Classical Music / Dance: April 2012 Archives

FROM TEMECULA- Greetings, Jazz lovers and Friends!

Thanks for selling out the Merc again last week! Bruce Lett, Ramon Banda and Nick Mancini had a great time - so did we! They were especially appreciative of the audience, so give yourselves a hand!!!!

I'm so proud and excited to bring you the Carl Saunders Quartet. Carl is one of the best trumpet players around today. He will be bringing along with an equally gifted group of colleagues -- Christian Jacob on piano, Kenny Wild on bass, and Santo Savino on drums. I've worked with Carl and experienced his virtuosity first hand. Don't miss this!

Thursday, April 26
7:30 p.m.

Jazz at The Merc

presents

Carl Saunders Quartet with Christian Jacob, Kenny Wild and Santo Savino

Description: http://carlsaunders.com/images_photo/dc_thumb.jpg

Hear Carl Saunders and read more about his schedule at http://carlsaunders.com/home.htm

Carl Saunders - Jazz listeners living in the Los Angeles area and musicians worldwide have long known that Carl Saunders is one of the great trumpet players around today. Now with the release of five remarkable recordings (Out Of The Blue, Eclecticism, Bebop Big Band, Can You Dig Being Dug and The Lost Bill Holman Charts) Saunders' musical talents can be heard and enjoyed by a much wider audience.

Carl Saunders was born on Aug. 2, 1942, in Indianapolis, Indiana and his first five years were mostly spent on the road. His uncle was trumpeter-bandleader Bobby Sherwood. Saunders' mother Gail (Bobby's sister) sang for the Sherwood Orchestra and Stan Kenton, among others. When Carl was five, he and his mother settled in Los Angeles; living with Carl's aunt Caroline and her husband, tenor-saxophonist Dave Pell. At the time, Saunders heard the records of the Dave Pell Octet and was influenced by the style and phrasing of trumpeter Don Fagerquist.

Saunders began playing trumpet in the seventh grade and he quickly found that he had a natural ability, mostly learning to play by ear and never having any lessons. Saunders auditioned for Kenton's band and was given a choice: wait for the first opening in the trumpet section or join the band the following week as a member of the mellophonium section. He chose the latter and spent much of 1961-62 on the road with Stan Kenton.

After spending part of 1962-63 traveling with Bobby Sherwood's group (playing drums), Carl settled back in Las Vegas where during the next 20 years he played with a countless number of show bands, including lead trumpet with Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennet, and Frank Sinatra. Saunders also traveled as a lead player with Paul Anka and Robert Goulet and with such bandleaders as Si Zentner, Harry James, Maynard Ferguson, Benny Goodman and Charlie Barnet. In 1978 he also played drums one night in Las Vegas with Harry James and his band when Sonny Payne missed his plane and couldn't get to the gig.

In 1984, Carl Saunders moved to Los Angeles where he was soon playing lead trumpet with Bill Holman's Orchestra, a position he still holds. Saunders has also worked with John Williams and the big bands of Bob Florence, Johnny Mandel, Gerald Wilson, and the Phil Norman Tentet. In 1994, he became a member of the Dave Pell Octet (in Don Fagerquist's old chair.) In addition, he is often heard at the head of his own groups including the Carl Saunders Be Bop Big Band, his sextet and a quartet.

Each of Saunders' CDs is a gem while being quite different from each other. Out Of The Blue has the trumpeter showcased in quartet and sextet settings. His warm tone and long melodic lines are featured on such numbers as a miraculous version of Chopin's "Minute Waltz." Eclecticism has Saunders joined by 25 strings and three French horns, and he overdubs sections with five trumpets. Many of his favorite arrangers (including Bill Holman, Bob Florence and Clare Fischer) contributed charts. Bebop Big Band is most notable for the high musicianship of the band, the colorful originals, the hard swinging, and the arrangements of the late Herbie Phillips. Can You Dig Being Dug is Carl's first "live" recording, recorded at Charlie O's jazz club, and features Carl with Christian Jacob, Dave Stone, and Santo Savino. The Lost Bill Holman Charts is a dazzling array of Holman's arrangements for trumpet, tenor, trombone, baritone and rhythm that feature some of the principal players from the Holman big Band--Pete Christlieb, Andy Martin,Bob Efford, and the same rhythm section as the Be Bop Big Band--Christian Jacob, Kevin Axt and Santo Savino. Sam Most is featured on baritone and flute solos.

Carl Saunders, who has inspired students and kids all over the world conducting clinics says that he gets inspiration from them because they share his energetic dedication and passion towards the creation of beautiful music. Asked to define jazz, Carl says, "It's a combination of intellectual funk and hypnotic swinging". His five recordings show that not only is he a prolific composer but he is one of the finest jazz trumpeters of the 21st century.

Christian Jacob - Jacob was born in Lorraine, France on May 8, 1958. A pianist by age 4, he was immersed in study of the French classics. Something of a prodigy, Christian had perfect pitch and natural talent. He did not discover jazz until age 10, but when he did, its improvised nature appealed to him immediately. Early influences were Dave Brubeck and Oscar Peterson. As a teen, Jacob studied under Pierre Sancan at the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique in Paris.[1] Later, he would teach piano at the Conservatoire National de Region in Metz.

In the early 80s, Jacob entered Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, and won many awards as a student, including the Joe Zawinul Jazz Masters Award, Oscar Peterson Jazz Masters Award, and Downbeat Magazine "Top Collegiate Jazz Soloist" before graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1985. Jacob then took a teaching position at Berklee.

Jacob left Boston to tour with vibist Gary Burton in the late 80s and then with Maynard Ferguson through 1992. Christian served as performer, writer, and arranger with Ferguson's band. This led to Ferguson producing Jacob's first piano trio record, featuring John Patitucci and Peter Erskine. Sidemen for his follow-up trio project "Time Lines" were Steve Swallow and Adam Nussbaum. Jacob developed material with a third trio featuring Miroslav Vitouš and Bill Stewart.

Jacob has extensive credits as a sideman, including Flora Purim, Terje Gewelt, Carl Saunders, Tom Garling, and others, but his most visible association has been as music director and pianist for Telarc recording artist Tierney Sutton. As well as performing and recording with Sutton, Jacob with bassist Trey Henry and drummer Ray Brinker perform as the Christian Jacob Trio, and recorded a live album on tour in Japan in 2007.
Kenny Wild - Born in New York City in 1951 Kenny was a member of a military family which traveled extensively in his early years. He learned clarinet in grade school, then switched to saxophone in high school. The family settled in Hawaii in 1965 where he began playing bass in a trio with Dave Wile around 1966. He attended the University of Hawaii from 1970-1972, studying bass with Armand Russel but he left before graduating to go on the road with Seawind. He has performed with the likes of Sammy Davis Jr, Steve Lawrence and Edyie Gorme, Barbara McNair and others. Wild was a founding member of the band Seawind in 1972 and opened for Herbie Hancock, Herbie Mann, George Benson and many others. Seawind moved to LA in 1976 and began recording for CTI records with noted drummer Harvey Mason as producer Later records were released on A&M records; their last record was produced by George Duke.
Ken became a very active studio musician starting in 1976 working in TV, film, and records; he was also a member of Natalie Cole's touring band 2002-04. His active schedule continues today.

Santo Savino - Savino began "playing drums" at age two in Buffalo, New York, wielding his aunt's clothes-pins in place of drumsticks! While still in kindergarten, he was already displaying both a fervent passion and a budding talent for the drums. At age twelve, he landed his first professional job and his career has since been interrupted only by a four-year stint with the US Air Force Band.
Santo has performed internationally with such great talents as Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Michelle Le Grand, Billy Ecstein, Sarah Vaughn, Mickey Rooney, Nancy Wilson, Tom Jones, Vic Damone, Paul Anka, Juliet Prowse, Bob Hope, Johnny Carson, Danny Thomas, Donald O'Connor, Frank Gorshin, Jerry Van Dyke, George Gobel and Rodney Dangerfield. He has toured with Mr. Goulet in concert and in National tours of South Pacific, The Fantasticks and Camelot. His unique flair and exciting style contribute to the excellence of Robert Goulet's concert appearances around the world. Santo plays often with Carl Saunders in Los Angeles.

Tickets: $15

Jazz at The Merc
42051 Main Street, Temecula, CA 92590
1.866.OLD.TOWN or 951.308.6377
http://www.TemeculaTheater.org

FROM RIVERSIDE- Promising Young Artist Festival and Competition

MAY 6, 2012 | LA SIERRA UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC

HOLE MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM

The La Sierra University Department of Music invites all high school juniors and seniors (or equivalent home-school students) to participate in the Promising Young Artist Competition and Festival. Both instrumentalists and singers are invited to apply.

The first-place winner of the competition will receive a $10,000 scholarship to attend La Sierra University, and a $500 cash prize, and a chance to perform their winning piece at one of the University's Spring Concerts.

The second-place winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship to attend La Sierra University, and a $350 cash prize.

The third-place winner will receive a $1000 scholarship to attend La Sierra University, and a $150 cash prize.

All participants of the festival will receive a voucher for a complimentary lesson with our music faculty for a later date.

Participants will have the opportunity to work with the La Sierra University faculty through masterclasses/lessons in the morning. The adjudicated recital program will begin after lunch. The award ceremony will follow. Lunch and dinner will be included for festival participants only. The recital is open to the public.

APPLICATIONS/QUALIFICATIONS

Student must be a high school junior or senior (or equivalent home-school students). Juniors qualify for third prize only, but can participate again in their senior year.
Student must provide their accompanist; in extenuating circumstances the university may provide an accompanist if arrangements are made in advance.
Student must provide an original copy of his/her piece and three additional copies for adjudicators.
Student must submit a letter of recommendation from his/her music instructor.
Student must submit competition repertoire, including exact details of titles and individual movements, the duration of each work or of each separate movement no later than APRIL 25, 2012. It is suggested that the student choose two contrasting works that display lyric and technical ability or one large work that contains both.
Total length of audition not to exceed 15 minutes.
$50 registration fee must be received no later than April 25, 2012. Checks can be made out to:
Department of Music 4500 Riverwalk Parkway Riverside, CA 92505 - please write "Promising Young Artist" on the memo line

Incomplete applications will not be accepted

EXPECTATIONS

The top 3 prize-winners must abide by the following stipulations in order to fully redeem the amount/scholarship:

Student must be enrolled in at least ONE major ensemble and ONE chamber group each quarter.
Student must maintain a 3.2 GPA each quarter (must provide proof of GPA to the music dept. each quarter).
Student must take a minimum of 14 units each quarter.
Student must maintain good academic and citizenship standing.

Failure to abide by the agreed stipulations may lead to loss of their scholarship.

For further information, please contact the Department of Music by email, music@lasierra.edu, or call the office at 951-785-2036.
COMPETITION & FESTIVAL APPLICATION

Please click the below form and fill out the application online:

APPLICATION

Please email Lrazzouk@lasierra.edu if you are having any problems with the online application.

Applications are due no later than Wednesday, April 25, 2012.

Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

More info at www.lasierra.edu

FROM RIVERSIDE- Zoë Keating
"Swoon-inducing. Like taking a triple-shot of Absinthe before stepping outside of the bar just in time to see the sun exploding." - San Francisco Weekly....

Armed with just her cello and a small box of electronics, Zoë Keating is a one-woman orchestra. In live time, she records layer upon layer of cello, her feet dancing over an array of pedals to transform her solo performances into lush and beautiful multipart works. Increasingly a role model for do-it-yourself artists, Zoë's self-released albums have sold over 35, 000 copies and she has amassed an incredible 1.3 million twitter followers. As a cellist and arranger, Zoë has worked with a wide range of artists including Imogen Heap, Mark Isham, Curt Smith, Amanda Palmer, DJ Shadow, Pomplamoose and Paolo Nutini. From 2002 to 2006 she was a member of the cello-rock trio Rasputina. Zoë is a recipient of a 2009 performing arts grant from the Creative Capital foundation. Her new self-released album, "Into The Trees" (2010), spent 14 weeks on the Billboard classical charts.

When: Friday, April 27, 2012
Time: 8 p.m.
Where: Culver Center of the Arts

Price: Free

FROM TEMECULA- BAYOU BROTHERS
Presented by Temecula Presents

With a sound straight out of Louisiana's dance clubs, bayou festivals and backyard crawfish boils, the Bayou Brothers will rock you right on into "Fat Tuesday" with their extensive experience and endless enthusiasm to deliver a rousing, rollicking, heart thumpin', foot stompin' musical gumbo y'all won't soon forget! Plainly, it's a healthy dose of Mississippi Mojo.

The Bayou Brothers started in 1995 with a shared love of Cajun and Zydeco music by founder John Chambers on accordion and keyboards, and Ric Lee, laying down Zydeco and Cajun dance grooves on the drums. They are well known for their rowdy shows, bluesy Zydeco accordion grooves and up-tempo Cajun romps.

Mardi Gras showmanship makes the hot, spicy musical jambalaya that is the Bayou Brothers.

More information: www.bayoubrothers.net

PERFORMANCE:
Friday, April 27 at 8 p.m.

TICKETS: $20

FROM RIVERSIDE- Final Philharmonic season concert "Heroes of the People" features dynamic young pianist Roman Rabinovich.

The Riverside County Philharmonic is pleased to present pianist Roman Rabinovich in our closing concert of the 2011-2012 season on Saturday, May 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the Fox Performing Arts Center.

Rabinovich has been described by the San Francisco Classical Voice as 'a pianist whose mature, self-assured playing belies his chronological age'. At the age of 10 he made his Israel Philharmonic debut under the baton of Zubin Mehta and was the top prize winner of the 12th Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition in Israel in 2008.

"Roman is a wonderful pianist whom I have worked with before," says Music Director Tomasz Golka. "He will be performing Serge Prokofiev's "Piano Concerto No. 5 in G Major" which is a big exciting piece our Phil audience will surely enjoy," says Golka.

Also on the program are Beethoven's "Fidelio Overture" and "Symphony No. 2 in D Major" by Jean Sibelius. To learn more about these and the Prokofiev "Piano Concerto", the audience is invited to attend Golka's Pre-Concert Talk which starts at 6:40 p.m. in the Fox. This is a free, open seating event sponsored by Provident Bank.

Funding for the May 19 concert is made possible through generous sponsorships by Barbara and Hazel Lohman and Ronald E. Ridgeway in memory of Muriel G. Ridgeway.

The Fox main doors open at 5:45 p.m. and doors into the theater seating area will open at 6 p.m. Single tickets for the May 19 "Heroes of the People" concert range from $20 - $82 and are available only through the Fox Box Office at 951-779-9800 or Ticketmaster. Student rush half price tickets are available for Fox balcony seats and are available on the day of the performance.

FROM TEMECULA- The night will be filled with music. Internationally acclaimed British Violist, Roger Chase will be performing with renown pianist Michiko Otaki at the Old Town Temecula Community Theater on Saturday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m.

Violist, Roger Chase was born in London , and studied at the Royal College of Music with Bernard Shore and in Canada with Steven Staryk, also working for a short time with the legendary Lionel Tertis, whose famed Montagnana viola he now plays.

Roger Chase made his debut with the English Chamber Orchestra in 1979, and in 1987 appeared as a soloist at a Promenade Concert at The Royal Albert Hall in London . Chase has since played as a soloist or chamber musician in major cities throughout the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, the Middle East, India, most of Eastern and all of Western Europe, and Scandinavia.

Sharing the stage with Roger Chase is renown painist Michiko Otaki. An especially noted chamber musician, pianist Michiko Otaki was born in the small Japanese coastal town of Hazu . Although both her early academic and musical training was in Japan , all of her collegial and post-graduate study since her arrival in 1977 was done in the U.S. , at the San Francisco Conservatory, Manhattan School of Music and the University of Miami , where she received her Doctorate. Michiko Otaki has performed and recorded with renowned international ensembles including the Graffe String Quartet, Kodaly String Quartet, Swiss Wind Quartet, and Martinu String Quartet.

Together, Chase and Otaki forge a most stylish and intuitive alliance producing a lavish outpouring of rich musical expression. Join us for a romantic heart-felt evening filled with music from such composers as, Sir Arnold Bax, Johannes Brahms, Fredrick Delius, and John Ireland.

This is the final Temecula Presents Classical Series Concert from the 2011-2012 Season. Join us for a lovely evening filled with melodious music performed by these two International Virtuosos.

Tickets are available online at

www.TemeculaTheater.org,

by phone at

1.866.OLD.TOWN (1.866.653.8696),

or at the Theater Ticket Office

42051 Main Street in Old Town Temecula.

Ticket prices are: $30 Adult / $25 Senior / $12.50 Student over age 12 / $2.50 Child 12 and under, accompanied by an adult.

FROM MURRIETA- The California Chamber Orchestra will present "Magnificat!," a concert of music by British composers Ralph Vaughn Williams and John Rutter, at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 7, at the Old Town Temecula Community Theater. The concert, under the direction of Artistic Director and Conductor Dana Mambourg Zimbric, is presented by the Golden Valley Music Society in partnership with Temecula Presents. It is supported by a generous gift from Elaine and Robert Culverhouse, Jr.
The first half of the program features violinist Jisun Yang performing Vaughn Williams' The Lark Ascending, a soaring contemplation of nature's gifts. Vaughn Williams' inspiration for the work was a poem by George Meredith.
For the concert's second half, the orchestra is joined by the Temecula Valley Master Chorale for John Rutter's Magnificat. The text of the Magnificat is the canticle of Mary on learning that she carried the child Jesus. Rutter's work is a glorious celebration inspired by celebrations of Mary in what Rutter calls "the sunshine countries," Spain, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.
"Every culture celebrates the Spring equinox," Zimbric says. "And so much of that celebration is centered on this weekend that includes both Easter and Passover. This program really explores the transition from darkness to light that Spring represents. The Lark Ascending is a tender, introspective hymn to nature, while the Magnificat is a bright, shining celebration of God."
Tickets for the concert are available online at www.TemeculaTheater.org, by phone at 866-OLD-TOWN (866-653-8696), or at the Theater Ticket Office. The price is $30 for adults, $25 for seniors, $12.50 for students, and $2.50 for children under 12.