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Music

Hot Tickets: Teasing, pleasing piano

By JOHN FLEMING and PHILIP BOOTH
Published November 10, 2005

Angela Hewitt is known for her Bach. Hewitt's latest recordings, two volumes of Bach's keyboard concertos on the Hyperion label, were named CDs of the month in the September Gramophone. This week, reviewing a Hewitt recital of Book 1 of Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier, Anne Midgette wrote in the New York Times that the pianist "cajoled, flirted with, wrested expression from and, ultimately, firmly led the way through the 24 preludes and fugues in an engaging and entertaining performance."

Hewitt is the soloist in Schumann's Piano Concerto in the season-opening program of the Florida West Coast Symphony, Leif Bjaland conducting. Also to be played are works of Richard Strauss and Mendelssohn. Concerts are at 8 tonight at Van Wezel Hall in Sarasota, 8 p.m. Friday in Neel Auditorium in Bradenton and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Van Wezel. $30-$73. (941) 953-3434.

- JOHN FLEMING, Times performing arts critic

Warren Haynes, the hardest-working guitarist in the jam band business, has headed freewheeling rock outfit Gov't Mule since 1994, when he and fellow Allman Brothers Band mate Allen Woody put together a power trio with drummer Matt Abts. The group rapidly gained a reputation as fearless improvisers, capable of ripping into everything from Southern-fried blues rock to a heady John Coltrane tune: Remember those knockout shows at the old Frankie's Patio in Ybor City?

Deja Voodoo, released in September, unofficially marks the beginning of a new chapter for the band, whose future became a giant question mark when bassist Woody died five years ago. Since then, the group toured with a variety of bassists and put out the all-star Deep End CDs and DVD. Haynes, a North Carolina native and Duane Allman acolyte, continued with his workaholic ways, moonlighting with the Allmans and the Dead.

The new CD, the group's first studio disc since keyboardist Danny Louis (Gregg Allman and Friends) and bassist Andy Hess (the Black Crowes; John Scofield's funk group) permanently joined the lineup, is typically eclectic, ranging from jazzy fusion to art rock to metallic riffs to experimental material.

Gov't Mule brings the jams back to town tonight at 7:30 at the Tampa Theatre, 711 N Franklin St. Tickets, $36, are available at the box office and through Ticketmaster outlets. For more information, call the venue at 813 274-8982 or visit www.tampatheatre.org

- PHILIP BOOTH, Times Correspondent

Daniel Rodriguez became famous as "the singing cop" after his passionate a cappella rendition of God Bless America at memorial services for victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. But Rodriguez is no longer a New York City police officer, having resigned from the force in 2004 to pursue a career as a concert tenor. In June, he released his third CD, In the Presence (Blix Street Records), a collection of spiritual and church songs, including a pair of duets with Lea Salonga from Miss Saigon.

This weekend, Rodriguez is singing in pops concerts with the Florida Orchestra, Susan Haig conducting. There are three performances: 8 p.m. Friday in Ferguson Hall at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa; 8 p.m. Saturday at Pasadena Community Church, St. Petersburg; and 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. $15.50-$50.50. 813 286-2403 or toll-free 1-800-662-7286; www.floridaorchestra.org

- JOHN FLEMING, Times performing arts critic

[Last modified November 9, 2005, 10:39:08]