The Maryland-based blues and boogie pianist/saxophonist, Deanna Bogart, combines the energy of 1930's style boogie piano blues with contemporary blues sounds emanating from places like New Orleans, Chicago and Memphis. "The goal when we play live," says Bogart, "is to create a fusion of all these different musical styles with the blues and boogie genuinely at the core." Bogart began to develop her unique style as a sideplayer in Cowboy Jazz, a Maryland-based group that dedicated itself to the sound of 1940’s western swing music. As her musical appetite grew she spent nearly two years playing R&B with the Washington D.C.-based Root Boy Slim. Bogart combined these disparate influences in her own original compositions that blend elements of boogie music with modern jazz and rock. After getting her own band off the ground in 1988, she began playing throughout the mid-Atlantic region and the West Coast, slowly building a following and a reputation. Bogart has appeared on stage with the likes of BB King, Brian Setzer, Buddy Guy, James Brown, Doctor John, They Might Be Giants, Spyro Gyra, Ray Charles, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, and the Neville Brothers. The recipient of no less than 20 Washington Area Music Awards–the “Wammies”–her most recent album, Timing is Everything, helped garner her five awards in one year, including Best Blues Vocalist, Best Group, Songwriter of the Year, Song of the Year, and Musician of the Year.

The Deanna Bogart Band

People and artists have always been fascinated with the human body, especially with what lies beneath our skin. Both Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo studied the human body, alive and dead, to accurately depict it in the masterworks they are renowned for. A new exhibition has opened in Baltimore entitled "Body Worlds 2" and ArtWorks examined it from an artistic perspective. "Body Worlds 2" runs six months at The Maryland Science Center through September 1st.

Body Worlds 2 at the Maryland Science Center

During a magical midsummer night, a series of mis-matched couples get second chances for romance in Stephen Sondheim's bittersweet musical, "A Little Night Music." Veteran Broadway director Mark Lamos and cast member Stephen Bogardus visit the studio to discuss this play, whose cast includes the largest number of Tony-nominated actors ever to appear in a CENTERSTAGE musical. The play runs through April 13.

Photo of Mark Lamos courtesy of Mike Habermann/The Guthrie Theatre; photo of Stephen Bogardus courtesy of CENTERSTAGE.

CENTERSTAGE

The Salon artist this week is Walt Bartman. Mr. Bartman is a prominent painter that views color as a complex and constantly changing source for expressing emotions in his paintings. His philosophy is: "The color I see is made by the color I saw". He uses his artwork to give others thought and to instigate thought and finds no better place to do this than on Tilghman Islandon the Chesapeake Bay. It is here that he engages in plein air painting in a serene and light-infused setting. His communication through the arts is evident by the many awards and accolades that he has received, including the Lockheed Martin Art and the Strathmore Art awards. Moreover, he is a great educator. Mr. Bartman is the distinguished winner of the 1991 Maryland Art Educator of the Year award and has been featured on CBS's "Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood." If you would like to view the works of this great educator and accomplished artist, visit the Marin-Price Gallery at 7022 Wisconsin Avenue in Chevy Chase, MD. Gallery hours are Mon.–Sat., 10:30-7pm and Sun., Noon–5pm or you may contact the gallery at 301-718-0622.

Marin-Price Gallery website
Walt Bartman website

On ArtChat This Week, Nate and Rhea discuss highlights of upcoming events and performances in the 2008-2009 arts season. Some of the choice venues for the new season include the Meyerhoff and Wolf Trap.

Wolf Trap
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra