Disc and Dat: New releases by Ron Kaplan, Live Wire and Dilligaf lay back with tasteful interpretations of jazz standards and hit hard with rock-solid originals.
Sights & Sounds: Bassist Tony Levin comes out of 'Big Time' shadow with his own high-powered band.
Gallic Lover: Christina Waters returns from France with Michelin memories and surprising news about the state of Gallic cuisine.
To Film or Not to Film: Michael Almereyda and Ethan Hawke put Shakespeare's troubled Dane in a very modern quandary in 'Hamlet.'
Skinned Alive: Peter Greenaway skins and stuffs his characters in '8 1/2 Women.'
Widow Dressing: Kristin Scott Thomas gets involved with three suitors 'Up at the Villa.'
Electric Carmen: UCSC tackles Bizet's beloved opera and emerges a winner.
Please don't forget to write! Metro Santa Cruz welcomes letters. Like any great work of art, they should be originals -- not copies of letters sent elsewhere. Include address and daytime phone (for verification purposes only). Letters may be edited for length and clarity or to correct factual inaccuracies known to us. Postal: Metro Santa Cruz Letters, 115 Cooper St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060. Fax: 831/457-5828. Email:
. Emailers, please include name, city of residence and phone number. Letters printed will list email address unless otherwise specified. Letters to the editor are not currently published in the online version of this paper.