Deanna Varagona on a Sunday Afternoon
So what’s new with the versatile Ms. Varagona? She’s probably still most widely known for playing saxophone with Lambchop, but she’s produced two CDs of her own music, and has sat in with Elf Power, Steve Wynn, Bobby Bare Jr., Chris Mills and dozens of others.
Yesterday when we were both procrastinating online she shared the news that she’s just finished recording with Kieran Kane for a CD to be released in June or July on Compass records. She’s crossing her fingers that a tour will follow.
Besides saxophone, Deanna plays mandolin, harmonica, banjo, guitar, marimba, organ, lapsteel–there’s more, but I’m running out of commas. Lately, in a long stretch of boredom, she has been re-learning classical piano. What she was procrastinating about yesterday was a Bartok piece, “Bear Dance”, and another piece by Franz Liszt. She’s working them up for a recital at her mother’s music studio on June 5.
It sounds like a laid-back, enjoyable evening in Oak Ridge, TN. It’s a potluck, too, so if you’re in the neighborhood, whip up your favorite recipe, or at least pick up a bag of chips and a bottle of wine at the convenience store. Here are the details:
Friday June 5th 6:30pm
Celeste Varagona Music Studio
101 Mason Lane
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
Deanna promises nice folks.