I love going to events in the Cotton Mill in Brattleboro. As you may have guessed, it's an old mill that's been carved up into dozens of studios, venues, offices and light industrial spaces. To get to arts events there, you have to go up this corridor, down that one, follow signs that don't quite tell you if you're headed in the right direction and hope for the best. It took me several trips to the Vermont Jazz Center before I knew how to get there. Mostly, I just followed the crowd and hoped we were all going to the right place.
Yet somehow, that journey is half the fun. It adds an air of mystery and adventure, kind of like Alice and the Looking Glass or the Narnia children and their wardrobe. The journey there adds intrigue and builds the sense of anticipation.
With that sense of adventure in mind, why not head to The Loft this Saturday to catch the 35th Parallel MediterAsian Jazz Ensemble at 7:30 p.m. The musicians are top-notch and play ain intriguing repertoire you won't hear anywhere else — a distinct blend of Middle Eastern, Asian and Western genres. And you'll have a chance to cheer Todd Roach on. He's the founder of The Loft, and I respect what he's doing there a lot. He's also a first-rate percussionist, who has devoted much of his time to teaching. Todd is one of the good ones here in town. Why not support his venue and his music.
For tickets, call 802-380-6360 or e-mail loftarts@yahoo.com. Tickets are $10. The adventure of getting there ... free.