Tapestry

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WBHM Interviews

From March 10, 2005...

What do foreign films, hummingbirds, girl scout cookies and Jewish burial rituals have in common? Not very much – except they all take center stage tonight on Tapestry! I'm Greg Bass...and tonight I talk to a Birmingham man who has written THE book on foreign film. Also – jazz standards from local singer Marian McKay. First, this roundup of arts news from Tanya Ott.

If you're a fan of foreign films – you don't have a lot of choices here in Birmingham. Afterall, most of the local theaters avoid foreign films altogether. So it might surprise you to know that there's a Birmingham Southern professor who is considered "THE" authority on the genre. Bob Shelton has written a two-volume textbook tracking film arts from the silent movies of Germany and Russia all the way through the New Wave in France, Italy and several developing countries. Shelton says his career has been shaped by a love of film.

Birmingham Southern professor Bob Shelton. He's written a two-volume textbook on the subject of international film and it's also available as a reference book titled "A Cultural Study of the Art Film", published by Edwin Mellen Press. Shelton retires this May from his duties as a professor of art at Birmingham Southern College, but he will continue to teach his film course as an adjunct professor.

There is one place you can catch a good foreign flick locally – the Jewz on Scene community film series at WorkPlay. And next week the series answers your prayers for a film that skillfully combines theft and murder - with religious education? The film is The Burial Society. WBHM's Ellen Lichtenstein has our review.

Our reviewer is Ellen Lichtenstein. The Burial Society shows Tuesday night at 7, with cocktails and conversation afterwards at WorkPlay. Jewz on Scene is sponsored by the Birmingham Jewish Community.

This week, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra announced which of this season's guest conductors will be considered for the music director job. So far, eight guest conductors have listed the baton for the Masterworks series. But this weekend, Resident Conductor Christopher Confessore takes his turn with the ASO. He spoke about the concert with WBHM's Michael Krall....

The ASO's Masterworks series resumes this weekend with concerts Friday and Saturday night at the Alys Stephens Center. There's an extended version of Michael's interview with Christopher Confessore on our website - wbhm.org

Daytime temps are warming up and some flowers are beginning to bloom… it might be spring, right?? Well, at least one little critter thinks so. Dale Short has this reflection – a little springtime poetry.

Early spring also brings out those other little busybodies...the Girl Scouts! Yes – it's cookie season and WBHM commentator Francesca Rosko says it's a conspiracy!

You can enjoy more of Francesca's commentaries on our website, WBHM dot org.

What's going on in and around the Birmingham area. For additional details, go to our online version of the Community Calendar.

Marian McKay grew up listening to the great songs and instruments of the Big Bands her parents danced to...and for the last 15 years she’s been bringing those smooth, sophisticated sounds to Birmingham audiences. This is "Corcovado" – from her new CD Yesterday’s Memories. Marian McKay stopped by our studio for a chat this week...

Marian McKay’s new CD – Yesterday’s Memories – was recorded at Higher Ground Studios in Bessemer and is available at Charlemagne Records on Southside. You can also download some of McKay's music on our website, WBHM-dot-org. And – if you still want more – there's a CD release party for Yesterday’s Memories this Saturday at Moonlight Music Café.

You can download some of Marian McKay's music at the Tapestry section of our website, wbhm.org

Tapestry is produced by Tanya Ott and Michael Krall. Hunter Bell handles our music. We get production assistance from Brian Creel, Brad Robinson, and Ali Boudhani. Additional reporting this week from Dale Short, Francesca Rosko, and Ellen Lichtenstein. I'm Greg Bass… be sure to join us next week for Tapestry!