- Photo by Jen Cray for Orlando Weekly
- Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts
Back in March, Winter Park’s Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts was one of the area’s first music venues to begin adapting to the new pandemic reality by becoming a soundstage for remote live performances.
Their maiden foray into that realm, starring Terri Binion and Beth McKee, turned out to be the last concert I would see in person this year. Here’s what it was like.
- First Takes
- Michelle Mailhot
On Saturday, the hardworking minds at Blue Bamboo will unveil their next phase of streaming content. Hosted by local performer-educator Michelle Mailhot, new weekly music series First Takes debuts this Saturday at 8 p.m. through Blue Bamboo’s website with a free opening episode.
- Photo by Jen Cray for Orlando Weekly
- Behind the scenes at the Blue Bamboo
We’ve sneak-peeked it and it’s a well-produced show that’s an ushered, artist-focused look inside the walls of Blue Bamboo where the performance magic happens. The launch episode of First Takes is a nicely edited mix of live recordings and artist interviews that balances the virtues of both a live concert and a TV show.
The debut features appearances by Jeff Rupert Quartet, Don Soledad, Beth McKee, Brad Gant & Tina Hunting-Gant, Nate Najar & Daniela Soledad, Per Danielsson, Orlando Jazz Orchestra, Cortez & Koelble and Heather Thorn & Vivacity.
Subsequent episodes will mostly focus on a single artist, though, and dive deeper into their work.
And the beat goes on …
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