Hopkins and Miller and the Little Big Band: The Great American Songbook
by Rita Kohn
Banjoist Robin Hopkins and song stylist Kathleen Miller, backed by a lively crew of players, bring a distinctive array of arrangements to the familiar music of Porter, Ellington and Kern, and then go on to appeal with later 20th century favorites. Miller’s range from ballad to torch includes a splendid ability to showcase Sinatra with his nuances of timing and glitter while Hopkins brings an undercurrent of excitement to the banjo. The show stopper was his signature “Fiddler on the Roof Medley,” reminding us all how much we miss, and are grateful for having known, the late Jack Gilfoy — Hopkins shared this medley at the Jazz Kitchen salute to Jack. On a gorgeous Thursday evening along the canal, a rainbow connection of music thrives through the passion of visionaries and consummate artists, yet once again patrons of the admission-free Clarian Health/IU School of Music at IUPUI Concerts on the Canal were reminded that the green space on the east side of the canal where we gather to listen remains endangered because Mayor Ballard is still considering turning the space over to bidders for commercial development. Call Canal Park Advocates at 317-283-6283 for information. —Rita Kohn
