COLUMN: An ‘amazing’ lineup of music this weekend, from Macon Pops to Skydog

Steve Moretti has a good vantage point on Macon’s 2022 musical landscape and keeps using words like “amazing,” “remarkable,” and “unbelievable” to describe it.

Looking at this weekend into next week and the one after that is perfect to prove the authenticity of his words.

For starters, have a quick look at some of the opportunities just ahead:

— Tonight, in big band fashion, Moretti’s Macon Pops orchestra presents “Gershwin’s Greatest,” a gaggle of the American composer’s hits like “Summertime,” “I’ve Got Rhythm” and “Rhapsody in Blue.” Some, like Moretti, would argue the above should read America’s greatest composer.

“’Rhapsody in Blue’ is the centerpiece tonight with our arranger and co-founder Matt Catingub’s Juno-nominated arrangement. A Juno is Canada’s equivalent of a Grammy. Gershwin created such a vast amount of America’s songbook and with Matt’s arranging this show gives us the chance to really flex our musical muscles.”

— On Saturday, there’s a good example of hearing local and regional artists. Look at any club or venue downtown or across town for varieties of styles by performers and bands like Ochese Revival at the Amici, the Champ Jaxon Band at the Society Garden, B. Keith Williams at JBA, REHAB at the Hummingbird Stage & Taproom, Eddie 9V at Grant’s Lounge and Southbound Mojo at Billy’s Clubhouse, to name a few.

The quality entertainment available from these and others is present week after week.

— Sunday, it’s the annual Skydog Music Festival for a dip into Macon’s musical history to celebrate Duane Allman’s birthday at Carolyn Crayton Park, formerly Central City Park. Bring items for donation to the Depaul USA Daybreak Center as listed at skydogmacon.com and you can listen to musicians fill the park with Allman Brothers Band riffs and tunes from noon to 5 p.m. – just like in the old days. Seems like there’s always a connection between music here and charitable endeavors.

If Skydog isn’t to your taste, try Mercer University’s Women’s Chamber Choir and Mercer Singers’ performance of their “Thanksgiving Song” program at 3 p.m. in Fickling Hall of the Townsend School of Music’s McCorkle Building. The concert is free.

— Then Monday brings the Macon-Mercer Symphony Orchestra to the Grand’s stage for the second performance of its second season. This hybrid symphony of students from Mercer’s McDuffie Center for Strings and members of the Atlanta Symphony has proven nothing short of spectacular and Monday’s presentation features guest conductor Jeffrey Turner with famed jazz virtuoso Aaron Diehl at piano. Works will include Dvorak’s “From the New World,” Leonard Bernstein’s “Candide” overture and Gershwin’s “Concerto in F.”

— Two weeks down the road on Nov. 25, just after Thanksgiving, is the Macon Pops Christmas Spectacular Presented by Northwestern Mutual of Central Georgia. It’s at 6 p.m. at the intersection of First and Poplar streets and it’s the opener for the annual Macon Christmas Light Extravaganza running until Jan. 1.

Ever increasing, this year’s Pops Christmas song list has grown by five new tunes and the lights extravaganza has grown to include another downtown block and almost 1,000,000 lights synchronized to the Pop’s ever-changing music. The seasonal concert lifts spirits, the lights amaze and the sense of wonder and community they create together is the real gift.

Not a bad weekend in a community where some still complain there’s nothing to do, and that’s just a few of the musical possibilities. Symphonic classical, modern and classic rock, big band, R&B, funk, country – it’s all around. And if you want to look in the rearview mirror to last Tuesday the bundle can include chamber music via the McDuffie Center’s ongoing Fabian Concert series.

Back to Moretti, as a local musical impresario and performing drummer and as a recording engineer and music producer in his own home studio and elsewhere, Moretti’s adjectives carry weight and get even weightier when considering he does live sound recording and mixing for Pops shows, the Christmas extravaganza, Macon Mercer Symphony and many other happenings.

Plus, he’s husband to Amy Schwartz Moretti, director of the McDuffie Center, the reason he wound up in Macon 16 years ago. Aside from her work at the center, she is an internationally in-demand violin virtuoso and he, aside from local activities, is an equally sought-after world-traveling percussionist for various style concerts, recording sessions and related work.

“One of the things about music in Macon is that it’s not just growing in quantity from what it was even 16 years ago but in its quality, too,” he said. “It’s crazy; it’s mind-boggling. There are all kinds of opportunities to hear good music but it can be music performed at a very high level. That’s what we expect and experience when we travel and play in the circles we do and it’s remarkable we find that happening here at the same scale and level in a town of Macon’s size.

“I mean, the Pops’ musicians, the MMSO, the Fabian concerts and the amazing quality of musicians they bring to Macon – you expect that in New York but you pay a premium price for it. Here, you get just as good but at a very reasonable price. Then there’s the history here and the growth of new, area musicians and music. We had our own dreams and plans when we first thought of locating here, sure, but no idea things would develop across the board as they have. I sure didn’t imagine I’d have my own orchestra. But it’s home now and a good musical home that we’re proud to be part of.”

Tickets for tonight’s “Gershwin’s Greatest” are $35 for floor, $25 for balcony seats and available at the door or through maconpops.com and thegrandmacon.com.

For MMSO tickets, information and subscriptions also go to the Grand’s website as well as mcduffie.mercer.edu where there’s information on the symphony, Fabian series and other center work and activities.

The Skydog website is skydogmacon.com and check out the Pops’ site and maconchristmaslightextravaganza.com for coming Christmas activities.

Another point about today’s musical landscape worth making: Moretti says of Macon Pop’s, “It’s our goal to break down the barriers of what people think about (an) orchestra, that it’s a stuffy, elitist, dress-up and sit-still type of thing. At Macon Pops, we want everyone from all walks of life and interests to experience the exciting event and have an opportunity to truly appreciate world-class music.”

True of the Pops and similarly true of the MMSO, other musical offerings and most other cultural offerings around town. The idea is that the music, the art, the dance and the plays are for everyone. What do you like? And what are you willing to discover that you never knew you liked?

Macon’s a good place for that to happen these days. But remember, for that to happen, survive and grow, we have to go.

Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com.