Val returns to Valley, brings polka with her
Val “the polka gal” Pawlowski is back in town and keeping polka alive.
For the past 21 years, Pawlowski has hosted a weekly polka show every Saturday on WKTX-AM 830 out of Cortland. She had been living in the Cleveland area for 18 months to care for her parents. But even while there, she kept up her radio show, broadcasting out of WKTX’s sister station in Lakewood and relayed over WKTX to the Mahoning Valley.
Pawlowski recently moved back to the area, and is making her presence known by starting a series of monthly polka dances at the Slovenian Home, 1037 Baldwin Ave., Sharon, Pa. The dances are on Sundays, from 2 to 6 p.m. Here is the schedule: Nov. 22, Bill Bevec Band; Dec. 13, Frank Stanger Band; Jan. 17, Wayne Tomsic Band; Feb. 14, Mickey Dee Band; and March 13, Bill Bevec Band.
Call the hall at 724-346-6056 for information.
GLENN WILSON, ‘UNSUNG HERO’ of jazz, RETURNS FOR SHOW
Jazz saxophonist Glenn Wilson, a Youngstown native, will be back in his hometown next week to conduct workshops at Youngstown State University and to jam a little.
Wilson will be at YSU – his alma mater – on Tuesday during the day. Then he will perform with jazz pianist Chip Stephens from 6 to 9 p.m. that night at Christopher’s Downtown, which is on the lower level of the City Center One Building on East Federal Street.
A jazz pro for 40 years, Wilson has been called “an unsung hero in modern jazz” by All Music Guide.
After completing his undergraduate degree from YSU in 1977, he moved to New York where he worked with the Buddy Rich Band, Lionel Hampton Orchestra and others, and recorded at least a half-dozen albums as a band leader. His latest recording, “Timely,” made the All Music Guide’s Best Recordings of 2015 list.
Wilson and the equally accomplished Stephens have been playing together for the past 15 years.
JD EICHER WILL HIT THE ROAD FOR SHOWS WITH SISTER HAZEL
JD Eicher will be on tour with Sister Hazel for four Midwestern concerts next month. The Youngstown pop-rocker will be an opening act for concerts at the Music Box in Cleveland on Dec. 15; Schmitt’s Saloon in Morgantown, W.Va., Dec. 16; The Vogue in Indianapolis, Dec. 17; and House of Blues in Chicago, Dec. 18 and 19. Also on the tour will be Christian Lopez.