Westport Library Double-Header Concert Weekend Saturday Show: Chris Frantz Presented Residual Groove & Brian Dolzani
Chris Frantz, famed member of the Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club, brought his Emerging Musicians series back to The Westport Library’s Trefz Forum on Saturday, November 19, with two Fairfield County acts: Residual Groove, a funk-fusion, improv-heavy dance band, and contemporary singer-songwriter Brian Dolzani.
The Chris Frantz Presents Emerging Musicians series at The Westport Library features up-and-coming regional, national, and international music, hand-picked by Frantz, with the goal of bringing new music to new ears and to be an incubator for rising talent. The concert is a music collaboration and production by Verso Studios at The Westport Library and the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce.
The previous session of the Emerging Musicians Series was held in December 2021 and featured Lulu Lewis and The Problem with Kids Today.
Said Chris Frantz: “I’m excited to be resuming the Emerging Musicians Series at The Westport Library in the beautiful and innovative Verso Studios. Both Residual Groove and Brian Dolzani are Fairfield County mainstays deserving of a larger platform. A fun night is in store.”
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Said Bill Harmer, executive director of The Westport Library: “Chris is one of the landmark figures in rock and roll, and we’re thrilled to partner with him once again to bring these incredible artists to our stage. When we planned and executed the Library’s transformation, we imagined creating a space that could feature creativity in all its forms and deliver first-class events to Westport, Fairfield County, and beyond. The Emerging Musicians series is another example of delivering on that vision and another opportunity to demonstrate the full capabilities of our Verso Studios.”
About Residual Groove: Residual Groove is a five-piece Funk-Fusion band out of Norwalk, featuring brothers Previn Edwards (guitar/vocals) and Kiran Edwards (keys/vocals), Francesco Perrouna III (bass/vocals), Henry Thomas (drums), and Garrett Halstead (percussion). Their bio reads: “With a healthy mix of groovy originals and surprising covers, Residual Groove joins their influences and creations together through tasteful segues and spontaneously improvised segments.” Westporters will recognize Residual Groove from its continued Dunville’s residency.
About Brian Dolzani: The storytelling roots of Dolzani’s music are in the singer-songwriter tradition of Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Cat Stevens, Crosby, Stills, and Nash, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, and Credence Clearwater Revival, among others. He has played at famed stages such as the World Cafe, Daryl’s House, New York City’s Rockwood Music Hall, The 5-Spot in Nashville, and the Blue Plate Special radio program in Knoxville, among many others.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Westport Library Double-Header Concert Weekend Sunday Show: Mark Naftalin Presented Beehive Queen Christine Ohlman
Famed keyboardist and noted producer and radio host Mark Naftalin once again brought his talents to The Westport Library, on Sunday, November 20th, the third installment of the Library's ultra-popular Blue Sunday series.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
A capacity crowd was on it's feet more than once as they enjoyed the one and only "Beehive Queen" Christine Ohlman with special guest Willie J. Laws, along with Mark Naftalin & The Blue Sunday Band featuring Crispin Cioe, Paul Gabriel, and JD Seem.
The show was a perfect fit for the Library's beautiful Trefz Forum which is a versatile, cutting-edge space. The Trefz Forum is a premier tri-state area venue for performances, concerts, film screenings, lectures, and more. It features a concert stage, an 18-foot x 10-foot Digital Projection Radiance LED screen, state-of-the-art sound, theatrical lighting, video and digital projection, and seating for 400+ people (600 standing).
Presented by The Westport Library and Verso Studios, this series is produced by Naftalin, a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame who rose to fame as the keyboardist with the influential Paul Butterfield Blues Band.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Morning Weather Report
Today
Sunny, with a high near 47. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
Tonight
Clear, with a low around 32. West wind 3 to 5 mph.
Tomorrow
Sunny, with a high near 51. West wind 3 to 7 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Clear, with a low around 30. Light north wind.
Governor Announces State Credit Rating Increased; “Connecticut is getting its mojo back”
Governor Ned Lamont today announced that his administration has received notification from credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) that it is increasing Connecticut’s general obligation bond credit rating from A+ (positive) to AA- (stable). This credit rating increase follows increases in 2021 by several other agencies, including Moody’s, S&P, Fitch, and Kroll.
Prior to Governor Lamont taking office, Connecticut had not experienced an increase in its credit rating since February 2001.
Governor Lamont said, “Connecticut taxpayers should celebrate today’s news. This credit rating increase will mean lower costs for critical projects that move our state forward. It is a signal to the businesses and residents that our state is on the right financial path, that we have shown a commitment to putting our fiscal house in order, and we are continuing to make significant progress to address our pension and other postemployment benefit liabilities. S&P recognizes the progress that has been made and that Connecticut is getting its mojo back.”
Secretary Beckham said, “As we develop next year’s budget, this credit rating increase sends strong signals for how we should proceed in the future. The budget we release in February will include an extension of the bond covenants that S&P stated as a key reason for our upgrade. If we are going to continue the positive progress made under this administration, those bond covenants and associated benefits must be a part of the final budget bill.”
In its notice to investors that was released today, S&P said, “The upgrade on the state’s GO debt reflects our view of Connecticut’s sustained positive financial results and building of high reserve levels during a recent period of economic and revenue growth, while also demonstrating its commitment to structural budget balance and curbing future growth of the state’s very high debt, pension, and other postemployment benefit (OPEB) liabilities, which we expect will continue in future biennial budgets. Connecticut’s overall credit improvement is also underscored by the executive branch’s announcement and intent to extend statutory financial controls in the next biennial budget proposal, which supports our view that the state remains more firmly committed to these provisions for the foreseeable future.”