Comma Concerts will return, says promoter

Carson Valley showed its support of the arts once again Friday night with close to 300 people attending an outdoor concert and art reception at 88 Cups in the Minden Village shopping center.

This concert, brought to Minden by Doug Reynolds who promotes Comma Concerts in Carson City, was performed by Michael Powers.

"It's hard to categorize my music, although it usually ends up in the jazz record bins," said Powers. "If I had to put a label on it, I would call it contemporary instrumental music. It's a sound rooted in the jazz tradition that keeps pace stylistically with pop, R&B, and blues; with blues being at the core of my inspiration."

This is the second "Minden Comma Concert" Reynolds has organized in the Valley, where he lives. The first was by acoustic guitarist Michael Gulezian. Because of the success of both shows, Reynolds said he plans on scheduling five or six more concerts next year at the same venue, with dates that won't interfere with the Minden Concerts in the Park.

"The concert was tremendously successful," Reynolds said. "It was a great show. Everybody was raving about it. We enjoyed a beautiful evening of weather and music by Michael Powers."

Besides the weather and the music, the location was also perfect, according to Reynolds.

"It seems to be tailor-made for a concert," he said. "The natural acoustics of the place just makes a beautiful sound everywhere. I think it's just a great place to do it."

In addition, offering the free concert on a "donations-only" basis, proved to work for the concert promoter who gives all the profits to the musicians to pay for their performances.

"It looks like I'll be doing all the shows next year that way," said Reynolds.

The addition of an art show featuring the work of 10 area artists only served to enhance the show. Reynolds said he would welcome the artists back next time.

"They complemented each other," said Reynolds. "Music and art go together."

This was the final outdoor concert this year due to unpredictability of the weather, but Reynolds has plans for an indoor concert in the Valley in October.

Bruce Molsky will perform at Shady Grove Coffee Co. on Highway 395 in Gardnerville on Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15.

While most identified with traditional American old-time music, Molsky's influences range from the Appalachian soul of Tommy Jarrell to Delta blues; from the "haunting" modal strains of Irish music to the "rhythmically nimble" music of Eastern Europe, according to Reynolds.

Molsky has been featured on Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion radio show and is a member of Grammy Nominee Fiddlers 4 (with Darol Anger, Michael Doucet and Rushad Eggleston). This will be the first Comma Concert at Shady Grove. Only 65 seats are available. Tickets will go on sale soon.

For more info visit www.CommaConcerts.com or call Reynolds at 220-0995.

n Jo Rafferty can be reached at jrafferty@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 210.