly Love Songs” this time, in their “Midnight McCartney” program, based on the legendary jazz guitarist and singer Pizzarelli’s “Midnight McCartney” album, featuring jazz versions of numbers from Paul McCartney’s post-Beatles solo career. The album, and presumably the concert, includes languorous and swinging versions of tunes like “My Love,” “No More Lonely Nights,” “Coming Up,” “Let ‘Em In,” “Maybe I’m Amazed,” and the holiday smash, “Wonderful Christmastime.”