The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra keeps an essential American sound alive Big band, big dreams Stuart Levitan on Thursday 02/02/2012 The most influential big band in contemporary jazz is bringing a bit of Greenwich Village to Madison, just days before it celebrates an anniversary. As great art often does, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra began in disappointment, when jazz giant Count Basie commissioned Thad Jones, his band's cornetist, to write a full album's worth of material in 1965. Basie rejected the seven compositions Jones presented, saying they didn't sound like his band and might be too hard for his musicians to play. >More
NEWS
A degree in nonprofits from UW-Madison and Madison College In tight times, organizations need more than passion to survive Jay Rath on Thursday 02/02/2012 The days of just getting together with friends to put on a show or sell a few burgers for charity are on their way out. In these tough financial times, nonprofits have to become increasingly professional to survive. The capital city is leading the way, with new programs at both the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Madison College. >MoreLandmarks holds off on 100 block decision Commission wants two more weeks to ponder fate of Schubert and Fairchild buildings Joe Tarr on Thursday 02/02/2012 In a Monday meeting that stretched past midnight, the Landmarks Commission heard hours of comments on the proposal for the 100 block of State Street, but put off deciding on the project's most controversial aspect: whether to allow demolition of the historic Schubert building, 120 W. Mifflin St., and its treasured neighbor, the Fairchild/Stark building, at the corner of Mifflin and Fairchild Streets. >MoreDane County board has many spring 2012 races but just two primaries Joe Tarr on Thursday 02/02/2012, (2) Comments The way Mike Basford sees it, "you can thank Scott Walker" for the high number of competitive races for the Dane County Board of Supervisors this spring. "What he and his friends in the Legislature have done is energize people in every corner of the county," says Basford, chair of the Dane County Democratic Party. >MoreTalking money in tough times Attitude is important when conveying messages about finances to kids Sari Judge on Thursday 02/02/2012 When Tony Marcin, a sprinkler fitter for fire protection systems, was laid off from his job of 12 years in 2009, he and wife Kate didn't stress about how to discuss their leaner financial situation with the kids (Sam, now 8, and Joe, 6). "Being in the trades, things have always been cyclical, and the boys were pretty young at the time. So it never really occurred to us to have a big talk with them," says Kate. >More
MUSIC
The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra keeps an essential American sound alive Big band, big dreams Stuart Levitan on Thursday 02/02/2012 The most influential big band in contemporary jazz is bringing a bit of Greenwich Village to Madison, just days before it celebrates an anniversary. As great art often does, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra began in disappointment, when jazz giant Count Basie commissioned Thad Jones, his band's cornetist, to write a full album's worth of material in 1965. Basie rejected the seven compositions Jones presented, saying they didn't sound like his band and might be too hard for his musicians to play. >MoreMadison musicians collaborate with artists overseas Lost in translation Scott Gordon on Thursday 02/02/2012 Sometimes music-making thrives on isolation, but a handful of abrasive, experimental Madison artists have found collaborators -- abroad. The Internet makes that easy, but it's still an improbable feat when a musician in Madison and one overseas learn they share the same twisted muse, then develop the discipline and chemistry to make compelling recordings together. Three recent releases capture just that dynamic. >MoreDeleted Scenes craft poppy art rock from stark themes Love, death and amphetamines Jessica Steinhoff on Thursday 02/02/2012 Washington, D.C.'s Deleted Scenes make art rock from a broad palette of sonic colors, painting their soundscapes with sunny shades of surf rock and smudges of dark, alluring funk. >More
Choosing Walker's opponent: Let's have a wide-open Democratic primary Dave Cieslewicz on Thursday 02/02/2012 There's an old Will Rogers joke that goes: "I belong to no organized political party. I'm a Democrat." I have used that line more than once, but in all seriousness, the organization of the effort to recall Gov. Scott Walker has been nothing short of brilliant. Not only was the signature-gathering a well-oiled machine, but it was smart and unusually disciplined of my party to keep potential candidates in the background so that the focus could remain on Walker. >MoreDefending Miss America Women should express themselves the way they want on Thursday 02/02/2012 I can understand the negative views of the Miss America pageant expressed by "Stupefied" ("The Shame of Miss America," 1/27/2012), but if there is one pageant that should not be lumped in with the rest, Miss America might be that one. >More
Stagehands' union in the spotlight: IATSE Local 251 turns 100 Jay Rath on Thursday 02/02/2012, (1) Comment They project our films, transform Overture Center's bare stages and even change the Kohl Center from a basketball court to a hockey rink. After 100 years of literally shining the spotlight on Madison's arts, it's time for the spotlight to shine on IATSE Local 251, the stagehands union. >MoreThe River discovers unnatural phenomena in the Amazon Going native Dean Robbins on Thursday 02/02/2012 The River is a new series that crosses Heart of Darkness with The Blair Witch Project, to good effect. Emmet Cole (Bruce Greenwood) was beloved for his TV nature series, in which he explored the world with his perfect family: son Lincoln (Joe Anderson) and wife Tess (Leslie Hope). As The River begins, Emmet is presumed dead in the Amazon, and Tess drags a reluctant Lincoln and a camera crew out in search of him. >More
MOVIES
Daniel Radcliffe never ignites in spooky The Woman in Black House of horror Marjorie Baumgarten on Thursday 02/02/2012 Oh, where's that boy wizard from Hogwarts when you need him? It turns out that Daniel Radcliffe did not bring his sorcerer's wand with him when he graduated to his first adult film role since the conclusion of the Harry Potter series. Too bad. Magic powers would have come in handy when dealing with the malevolent ghost that haunts The Woman in Black, the first film in 35 years to be shot in Great Britain under the venerable Hammer banner. >MoreWith great power comes great irresponsibility in telekinesis tale Chronicle Marjorie Baumgarten on Thursday 02/02/2012 From out of left field comes Chronicle, a PG-13 thriller breathing new life into the found-footage formula that has become so popular in the dozen or so years since The Blair Witch Project. Like a marriage of Cloverfield and Carrie, Chronicle blends its faux naïve techniques with a teen telekinesis plot to create something that feels fresh and authentic. >More
Season of the noodle: Slurp nine of Madison's best bowls André Darlington on Thursday 02/02/2012 This time of year, when the ground is frozen and the Farmers' Market is reduced to selling mostly hope, there is a surprise culinary bright spot -- the noodle bowl. This is its season. Whether you're returning hungry from skiing or sick and in need of a little love in a ladle, no food is more comforting or better for reviving the senses than noodles in steaming broth or stock. Here are a few of the best slurps among Madison's ever-expanding options. >MoreJD's cart opens a storefront on North Bassett Late-night soul Linda Falkenstein on Thursday 02/02/2012 You never know when a new eatery will rescue a hard-luck spot (the Great Dane on Jupiter Drive and the Coopers Tavern on the Square, for instance). The short-lived Limon, at 317 N. Bassett (formerly home to the Copper Gable Cafe), has given way to JD's, a brick-and-mortar version of the well-known late-night food cart at State and Broom. >More
SPORTS & RECREATION
Trouble in Barryland Jason Joyce on Thursday 02/02/2012 The troubling news involving allegations of sexual assault at a pre-Rose Bowl party by resigned UW-Madison associate athletic director John Chadima brings back something former UW history professor and athletic board member Jeremi Suri told me in an interview four years ago. >More
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