The Westport Arts Center today hosted a concert by the Nicole Pasternak Quartet celebrating the songs of Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. Pasternak was accompanied by pianist Pete Malinverni, bassist Rusty Holloway, and drummer Tom Melito. The concert was part of the Art Center’s Lineage Jazz Series created by the late Chris Brown, local trumpeter and recording engineer. Brown had been scheduled to perform with the Quartet before his death Sept. 24. The show was dedicated to his memory. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

Eric Goldman, an expert and lecturer on Yiddish, Israeli and Jewish film and noted film educator, today led a discussion on “The American Jewish Story through Cinema” at Westport Town Hall. It was presented by the Westport Cinema Initiative in partnership with the Jewish Arts & Film Festival of Fairfield County and the UJA/Federation – Westport, Weston, Wilton, Norwalk and Eastern Fairfield County, with support from the Connecticut Office of the Arts. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

One of the films highlighted in today’s talk on “The American Jewish Story through Cinema” at Westport Town Hall by lecturer Erc F. Goldman was the 1947 drama “Gentlemen’s Agreement.” The film is about a journalist (played by Gregory Peck) who goes undercover as a Jew to conduct research for an exposé on antisemitism in New York City and the affluent community of Darien. It was nominated for eight Oscars and won three: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress (Celeste Holm), and Best Director (Elia Kazan). (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

Tiffany & Co., lead sponsor of today’s Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts special performance, hosted a post-concert cocktail party in celebration of the new pavilion. Pictured (l-r) are are Mike DelGuidice, who along with his group the Big Shots performed a tribute to the Music of Billy Joel earlier at Saugatuck Elementary School, Bill McGuinness, Tiffany & Co. store director, and Carleigh Welsh, the Levitt’s marketing and development director. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Hundreds turned out today for the ticketed performance of the Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts concert featuring Mike DelGuidice & Big Shot, celebrating the music of Billy Joel. Big Shot bandmates, who are members of Billy Joel’s touring band, included Tommy Byrnes (guitar), John Scarpulla (sax), Nick Dimichino (bass), Carmine Giglio (synthesizer) and Chuck Burgi (drums.)  The event was moved indoors to the Saugatuck Elementary School auditorium because of inclement weather.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The forecast of bad weather has forced the Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts to move Saturday’s benefit concert featuring Mike DelGuidice & Big Shot celebrating the music of Billy Joel indoors to the Saugatuck Elementary School auditorium, organizers announced today.

The special ticketed benefit event will take place at 2 p.m. at the school, 170 Riverside Ave., with doors opening at 1 p.m.

Big Shot is the only authorized Billy Joel tribute band and lead singer/pianist Mike DelGuidice, along with other Big Shot band mates, are members of Billy Joel’s touring band.

Advance-price tickets will remain on sale online and by phone (866-811-4111) until noon Saturday while supplies last with a limited number of tickets on sale at the door, organizers said.

By Susan Granger

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the gruesome, sadistic horror thriller “Saw” is back in theaters for a week, and the only other scary stories are “Nightcrawler,” “Dracula Untold” and “Ouija.”

Jake Gyllenhaal stars in Dan Gilroy’s neo-noir crime thriller “Nightcrawler” as a sociopath who prowls Los Angeles at night with a video camera, doing accident and crime-reporting and selling his footage to a TV news director (Rene Russo), who’s hungry for ratings.

Problem is: instead of remaining a passive bystander, he brazenly begins to stage his own roadside carnage -– until he stumbles onto an apparent home invasion.

On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “Nightcrawler” is a dark, cynical 7, filled with savage, scathing commentary about our media’s relentless exploitation of violence.

Oscar’s Deli owner Lee Papageorge today helps Westport photographer Irene Penny of Silver Penny Photography install one of her photographs for her show opening at Oscar’s on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be a free photo raffle and gifts. The exhibit continues until Jan. 1. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

By Phyllis Groner

The Westport Arts Advisory Committee (WAAC), recognizing 21st century technology’s influence on the arts, today hosted its inaugural TEA Talk at Westport Town Hall -– TEA standing for Thinkers, Educators and Artists.

Richard Epstein (l) interviews composer Nick DiBerardino at today’s TEA Talk. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

“The success of the TED talk format led us to imagine our first TEA Talk where artists could discuss and demonstrate how technology is currently employed in various artistic disciplines,” said Nancy Diamond, WAAC co-chair.

“Finding the right people to engage and interview artists about the creative process in a live format seemed very natural,” said Richard Epstein, co-chair.

The format was three 20-minute moderated conversations on the theme of Technology and the Arts. Featured were professionals in the visual arts (Thomas Berntsen), music (Nick DiBerardino) and theater (Gina Rattan).