Fall always presents the eclectic Madisonian with an embarrassment of riches in the arts. The trend continues. In order to take it all in requires some careful planning.
There's no planning needed if you want to take in McCoy Tyner, the legendary jazz pianist, just alacrity. Contributor Susan Kepecs reminds us why we should in this week's arts feature. Read it fast because Tyner appears in the first offering of the Isthmus Jazz Series on Friday evening, Oct. 6, at the Wisconsin Union Theater. An offshoot of this publication's long-running Isthmus Jazz Festival (safely ensconced on the Union Terrace during June these days), the Isthmus Jazz series will host two more stellar appearances at the Union Theater during the winter.
If you are going to get the most out of the rapidly approaching Wisconsin Book Festival, you need to get prepared, and we have the tools for you to do so. First of all, there is the program for the October 18-22 Madison portion of the Book Festival in your Isthmus this week. It lists all the appearances by the authors trekking to our fair city. The Wisconsin Humanities Council, presenter of the Book Festival, has outdone itself for this milestone fifth fest, attracting an impressive array of literary luminaries to add to the already impressive roster of local authors. There's so much of note, Isthmus had to start its coverage last week with Kent Williams' profile of the graphic novelist Chris Ware (see 'Comic Genius,' 9/29/06.) who will be appearing at the Fest.
Next week, staffer Dave Medaris presents an overview of the Festival and its events in Milwaukee and Edgerton and calls our attention the leitmotifs that run through this celebration of the printed form. Medaris has for some time been interviewing authors in anticipation of their appearances at the festival. You can find the Q&As, nine so far, on the Isthmus Web site, thedailypage.com. You can access them through either 'The Daily' or 'The Arts' landing pages. More interviews will be added, one each Tuesday and Thursday, until the festival starts.
One more plug for the home team. Bill Lueders' chilling account, Cry Rape, will be the subject of a panel discussion at A Room of One's Own Bookstore on Sunday, October 22 at 4 p.m. Former Madison Police Chief David Couper will be part of the discussion.
