Posted by
Toby on
Sunday, August 23rd, 2009
Nicholas Mrozinski
Mature albums are hard to come by. They always have been. It is the nature of the music biz. On any given day the number of “debut album” releases greatly outnumber the “fifth album” and “sixth album” releases.
Nicholas Mrozinski‘s 4th studio album displays a marked maturity that takes years to cultivate. From the first track, “Window Of Sage”, to the markedly-understated finale, “Della Jean”, Together We’re Stronger is one of the deeper and more introspective albums that I have heard recently.
The album is beautifully-crafted, and features a mastery of build-ups and break-downs reminiscent of recent Jack Johnson albums.
Mrozinski’s voice, nestled somewhere in between tenor and baritone, channels the sincerity of Ray Lamontagne and mixes it with the playfulness of Jason Mraz.
This album makes my short list of best local releases of 2009.
Posted by
Toby on
Wednesday, August 5th, 2009
Wheel of Death
I didn’t know what to expect of KOOZA, Cirque Du Soleil’s most recent work. Before last night I had never attended a show and, sadly, the majority of my Cirque Du Soleil knowledge came from an episode of South Park. But Comedy Central’s programming did not prepare me for what I was about to see when I entered the “Grand Chapiteau” (a.k.a. Big Top circus-style tent) at the corner of Kellogg and Broadway in downtown St. Paul.
The show was brilliantly-orchestrated from start to finish. In fact, it was entertaining even BEFORE the show started, with clowns providing a good helping of slapstick to help pass the time as the anticipation began to build for showtime. But the real magic started once the house lights were lowered.
It is difficult to accurately describe the emotional energy provided by “the innocent” young boy of a main character. His facial expressions evoked intense empathy as he was unable to get his kite to fly at the beginning of the show. Out comes the show’s protagonist, a magical being with seeming control over time and space who unlocks a world of intrigue and adventure for the boy.
"the Innocent boy"
From there, it was an all-out feeding frenzy of amazing athletic feats mixed with great music and smart, clown-based comedy. Of the clowns, I cannot say enough. They were wittier than your Ringling Bros. clowns but at the same time maintained the essence of what a clown should be – ridiculous.
While some of the most amazing moments of the evening were of the emotional nature, the athletic feats of skill on display were clearly among the finest anywhere in the world. My favorite athletic performers of the evening were “The Juggler” and the “Wheel of Death” (see photo above).
The performance was split into two parts. The first half of the show displayed colorful and playful elements of childhood intrigue while the second half explored the dark side of the mind. It was the second half’s hellish elements (devils, skeletons, the color red) that pushed the show to scary, new heights and solidified its artistic merits.
KOOZA is an unparalleled entertainment success. As I left the tent, I told my girlfriend, “That was the best work of entertainment that I have ever witnessed.”
The show runs through August 9th.
SPECIAL OFFER: Get discount KOOZA tickets here. (Note: These tickets are provided by KOOZA, and we make no money and gain no benefit from their sale.)