Welcome to your Buzz Around Weekender, our regional "what's good" and more!
April 17, 18 & 19
Your Buzz Around is excited to offer this exclusive weekly column with Paul Engle, Director of Brockton Public Library.
Prior to Brockton, Paul was the Director of Library Services at Berklee College of Music. An accomplished professional musician as well as librarian, Paul brings to the Brockton Area a unique view on library services; he is "passionate about diverse cultures sharing ideas, free and open access to information, libraries as a space for sharing artistic, scientific and cultural ideas, and promoting life-long learning skills." In this week's article, Paul introduces us to Jazz Fusion.

"I hope you like Jazz Fusion!" Is a quote from a TV commercial, and I believe it is meant to portray the commercial’s protagonist as a dolt. Jazz fusion is one of the reasons that I started playing and writing music. My kids constantly make fun of my love of this short lived genre, and my ability to compose in this idiom has been deemed an unfortunate byproduct of my personality.

Between the neo-conservative views that jazz essentially peaked in 1960 and everything prior is sacrosanct ( Eric Nisenson’s Blue: The Murder of Jazz ), and the saccharine tones of what has become known as fuzak, fusion hasn’t stood the test of time too well; and that’s too bad. Fusion was actually really cool. Below we will take a look at the roots of fusion, up to Miles Davis’ watershed work In a silent way. Later on we’ll cover the seminal fusion recordings, but for now let’s lay the ground-work. We will get into the analysis and the rock roots a little later.

1) Bill Evans – Autumn Leaves Recorded in 1959 for Riverside, this trio had a conversational approach rather than strictly stated swing time. Also note the complex, western art music harmony.

The classic quartet version of “Summertime” from 1960 demonstrates Trane’s post-bop phrasing over Elvin Jones’ rolling time.

From 1959, listen to “What I say” and check out Ray’s rocking 12-bar blues played on a Wurlitzer electric piano.

The title track, recorded in 1965, and the beautifully impressionistic treatment was a major influence on fusion, particularly the acoustic music recorded in the early 1970s on the ECM label.

A truly great small group of the 1960s, the title track of this album (recorded in 1966) clearly includes elements of jazz, rock, broken time, classical harmony, and the Avant-guard.

The personnel on this 1969 recording would soon after branch out to form the most definitive fusion ensembles, along side Miles’ own groups, of the era. Herbie Hancock would first form his great sextet and later the Headhunters band, who emphasized the funkier aspects of this new music. Tony Williams and John McLaughlin’s partnership with free jazz-influenced organist Larry Young created the Tony Williams Lifetime; a band that simply broke the mold in every way. Chick Corea’s ARC trio with Dave Holland and Barry Altchule combined acoustic jazz with many avant-guard touches both in improvising and composition. Corea’s Return to Forever projects brought Brazilian, rock, classical and jazz elements to the music. Wayne Shorter, one the greatest post-Coltrane improvisers and composers, joined forces with keyboardist and composer Josef Zawinul and together formed the seminal band Weather Report in 1971.
For business ideas on how to continue generating income is this new economy and access aid available:
Small Business ideas from Accion, in Cambridge, MA, a nonprofit community lender dedicated to helping entrepreneurs generate income, build assets, create jobs and achieve financial success through business ownership. Their approach: they work hand-in-hand with entrepreneurs to overcome every obstacle standing between them and their dream of owning a thriving business. us.accion.org

 Staying Connected to Your Customers - your business can adapt during this time of uncertainty led by experts from Samuel Adams in branding, social media, and e-commerce.
Grant opportunity for restaurant employees in Massachusetts through Samuel Adams and the Greg Hill Foundation. Greg Hill is a Massachusetts radio personality who wants to provide restaurant employees some financial relief during the crisis. The goal is to provide $1,000 grants to as many people as they can through crowdfunding. Sam Adams made an initial donation of $100k to the fund and agreed to match donations through 3/31 up to an additional $100k. They have crowdfunded $419k so far for this fund.

 Interested restaurant owners and workers must be a full-time tipped compensated employee (minimum of 30 hours total per week); be employed for three months or longer at the same location; work at a bar, restaurant, café or nightclub in Massachusetts; and submit their last two pay stubs.

  Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) - PUA will provide up to 39 weeks of unemployment benefits to individuals who are not working as a result of COVID-19 and are self-employed, independent contractors, gig economy workers, and others who otherwise would not qualify for regular UC or EB under state or federal law or PEUC. These individuals will not be able to claim benefits directly through the Unemployment Insurance Online System in Massachusetts, as of this time. The Department of Unemployment Assistance has engaged a vendor to build a new platform to disburse PUA benefits. The platform is expected to begin accepting PUA claims on or around April 30, 2020. Eligible claimants under PUA will be retroactively compensated with this benefit beginning February 2, 2020, or the first week a claimant was unable to work as a result of COVID-19, whichever date is later. The last week this benefit is payable is the week ending December 26, 2020. www.mass.gov/CARES act
Eligible claimants should continue to check for updates at mass.gov , on the new platform, which will be ready this month (April,2020). Once the system is up and running, eligible claimants will receive this benefit backdated to Feb 2, 2020, or the first week a claimant was unable to work as a result of CV-19.

   Verizon Small Business Recovery Fund - LISC will use the Verizon funding to provide grants of up to $10,000 to businesses facing immediate financial pressure because of COVID-19—especially entrepreneurs of color, women-owned businesses and other enterprises in historically underserved communities who don’t have access to flexible, affordable capital.
Keep Your Pets Safe in a Disaster

A safe home, a regular routine, a soft bed - the things that bring you comfort bring your pet comfort, too. Which is why it's so important to give some advance thought to how you'd handle your pet responsibilities during and after a disastrous...

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rfdinsurance.com
We Are Hiring Account Representatives

Our local economies have been severely impacted. Our small local businesses need help recovering. You can help. Small companies create 1.5 million jobs annually and account for 64 percent of new jobs created in the United States. Over 90 percent...

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buzzaround.info
Metro South Chamber of Commerce

Leading Businesses, Leading Communities

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www.metrosouthchamber.com
THIS WEEKEND:

Bridgewater - Parks & Trails Where are the trails in Bridgewater, you may ask? Here is a poster showing the many places in your town you can take a leisurely walk. Just remember to keep your distance from fellow strollers.

Bridgewater - Virtual Beginner Yoga Class Fri, April 17, 6:30p. Learn the basics of Svaroopa® yoga from the comfort of your own home. All you'll need are a folding chair, pillows, some books or yoga blocks and you're ready to get started. Enjoy two guided awarenesses and a breathing exercise, as well. Experience the bliss of an open spine and destress, all at the same time.

Brockton - Digital Art Archive Fuller Craft Museum. This Digital Archive is a window into the Fuller Craft Permanent Collection. With a few clicks you can access images and information about a vast selection of craft works from the collection. Search by artist/maker, title, media, and more. Browse specific categories and perform advanced searches with key words or phrases.
Brockton - Cutest Animal "Sheltering in Place" Photo Contest Ongoing through May 6th @ 8p. The Animal Protection Center decided to launch this contest to bring some PAWSitivity into the lives of our shelter community during these difficult times. Although we are advocating more social distancing right now, we still want our supporters to feel a sense of togetherness. Photos may be submitted for a $15 donation. All photos can be any owned animal in your home with focus on how they are supporting their human counterparts during this pandemic. Click on the following link for more details.

Boston - Earth Day 2020 Boston Facebook Live Rally - Sat, April 18, 10a. Join Senator Ed Markey, City Councilors Michelle Wu and Andrea Campbell, Mass Sierra Club, Mass Audubon, musical performers and more for a virtual rally on April 18, 2020 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and learn about how to take action on climate during the COVID-19 crisis. Other online events will take place throughout the week.
 Boston - Boston Family & Kids Events Fun things to do. Many events online.

Boston - Charlo and Stud's Virtual Open Mic for GRCB Sun, April 19, 3:30 - 4:30p. This is an ALL AGES zoom event. Sign up here for a slot to play a song, read a poem, do a dance, whatever you like! Slots will be filled first come, first served.
Slots will range from 5-10 minutes depending on the number of folks who sign up. This event is free to attend but we will be "passing a hat" around and asking folks to donate $5-10 to GRCB if they can.
Zoom meeting will be shared day of the event.

Bristol, RI - Live Feed Fridays: Daffodil & Ephemeral Tour Fri, April 17, 10a. Take a virtual walk through the daffodils and ephemerals at Blithewold with Gardens Manager Gail Read. She will highlight a variety of blooms from the 13 daffodil divisions. Be amazed and inspired by Blithewold’s early-spring assortment of ephemerals!

Brookline - Jimmy Fund At-Home Virtual Bingo Night - Fri, April 17, 8:15p. Join us for a virtual Bingo night! Tune in through Facebook Live to watch Boston 25 News Sports Anchor Tom Leyden Boston 25 lead our Jimmy Fund Bingo night. J I M M Y Bingo boards are available with a suggested donation of $10 or more until 2p on 4/17. Families and supporters of all ages can join us for a chance to win cool prizes while supporting cancer research and care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute during this critical time.

Concord   Facebook Live - Ask a Ranger  Fri, April 17, 10a. Teachers and parents! Even though the park's visitor centers and on-site education programs remain closed during the Covid-19 public health crisis we are still here for you! Email your questions about the start of the American Revolution and the Battles of Lexington and Concord to  jim_hollister@nps.gov  or post them in the comments. We will address them during a Facebook live session held every Friday in April at 10a. Let us know what aspect of the history interests you! More information is available on our  website .

Halifax - Audio books Holmes Public Library. Enjoy your favorite audio books in the mobile app or on your computer. Our desktop app supports transfer to a variety of devices.

Pembroke - 24/7 access Pembroke Public Library. eBooks, audio books, movies, language courses, access to Boston Public Library, & music.
THIS WEEKEND Continued:
Plymouth - Plimouth Plantation Virtual Field Trip Take a virtual trip and learn about a 17th-Century English Village and Wampanoag Homesite. Also find an award-winning interactive web activity with this link.

Plymouth - Virtual Class: Crafts n' Creations Fri, April 17, 10a, hosted by The Arc of Greater Plymouth. Join Brandon in this fun and easy virtual craft session. Watch the magic happen as we transform recycled household items into crafty pieces of art. Each day will be a different craft idea for you to create. Step by step instructions and visual aids will be provided. This session is very laid back, easy and a great way to socialize with friends. What will you create? A supply list will be provided in advance so that you can create along with Brandon. To participate in this session, please contact Brandon Gangell, Community Supports Coordinator, at BrandonG@plymouthcapearc.org .

Providence, RI - Home Flea Sun, April 19, 11a. If you're like hundreds of others who are looking for a way to support your favorite Flea vendors, join us for the Home Flea! View the Flea vendors we're bringing together virtually with shoppers and followers who miss and love them and would do anything to see them all in the same place again on a Sunday. There you'll find a list of participating vendors and times and directions to their live interviews on our Instagram Live feed at instagram.com/providenceflea .

Providence, RI - Virtual Relay For Life 2020 Sat & Sun, April 18 - 19, 2p. Join us for a Virtual Relay to support cancer patients, survivors, and caretakers! Enjoy survivor speakers, exercise classes, and performances from PC's dance and music clubs. Donation Link Relay Page

Raynham - Local Trails Hewitts Pond Conservation Area – North Main St: Pond, trail, dam, bird watching (No hunting is allowed at the Hewitt Pond Conservation Area located on North Main St or the Kransberg Conservation Area located on King St at Dam Lot Brook.). Forge River Conservation Area – South Main St: River, forest trail, historical site, bird watching. Raynham State Forest – Locust St: Upland forest, trail.

Taunton - Old Colony History Museum Virtual Tour 66 Church Green. Thanks to TCAM TV, if you can’t join us in person enjoy a walking tour of some of Taunton’s oldest homes and buildings hosted by the OCHM’s Community Programming Coordinator Saria Sweeney. Check out our blog
The Children's Museum in Easton daily #socialdistancelearning challenge
can be completed at home with everyday materials, If your child gives one of our activities a try, tag us on social media and use the hashtag #socialdistancelearning and we will share your child's project!

Today's Project: Jellybean Engineering

Building structures with marshmallows is a classic engineering project, but there are countless ways to adapt it to what you have on hand. This time around we are using jellybeans with the toothpicks. You can choose to lead your children in an activity or let them freely explore! 

YOU’LL NEED:

Jelly beans, toothpicks, flat working surface

DIRECTIONS:
 
  1. Gently poke a jelly bean with a toothpick.  
  2. Connect jelly beans together with other toothpicks to create your own design.

TIPS:
Encourage children to use their imagination to design a cool structure! Or, give them a goal. For example: Design a free-standing structure that is at least three levels (toothpicks) tall but only one level wide.
THIS WEEKEND Continued:
Taunton - Local Parks Links to parks in your area. Hopewell Park, Playground & Splash Pad ;

West Bridgewater - Free Childrens Books WB Public Library. Friends of the Library donated books for children for the public. A cart will be outside of the library. Please be considerate of how many books you take, a limit of 5 would be appreciated.

West Bridgewater - Free Public WiFi WB Public Library. Access right out side the library even when they are closed. Network: WB-Library-Guest, Password: hoWard80

West Bridgewater - Old Bridgewater Historical Society Lectures You can check out some of our fantastic lectures on YouTube! The Memorial Building is closed.

West Bridgewater - Conservation Area Trail Maps Wondering where you can walk and keep your distance while staying close to home? Enjoy some of our towns open spaces while getting some much needed exercise and fresh air. 

Whitman - Libby by Overdrive Whitman Public Library. Access to thousands of eBooks and audio books. You can borrow them, instantly, for free, using just the device in your hand.

Whitman - Digital Magazines Whitman Public Library. Download a wide range of magazines including areas such as sports, entertainment, travel, business, & more. iPad®, iPhone®, Kindle Fire, and Android® compatibility.