The week of this and that

I suffer from the writer's habit of writing things down on scraps of paper, then stuffing them in my purse, or in my pocket.

It isn't, I readily admit, the best habit, but at least I'm writing things down and not trying to store everything in my head.

This week's column is a little of this, a little of that, here and there. Think of it, maybe, as reading through the scraps of paper that accumulate in the corners of my purse.

Bang that drum

A couple of weeks ago, I went to the Percussion Summit at the Philharmonic Center for the Arts in Naples.

I've been attending since its inception, and for me, it's an annual "don't-miss" event. (If you've never gone, well, all I can say is: You're missing out.)

Typically held on a Saturday in early September, the concert brings together percussionists from various orchestras with the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra's percussionists. Generally, there are two guest artists, everything from R&B drummers to jazz xylophonists.

All of the music is performed on percussion instruments, which, in addition to a wide variety of drums, include marimbas, xylophones, cymbals, tambourines, wooden blocks, cowbells and piano — basically, anything that can be struck by hand, mallet or stick to create a sound.

PHOTO BY JOHN BERENS, © MARY HEILMANN, COURTESY THE ARTIST, 303 GALLERY, NEW YORK AND HAUSER & WIRTH ZURICH LONDON. Mary Heilmann, Go Ask Alice, 2006. Oil on canvas, 36-by-48 inches. This year, five musicians played a number on a row of plastic and metal trash cans. Met with thunderous applause, the summit's host and originator of the program, John Evans (the Phil's principal timpanist), said ruefully, but with a smile: "Ten music degrees among the five of us up here, and this is the number you're going to remember."

Last year's concert seemed a little too top-heavy with steel drums; this year, the focus seemed to be more on marimbas, including a medley of tunes from the opera "Carmen" played entirely on marimbas.

Drummer Zoro, who tours with Lenny Kravitz, was this year's guest artist. Sitting front and center behind his drum kit, he played tunes such as Paul Simon's "Late in the Evening" and Stevie Wonder's "I Wish."

But the thrill for me is hearing music I'd never get to hear anywhere else. This year's Percussion Summit included the world premiere of "Jannissary Band," com- posed by Stan Leonard, former timpanist of the Pittsburgh Symphony. An intriguing composition, I thought it sounded a little like Klingon music. And it included, believe it or not, the playing of brake drums (as in automobile brake drums).

Now where else would you get to hear that?

Read to change your life

I'm a big fan of George Pelecanos, who, in addition to his novels, wrote and produced episodes for HBO's gritty, insightful series "The Wire."

I just read his new novel, "The Way Home," about a son who gets in trouble with the law when he's young, and what happens when he's released from juvenile lock-up. The book, which Mr. Pelecanos dedicated to his father, focuses on the often-frustrating dynamics of the fatherson relationship.

Sometimes, Mr. Pelecanos seems to be saying, it doesn't matter how good your upbringing is; sometimes, male teens' brains just go haywire. Bad impulse control and not considering the consequences of actions can lead to disaster.

"The Way Home" also highlights the need for rehabilitation of juvenile offenders, putting them in an environment that helps them get on the right track instead of throwing them in prison with more hardened criminals.

But tucked into this latest novel are a couple of characters who love books and who love to read. And it changes their lives, it helps them see beyond the confines of their own small neighborhood and limited experience.

One character who discovers the joys of reading challenges himself to read more difficult books.

I couldn't help but think that Mr. Pelecanos' books, most likely read by people on both sides of the law, might help inspire some to a love of reading.

I was reminded too, of reading "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" in high school, specifically, the scene where he develops his love of reading while in prison. He realizes his vocabulary is lacking, so he gets a dictionary and starts copying it, word-by-word, starting with the A's.

Rutbuster excerpt

The October issue of Gulfshore Life magazine features excerpts from "Secrets of a Rutbuster: Breaking Rules and Selling Dreams" by the Phil's CEO and founder, Myra Janco Daniels. Part memoir, part business self-help book, it was just released late this month.

In December, the magazine will again excerpt the book, focusing on how Daniels moved to Naples and built the Phil.

Back in July, I wrote about Mrs. Daniels' forthcoming book and her marriage in the 1960s to advertising guru Draper Daniels, who became the inspiration for the character of Don Draper in AMC's "Mad Men" drama series.

'Art 21'

This past Friday, the Alliance for the Arts teamed up with local PBS station WGCUTV to show a sneak preview of an upcoming episode of "Art 21: Art in the 21st Century." The Peabody Award-winning series, now beginning its fifth season, features interviews with modern artists about their work, their inspiration and their process.

The Alliance screened episode two, featuring pop sculptor Jeff Koons, painter Mary Heilmann, photographer Florian Maier-Aiche and videographer Cao Fei. Mr. Koons, of course, is known for his oversized kitch sculptures; Mr. Maier-Aiche shoots landscape photographs and then manipulates them on the computer; and Ms. Fei created a city on Second Life, a 3D virtual world accessed by computer.

But it was Ms. Heilmann's work and interview that grabbed me. She's a vivacious and outspoken woman, and her work seemed to have the most blood and life to it: colorful, abstract paintings with quirky titles such as "Surfing on Acid."

The four episodes, which feature three or four artists each, are divided by theme: Compassion, Fantasy, Transformation and Systems. "Art: 21" begins airing its new season on WGCU-TV at 10 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, with encore presentations at 10:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, and 11 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15.

Whether it's an artist whose ideas are being brought to life by a large staff or a lone painter making paintings in her studio, "Art: 21" introduces you to artists working today. And, unlike most of our major museums, the series recognizes that art isn't just created by white men; it includes a healthy dose of artists of color and artists who are women.

Keep the change

My co-worker Roger Williams recently wrote a column wishing local NPR station WGCU-FM had kept its classical music programming. Of course, he's entitled to his opinion. I just happen to disagree with him.

I'm literally all over the dial when listening to music, but I've been finding myself listening to NPR a lot more often since the programming change. (And since Oldies 92.5-FM went off the air. More on that next.) There's jazz late at night, "Fresh Air" daily now, not just on weekends, and "World Café" on Friday evenings. Where else could we hear such diverse music, and such interesting arts interviews?

Classical music lovers haven't been left high and dry; they can listen to the HD station, and there are numerous concerts at both the Phil and the Barbara B. Mann, with four classical orchestras in the area. But pretty much the only jazz we can hear in concert in Southwest Florida is the bland smooth jazz.

I listened to NPR in New York City and Chicago, and I still miss the diversity of programming I heard there. To me, that's what NPR is all about: a mixture of programming, not the top hits of classical music recycled over and over again.

A bad move

Conversely, while the local NPR station has changed for the better, an oldies station that played a wonderful variety of music from different decades has changed for the worst. To my dismay, radio station Oldies 92.5-FM has switched from fun music to hate-filled talk radio.

It's now Fox News WFSX 92.5-FM.

Bad move.

I know it's not uncommon for radio stations to change formats overnight. Oldies to country. Top 20 to hip-hop.

But this? Come on.

I really don't care to hear Rush Limbaugh or Glen Beck or anyone giving me halftruths and spewing hate. It's like having garbage and sludge poured into my ears.

So Meridian Broadcasting has lost me as a loyal listener.

I loved the station, but I no longer listen. I miss the music.

If you miss it, too, here's who you can contact, according to Meridian Broadcasting's Web site: Randy Marsh, director of programming. His number's listed as 479- 5567, his e-mail as randymarsh@mbimail. com.

This boneheaded switch just might be the tipping point that makes me finally switch to satellite radio.