The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Minkler Trio for starters
MIDDLETOWN — The Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts & Cultural Center, 605 Main St., has scheduled the following concerts and performances.
Tickets are required; reservations are encouraged. Visit www.buttonwood.org or call 860-3474957
Sept. 21: Rosemary Minkler Trio, 8 p.m., $15.
Led by composer/pianist Rosemary Minkler, the trio features Matt Dwonszyk on bass and Eric Hallenbeck on drums. This performance will feature original compositions from their debut album “Prospectus,” as well as new originals and arrangements of pop tunes and jazz standards Born and raised in Waterbury, Minkler is an accomplished young pianist, composer, and audio engineer. Winkler’s diverse abilities make her an in-demand musician. She is a member in Danbury-based fusion collective The Recess Bureau and often plays with other musicians in the Connecticut and New York area. Rosemary’s most recent release, Prospectus, is her debut as a bandleader, composer, and audio engineer. Learn more at https://www.rosemaryminkler.com/
Sept. 22: The Cathy and Caroline Show, 8 p.m., $15.
These singer-songwriters have graced TBT's stage since opening in 1989. Cathy Kreger, who grew up in Middletown, has an irresistible voice that has earned her a place on stage beside world-class acts, including Bonnie Raitt, David Bromberg, The Band, Patty Larkin, Maria Muldaur, Taj Mahal and Aztec Two-Step. Kreger has been performing for more than 30 years. Her musical style is a unique combination of adult contemporary and old blues, with an alternative folk flair. Noel Paul Stookey (of Peter, Paul and Mary) once said "No doubt about it. She has a great voice and really has her act together." She has acquired a devoted fan base throughout the Northeast, especially in Connecticut, New York, and Long Island, where a thriving music scene exists.
Caroline Doctorow is a chart-topping folksinger and songwriter, with a stirring voice that recalls Judy Collins and Sandy Denny. This year she received the Alexander Award from the Long Island Arts Council and an official NY State Proclamation from State Senator John E. Brooks, honoring her work as a folksinger. In addition to eleven solo albums, she released the first retrospective of the work of folk icons Richard and Mimi Fariña titled Another Country which received critical acclaim. She is the daughter of the late, world-renowned author E.L. Doctorow
Sept. 28: Deni Bonet, 8 p.m., $15. It’s no secret that Deni Bonet can rock a violin like nobody’s business, or that she writes memorable songs that make you want to listen again and again and again. For years, Bonet has been honing her craft as a violinist, singer, songwriter and performer. She has performed at some of the most prestigious festivals, performing arts centers, summer concert series, colleges, clubs and house concerts throughout the US and around the world, including a recent sold-out concert at the legendary Carnegie Hall in New York City, concerts on the Great Wall of China, at the United Nations and at the White House for President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and the First Lady. Yet is still happy to play a stripped-down show in a coffeehouse.
Bonet has hosted her own cable TV show, Duets With Deni, a combination of music and chat featuring a series of all-star guests, which was the subject of a rave Billboard feature. She has performed highly-regarded showcases at CMJ and SXSW, and took her act on the road with Lilith Fair. And she’s remained one of the most in-demand session players and sidewomen around, adding her violin to albums by an impressive variety of artists — from the introspective Sarah McLachlan to techno-metal band Gravity Kills — and making TV appearances on The Today Show, SNL and Late Night With Conan O’Brien.
Learn more at https://www.denibonet.com/music
Sept. 29: The Mattabesset String Collective, 8 p.m., $15.
Mattabesset String Collective is a 5-piece acoustic ensemble playing an eclectic mix of bluegrass, blues, folk, mountain, country and rock, all in a string band style. The band has played in various configurations around central Connecticut for over ten years. Its present lineup includes Barry Chernoff (guitar), Marc Eisner (mandolin), Rebecca McCallum (fiddle), Gil Skillman (banjo, cuatro, and dobro) and Kevin Wiliarty (bass). Learn more at https://mattabesset.com/