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Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Saturday, May 10, 2008

This List for May 4, 2008

"Reaper" | Jon Nakamatsu | Six Sentences

WATCH THIS

CW’s freshman TV show “Reaper” (8 p.m. Tuesday) may target the teenage and 20-something audience, but anyone who enjoys a good chuckle can dance with the devil.

Shortly after turning 21, Sam (Bret Harrison) learns his parents sold his soul to Satan (an always well-dressed Ray Wise) and now must catch evil souls that have escaped from hell using various vessels (a hand-held Dirt Devil vacuum, a snow globe, a toaster).

Adding complications to Sam’s once-idle life are his best friends, Sock (Tyler Labine) and Ben (Rick Gonzalez), who help Sam snag escaped souls; his dead-end job at a home improvement store; his crush on a co-worker, Andi (Missy Peregrym); and Satan making random appearances to offer advice or trouble.

The hourlong supernatural dramedy offers a devilish and humorous twist on the age-old battle between good and evil.

- Jennifer Weinlaeder, La Crosse Tribune

HEAR THIS

Franz Liszt, “The Dante Sonata” and other works, Jon Nakamatsu, piano, Harmonia Mundi USA, www.amazon.com and

barnesandnoble.com.

Jon Nakamatsu, the 1997 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition gold medalist, gave a phenomenal performance with the

La Crosse Symphony Orchestra in February. As an encore, Nakamatsu played Franz Liszt’s lovely transcription of Schumann’s “Widmung.”

I discovered Nakamatsu had recorded favorite Liszt works, including “Widmung,” but also “The Dante Sonata,” “Petrarch Sonnets,” “Mephisto Waltz No. 1,” “Impromptu” and “Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2.” This CD is truly a gem, one of my most prized recordings. I’m afraid I’m going to wear it out.

Nakamatsu’s playing is stunning. He plays with flair, precision, crispness, tenderness and beauty. To check out recording excerpts, go to Nakamatsu’s Web site at www.jonnakamatsu.com. If you like Nakamatsu’s playing, check out his recording of George Gershwin’s “Piano Concerto in F,” “Rhapsody in Blue” and “Cuban Overture.”

- Terry Rindfleisch, La Crosse Tribune

BLOG THIS

“What can you say in six sentences?”

This is the challenge presented by the blog appropriately titled Six Sentences (sixsentences.blogspot.

com).

The site urges people to write about something, anything, but do it in only six sentences. Judging by the entries published on the site, run-ons are welcome, and creative punctuation is the norm.

But that’s part of what makes people’s six sentences so interesting.

Many of the submissions are from writers, but the site encourages everyone to contribute.

- Sally Dadisman, McClatchy Newspapers