Five Questions with Vilaine Frange

Early this fall I viewed the exhibit of a beautiful artist at Side Door, Omaha. This Is Not A Myth, featured the images of Vilaine Frange, a native of Besançon, France. Each image was said to “capture a fleeting moment in time, reminding us that even art is not immortal.” From the exhibit: “The act […]

Five Questions with Karrin Allyson

“She’s been described as a “musician’s musician, …a complete performance by a complete artist —and for once the overused term actually makes sense — a complete artist, one of the jazz world’s finest.” — Don Heckman, The Los Angeles Times. Thirteen albums, — plus, a self-produced holiday album, Yuletide Hideaway, which won a four-star review from Downbeat and praise […]

Five Questions with Orenda Fink

Traveling the world now, performing concert dates supporting both her own Blue Dream tour, and opening for her friend Jenny Lewis’s tour, Orenda Fink is truly a woman living her passion, and that passion seems to be catching on. Her third solo album, BLUE DREAM, was released on August 19 of this year, and the blogosphere […]

Five Questions with Sam Herron

If you’re lucky, you’ve seen his work. He has a beautiful eye for seeing stark reality. Sam Herron is a photojournalist/photographer influenced by talented shooters like Lance Mercer and Daido Moriyama, along with design pioneers like Reid Miles. A protracted descent into poverty gave Herron authentic insight into a reality others just pass by. Living in his car […]

Five Questions with Fr. Leo Rigatuso

Rev. Leo A. Rigatuso is pastor of St. John Nepomucene Parish, Howells, NE, Ss. Peter and Paul Parish, Howells, NE and Holy Trinity Parish, Clarkson, NE. Fr. Leo graduated from Omaha Central High School in 1977, and from University Nebraska Omaha with a Continuing Studies Degree in 1986. Before going to seminary he worked for Biodex […]

Five Questions with Hector Anchondo

Bluesman Hector Anchondo was born in Omaha, Nebraska and raised in the hills of the Ozark Mountains near Salem, Missouri. Anchondo has been rapidly emerging as one of the mid-western blues artists to watch for. His influences range from Stevie Ray Vaughn and John Lee Hooker to the stories told by legendary country players like […]

Five Questions with Ray Vega

Native New Yorker, trumpeter, and composer Ray Vega is one of the innovators of the international jazz and latin music scenes. The Puerto Rican musician grew up immersed in the heart of two vibrant New York City music scenes,jazz and salsa. Vega has performed and recorded with Mongo Santamaria,Ray Barretto and New World Spirit, including the […]

Five Questions with Kristin Pluhacek

Artist Kristin Pluhacek’s work is represented in numerous public and private collections, such as Lauritzen Gardens, Museum of Nebraska Art, Wayne State College, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Creighton University, Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, and the list goes on and on. Kristin is a BFA graduate of Creighton University, a roster artist for the […]

Five Questions with Frank Catalano

Downbeat Magazine said of Frank Catalano’s playing: “full throttle front and center, a modal rocker that suggests John Coltrane energy in the 21st century.” High praise for the Chicago saxophonist, who began playing at age 7. He severed his right middle finger while working on a car engine when he was 16, but forced his hands […]

Five Questions with Steve Slagle

Multi-GRAMMY®-nominated, saxophonist/flutist, Steve Slagle was born in Los Angeles, CA, where he got his first saxophone, and later attended Berklee College of Music in Boston on a DownBeat scholarship. One of his first gigs, at the age of 18, was in the Stevie Wonder Band, in Boston. Often featured as a sideman, Slagle is a consummate leader, a bop […]