City Week

Aidan Sings!

You'd probably recognize John Corbett from his role in Sex and the City or My Big Fat Greek Wedding, but the actor is also a musician. On Sunday, Dec. 16, he'll be rocking the Maverick to raise money for a couple of great causes around Tucson.

Corbett and his band will hit the stage at 8:30 p.m., performing country jams from their debut album, released in 2006. The concert is a fundraiser for two nonprofit organizations, the Southern Arizona Community Diaper Bank and Junior Achievement of Arizona.

"J.A.'s mission statement is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy," said Rita Weatherholt, Junior Achievement's Southern Arizona executive director.

J.A. began in 1919, and has since provided thousands of children with a school-based curriculum, taught by volunteers in the business world, to encourage future success. In grade school, the optional program is five weeks; in middle and high school, classes range between six and eight weeks in length.

"It's a field trip in the classroom for them (the students)," Weatherholt said. "We want to make sure they can dream about the future and be successful."

The Southern Arizona Community Diaper Bank provides diapers and incontinency supplies around Tucson.

"We're thrilled," said Kirsten Grabo, executive director of the diaper bank. "(The concert) will create some awareness, and I think it's wonderful that he's (Corbett) able to do this concert for charity. And he's not bad to look at, either."

General admission is $25. VIP tickets, which include exclusive seating, private bar and an afterparty with Corbett, are available for $40. Buy online or at the Maverick. --D.P.

Important Perspectives From Women

Two local authors will be reading excerpts from their books at 7 p.m. on Friday at Antigone Books.

Poet and novelist Susan Cummins Miller is an award-winning author, and she will be reading from a new edition of a book she edited, A Sweet, Separate Intimacy: Women Writers of the American Frontier, 1800-1922. "It's hot off the press," Cummins Miller said. "Texas Tech is bringing this out so these women's voices will continue to be read."

The book is an anthology, first published in 2000, featuring fiction, nonfiction and poetry by 34 female writers who, in their time, had difficulty finding publishers. Cummins Miller is very excited about its re-release.

"The book is far more important than me," Cummins Miller said.

Elizabeth Gunn will also read at the event. She is a mystery novelist, and many of her books star the character Jake Hines, a chief of detectives in Southeast Minnesota, where Gunn was born. However, since she is now a Tucsonan, she thought it fitting to begin a new string of books featuring our fair city.

"I'll be reading a couple of excerpts from Cool in Tucson, which is an intentionally somewhat humorous name," Gunn said. "It's my new, hot thing."

Gunn's new character is named Sarah Burke, and we can expect to see more of her soon, because Gunn said a sequel is already in the works. Cool in Tucson will not be available in the United States until February 2008.

"It will emphasize the commotion called Tucson," Gunn said about the soon-to-be-released book.

The readings are free. --D.P.

Stepping Into the Spotlight

You might know John Einweck as the jazzy guy who jams with local Latin bands--and now, he's stepping into the limelight.

Sullivan's Steak House has had the pleasure of featuring the Chicago-born performer as the leader of the restaurant's jazz group during the last six years--and now we can, too, without buying a steak.

Einweck said his quartet's performance represents a chance for a new, enhanced profile, and an opportunity for audience members to see him perform in a showcase setting.

"This concert is a step into my next musical section," said Einweck. "We will be playing Latin music, something Tucson seems to be hungry for, coming from a jazz perspective."

Einweck's musical Latin background is very diverse. After playing with local bands and musicians such as Descarga, Latino Solido, Able Valentino and Raphael Moreno, he can claim to have a feel for Hispanic jazz music. And that's just a start--he has had the opportunity to perform alongside legends such as Ray Charles, Lee Konitz, Wynton Marsalis, Bonnie Raitt and Jimmy Witherspoon.

For the show on Tuesday, he has written several new compositions. Throughout the evening, Einweck will be reading his spoken-word poetry over the jazz tunes.

Playing beside him will be his usual jazz crew: Robin Horn will be on the drums, Bobby Elias on bass guitar and Bubba Fass on Latin percussion.

Tickets are $20, with discounts for students and members of other musical organizations. Contact the Beowulf Alley box office at 882-0555 for more information. --J.W.

Family Secrets Revealed?

Is opening a dusty old shoebox or finding an old family artifact in a basement still appealing, if nothing exciting is discovered?

While cleaning up his very religious grandparents' basement, California-born artist Matthew Yates was in search of a dark, hidden side to his family. He hoped to find sin and untold stories.

That didn't happen.

Holding on to his voyeuristic desire, Yates created an exhibit to allow his family's made-up forgotten past to come to life through art--which can be seen through Dec. 22 at Access Tucson.

The series Beautiful Nightmare, according to Yates, is a fictitious dark family album. Its creation stemmed from his desire to find something more in that basement. The collection is a dusty archive full of mysterious people and a record of events long forgotten--perhaps intentionally.

Yates was awarded the grand prize for the All Souls Procession/Day of the Dead photo competition this year, juried by Terry Etherton. According to Access Tucson's Vikki Dempsey, Yates' popularity is on the rise.

"The photos have a Jack the Ripper feel to them. They are black and white and soaked with tea, so they have this old look to them," said Dempsey. "Most appear to be more of a silhouette then an actual clear image, which goes along with the secrets of wondering who each person is." --J.W.