Holiday concerts are springing up around the city including a Nat King Cole Christmas at the Aronoff. CCM will feature Gerald Arpino's Birthday Variations this week, and musician Will Downing will perform at the Freedom Center Friday night. Lots of jazz shows around town, too, including Lynne Scott, the Brad Myers Trio, Mike Sharfe's Mambo Combo, & Mandy Gaines.

There's a film coming to the University of Cincinnati's Mainstreet Cinem a on Friday, November 30th, with an important thesis which is that rock and roll was a contributing factor in the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Communist party. Cincinnati native Doug Yeager, one of the producers of the film, " Free to Rock ," will be at the screening. Doors open at noon, film begins at 1pm, Friday afternoon, November 30th, with a question and answer session with Doug Yeager immediately following.

This holiday week there are plenty of music opportunities throughout the Cincinnati area. Ricky Nye's performing a number of concerts, the Bromwell Diehl Band have a lunchtime show at Christ Church Cathedral Tuesday; the Newbees & the Psychodots are in concert Friday night, 11/23; Saturday night, Robin Lacy's Trio at Front Street Cafe, & it's Brews, Blues & BBQ at Christian Moerline Brewing Company. Looking ahead, Chris Collier's back on stage at York Street Cafe, 12/7. Steve Schmidt

We were thrilled when singer/songwriter Chris Collier dropped by the studio with George Cunningham from the Faux Frenchmen on Tuesday, November 13th, to talk with Elaine Diehl about her upcoming performance at the York Street Cafe on Friday, December 7th. Greg Mahan will open the show. Their conversation centered on Chris's return to York Street Cafe where she once played a monthly show to packed houses. She said that this is the first time she’s performed with a full band in a very long time.

Seymour Stein is coming to Cincinnati Saturday afternoon, December 1st at 3pm to the downtown Public Library for a presentation on his time with Syd Nathan, King Records, and Sire Records which he founded. We were delighted when Stein found some time on November 14th to talk by phone with Brian Powers, King Records historian, about his time with Syd Nathan who became his mentor in the recording industry. There was a discussion about the history of King Records, some of the artists who recorded

We were thrilled when Jay Bolotin dropped by the studio with his guitar the morning after his packed concert at Northside Tavern November 13th to talk with Elaine Diehl about his music career, artwork, and new cd release. During their conversation, Jay talked about writing songs in his 20's, meeting Carl Solway in New York during the 1970s, and working on films. His show at Northside Tavern was his first in three years, and he was delighted that photographer Michael Wilson + family were in the

In this week's "Music Notes," you'll hear about concerts by John Hiatt, Tom Rush, the Patsy Meyer Trio, and many more local musicians. You'll also hear about the Shrimp & Jazz Festival at Washington Platform, the Winter Blues Fest at Miami Valley Gaming, a new Jimi Hendrix box set, a Cirque du Soleil movie, and tickets going on sale for a concert by Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn next year.

Many of us who experienced the 60's music scene are familiar with the songs of singer/songwriter & folksinger Tom Rush . We're delighted that he's still writing and recording as evidenced in his new cd, " Voices ." He spoke with Elaine Diehl by phone from his home in Maine, on Wednesday, November 7th, about his tour stop at the 20th Century Theater o n Thursday, November 15th. On tour with him is the exciting young musician Matt Nakoa . During their conversation, Rush talks about his new cd,

Women have been an integral part of the rock and roll movement, and in her book, " Rock-And-Roll Woman: The 50 Fiercest Female Rockers ," Meredith Ochs profiles women from the 1950s to today and shares their backstories to success and lasting impacts. With more than 100 illustrations, this volume includes the stories of Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Janis Joplin, Patti Smith, Stevie Nicks, and many others. During their phone conversation, Elaine Diehl asked Ms. Ochs about the #Me Too Movement,

The life of legendary blues harmonica musician Paul Butterfield will be shown on screen in the movie, "Horn From the Heart: The Paul Butterfield Story," at the Woodward Theater on Wednesday, November 7th. Doors open at 6:30pm, and the show begins at 7pm. A live performance by blues harmonica musician Johnny Walker will precede the film which is presented in partnership with the Cincy Blues Societ y . Tickets may be purchased through the Woodward Theater's website .