Music

Charlie Hunter hasn't used his famous 8-string bass-guitar hybrid for some three years now.   These days, it's seven strings.  He's got the low three of a bass and the middle four of a guitar, all tuned a minor third higher than normal.  He happily abandoned the highest string in favor of a more condensed and practical version of his one-of-a-kind instrument.  He may be practicing more drums than guitar nowadays anyway. His 2nd solo album, Public Domain, is highly percussive. Released on his own label, Public Domain kicks the dust off eleven old standards from his grandfather's era, who turns one hundred this year.

At noon on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, the 90 members of the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra are on stage at Powell Hall getting ready to rehearse German composer Paul Hindemith's "Symphonic Metamorphosis."

Typical Thanksgiving break plans for trombonist David Lindsay, a junior at Pattonville High School who's in his first year with the orchestra, don't include an hour and a half rehearsal.