Review: Embodied by ATX Artists for Social Impact

by David Glen Robinson
Published on July 01, 2026

Jazz and poetry in fluid mosaic presented a succession of views on the meaning of being human.

  Cut to the chase. The highlight of this show was jazz singer Beau Briar’s delivery of two classics of 30s-40s jazz, “God Bless the Child” by Billie Holliday and Arthur Herzog, Jr. and “Lush Life” by Billy Strayhorn. Lights faded up on Briar, of compact build, in a curiously ill-fitting suit of mismatched separates that a well-heeled man of the 1930s might have worn to clubs. All of it was under perfectly coifed platinum blonde …

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Review: The Duke Ellington Nutcracker by ATX Artists for Social Impact

by David Glen Robinson
Published on December 24, 2025

Two new companies, a refurbished venue, Ellington's jazz version of The Nutcracker -- with lots of innovation!

New things bring the excitement. Capital Contemporary Ballet and ATX Jazz Orchestra, both new, know this and have brought an innovative rendition of The Duke Ellington Nutcracker to Austin. The show gave us Ellington's jazz performed live and contemporary ballet performed skillfully and with considerable humor. The combination is a natural because the revered work was originally a suite of music for ballet composed by Tchaikovsky. Ever the musical innovators, Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn …

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