THE EVAN CHRISTOPHER TRIO brings its New Orleans Jazz tradition to Gainesville. Clarinetist, Evan Christopher is a refreshingly bright light on the international Jazz scene. He combines virtuosity, immaculate taste and enthusiasm with a deep commitment to exploring the full range of musical possibilities. Anchored in the musical vocabulary created by early Creole clarinetists, Christopher has created a highly personal brand of “contemporary early-jazz” that strives to extend the legacy of this unique clarinet style. His tone is warm, woody, fluid and swooping. In July 2010, he had the honor to debut his ‘Treat It Gentle Suite,’ the first concerto written for clarinet and Jazz band in the New Orleans style, with the Minnesota Orchestra.

Evan Christopher Trio

Saturday, February 18
8:00 PM

The Arts Council
Smithgall Arts Center

Evan Christopher – clarinet and saxophone
Dave Frankenpohl – guitar
Robert Dixon – Bass

Tickets: $30

Buy Tickets

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is internationally renowned for its excellence in live performances, presentations, choruses, and its impressive list of GRAMMY Award-winning recordings. It is regarded as one of the most creative and innovative orchestras in North America and serves as the cornerstone for artistic development and music education in the southeast.

The Orchestra’s performances in Gainesville have been nothing short of impressive, making our audiences leap to their collective feet bravo-ing in many elated instances. What makes these performances spectacular is that they are open-air, under the moonlight. Whether it is Tchaikovsky, Rossini, Wagner, Reznicek or Mozart, the smooth and flawless string sound and liquid brass and percussion sections, so immaculately realized, never let us down.

It is a glamorous amalgam of silk, silver and steel. The warmth and richness of the playing is always exceptional, with every department contributing its share of complex timbres and holding them together in a finely achieved soundscape. One cannot get past the impressive ease with which these musicians prove that the sound of this Orchestra is simply extraordinary and electrifying, wherever it plays. Nothing is rushed, phrases are carefully rounded off with loving care, and everybody seems to breathe in unison – performers and spectators.

The Atlanta
Symphony Orchestra

DATE TBA

The Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center Lawn
(Outdoor Concert)

Tickets: $35 Adult; $32 Senior; $28 Student

Series Tickets: $80
AC members please call for discount, 770-534-2787

Buy Tickets

Livingston Taylor picked up his first guitar at the age of thirteen, beginning a forty-year career that has encompassed performance, songwriting and teaching. Born in Boston and raised in North Carolina, Livingston is the fourth child in a very musical family that includes Alex, James, Kate and Hugh.

Livingston recorded his first record at 18 and has continued to create well-crafted, introspective and original songs that have earned him listeners worldwide. His brother, James Taylor has recorded and included original songs by Livingston on his albums. Livingston has never stopped performing since those early coffeehouse days, touring with major artists such as Linda Ronstadt, Jimmy Buffet and Jethro Tull, and he maintains a busy concert schedule of over eighty shows a year.

He is a natural performer, peppering his shows with personal stories, anecdotes and ineffable warmth that connect him to his fans. His relaxed on-stage presence belies the depth of his musical knowledge, and fans might just as often be treated to a classic Gershwin or something from the best of Broadway.

Livingston Taylor
Thursday, March 15
8:00 PM

Pearce Auditorium

Tickets: $30 Adult; $28 Senior; $27 Student

Series Tickets: $80
AC members please call for discount, 770-534-2787

Buy Tickets

They’re a little bit classical, they’re a little bit rock n’ roll. They’re also humorous, a little bit manic and a whole lot entertaining. STRINGFEVER simply dazzles! If you’re looking for an evening’s entertainment like you’ve never seen before, then meet Giles, Ralph, Graham & Neal Broadbent aka Stringfever.

A British family of musicians classically trained take to their electric instruments and live beat-boxing, the worlds first genetically modified string quartet combine exceptional musical skill with a real talent for involving and engaging audiences to provide you with a night you’ll never forget. They are clearly immensely talented and have managed to create an act that appeals to the widest of audiences.

This band exudes charisma and warmth coupled with talent and humor. The visual and aural treat of three brothers and a cousin entwined around the instrument and each other to coax four harmonies from a single cello is stunning!

STRINGFEVER

Friday, February 10
8:00 PM

Pearce Auditorium

Tickets: $30 Adult; $28 Senior; $27 Student

Series Tickets: $80
AC members please call for discount, 770-534-2787

Buy Tickets

May 13
8:00 PM

The Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center

Tickets: $30/Individual,
$25/Groups of 6 or more

Rochester, NY native Steve Cunningham began playing guitar at age 14, where he was influenced by such diverse artists as Led Zeppelin, Pat Metheny, Yes, and the Brecker Brothers, as well as classical and bluegrass music. After years of playing and touring with various rock, country, and Top 40/dance bands, including his own original instrumental rock trio “The Value of X”, Steve released his first solo CD, “Travels”, in 1995. Featuring blazing, yet tasteful electric, acoustic, and slide guitar playing, “Travels” still enjoys steady sales, as well as daily airplay on national radio. Later in ’95, Steve relocated to Atlanta, where he began playing the lap steel, immersing himself in the styles of David Lindley, western-swing great Tom Morrell, and Sacred Steel player Aubrey Ghent. In 2003, Steve released his second solo CD “Dubious Tones”, a blend of jazz, rock, blues, and bluegrass. “Dubious Tones”, has received national airplay and rave reviews in publications such as “Modern Drummer ” and “20th Century Guitar” along with on-line publications including www.musicdish.com and www.guitarnoise.com. In 2006, Steve released “Rustic Spirit”, a collection of hymns performed on slide guitars combined with his own unique musical voice complementing these traditional songs. “Rustic Spirit” is a roots-based instrumental approach with a blend of blues and gospel, with jazz inflections added in. This soulful and introspective blend of styles is a favorite of all music lovers. In 2008 Steve released his fourth solo cd, “Slide”, an instrumental composition showcasing Steve’s talent on the lap steel and slide guitar. The music is a blend of all styles from swampy rock jams to latin ballads and smoky jazz tributes. Steve let’s his singing strings soar with this release that’s sure to appeal to all music fans! One of the most in-demand guitarists on the Atlanta scene, Steve performs over 200 dates a year playing jazz, R&B, rock, funk, gospel, country, blues, pop and western-swing among other styles. He has played with Grammy nominated Susan Tedeschi, long-time members of the James Brown band, and Grammy Award winner William Bell, as well as opening for Jeff Beck, The Barenaked Ladies, Kool and the Gang, Dream Theatre, The Four Tops, Chuck Mangione, Eddie Money, and Blondie. In addition, he has performed at the Southeast Emmy Awards, The World Series, and headlined at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. Steve is a first-call session player, playing on hundreds of local and national CD releases, TV and radio commercials, and movie soundtracks. He has recorded for Coca-Cola, Ford, IBM, Cartoon Network, Microsoft, CNN and NASCAR to name a few, as well as recording with the London Symphony Orchestra.

]]> http://www.lakelaniercvb.com/jazz-series-to-close-with-cunningham-trio/feed/ 0 http://www.lakelaniercvb.com/sasha-masakowski-musical-playground-hit-the-high-notes-in-jazz-series/ http://www.lakelaniercvb.com/sasha-masakowski-musical-playground-hit-the-high-notes-in-jazz-series/#comments Thu, 10 Mar 2011 08:36:45 +0000 Lake Lanier CVB http://www.lakelaniercvb.com/?p=3976 Read More]]> Evenings of Intimate Jazz Series:
Sasha Masakowski & Musical Playground

Featuring James Westfall on piano, Jason Weaver bass, and Brent Solnick drums

March 12
8:00 PM

The Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center

Tickets: $30/Individual,
$25/Groups of 6 or more

Out of the great city of New Orleans, where music is as important, delicious and rich as its food and jazz music seeps through the walls and cracks of every historical building and sidewalk, vocalist Sasha Masakowski is blossoming as a very impressive key figure in the newest generation of jazz musicians destined to keep the musical legend of the city and her family afloat and ever-expanding. Sasha’s musicality can be seen as a direct influence of her mother and father. Ulrike and Steve Masakowski are both virtuoso professional musicians. Ulrike, her mother, is a concert pianist and author of highly acclaimed educational piano book series, “Reeka Rules.” Steve Masakowski, world renowned 7-string jazz guitarist, has done two albums under the Blue Note label and toured with the likes of Bobby McFerrin and Dianne Reeves, among others. Steve is currently the Coca-Cola endowed chair of the Jazz Studies department at the University of New Orleans and plays with one of New Orleans’ greatest modern jazz quartets, Astral Project. Sasha began singing at 8 and decided at a very early age that she wanted to follow in the footsteps of her parents and pursue the career of a musical artist. In high school she attended the prestigious New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and graduated as a highest level senior with a certificate in Musical Theatre. There she studied intensively the art of singing, as well as acting and dancing, and began frequently performing in major musical works around the city. Just weeks after Hurricane Katrina swept her wrath across the city, Sasha left to pursue an offer to study overseas on a full scholarship in the Netherlands, at the Rotterdam Conservatory of Music. There she studied jazz and world music under some of Europe’s best improvising musicians. After returning to the US, Sasha was eager to bring her music to life in an artistic renaissance much needed to revitalize the decapitated state of her hurricane-ridden hometown. She began performing with her father and little brother (acoustic bassist Martin Masakowski) in venues throughout the city, from Snug Harbor to Club 300 to Donna’s. Soon thereafter, her father decided it was time to put his vocal wisdom from working with McFerrin and Reeves to the test and agreed to produce her first album, “Musical Playground.” Since the debut of her CD, Sasha has received vast acclaim from critics, fellow musicians, and general audiences alike throughout the U.S… Her reputation as a daring, fearless improviser and charming, creative interpreter has lead to reviews such as “Sasha Masakowski approaches songs as a musician, not as a character in a musical like so many jazz female vocalists” (Alex Rawls, jazz critic) and “The future of jazz is in great hands! Whether she’s singing a great standard or an obscure samba, her musical fearlessness is a joy to hear” (Leah Chase, jazz vocalist). In 2009 Sasha was nominated “Best Female Vocalist” and “Best Emerging Artist,” by Louisiana’s premier music magazine Offbeat. “Musical Playground” was also nominated “Best Contemporary Jazz Album,” in a category shared with Terence Blanchard and Christian Scott among others. Later that same year, Sasha was awarded the prestigious Big Easy Music Award for “Best Emerging Artist of 2009.” Sasha is constantly seeking to progress the sound of her music and has deeply explored many subgenres of jazz music to help cultivate her exotic style; from Brazilian music to experimental free-jazz to electro/rock to traditional jazz. She fronts two bands of her own: Musical Playground and Puppy Chow, both fundamentally spirited with New Orleans passion and charm, but stylizing in completely separate genres of music. She is also a current member of New Orleans’ premier indie rock/electronic band Bionica as well as contemporary Brazilian jazz quintet Nova Nola. Sasha has been featured at New Orleans’ greatest music festivals, including Jazz and Heritage Festival, French Quarter Festival, and Satchmo Festival, and performs regularly at legendary New Orleans clubs such as Snug Harbor, Blue Nile, Balcony Music Club, Mimi’s in the Marigny, Spotted Cat, Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse, and many others.

]]> http://www.lakelaniercvb.com/sasha-masakowski-musical-playground-hit-the-high-notes-in-jazz-series/feed/ 0 http://www.lakelaniercvb.com/the-arts-council-evenings-of-intimate-jazz-series%e2%84%a2-final-3-shows/ http://www.lakelaniercvb.com/the-arts-council-evenings-of-intimate-jazz-series%e2%84%a2-final-3-shows/#comments Sat, 05 Mar 2011 16:00:48 +0000 Lake Lanier CVB http://www.lakelaniercvb.com/?p=3967 Read More]]> Small tables, candle light, and the smooth sounds of jazz create the perfect atmosphere for one of The Arts Council’s most loved series, Evenings of Intimate Jazz™. Held in the beautiful Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center, this six concert series features nationally recognized jazz artists in a quaint, intimate setting.

Tickets can be purchased by the performance or for the entire series. Click to purchase tickets online.
2010/2011 Evenings of Intimate Jazz Series™ Season

Sasha Masakowski & Musical Playground
March 12
8 PM
The Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center

Her traditional jazz/latin style earned her “Best Emerging Artist” (Big Easy Music Awards, 2010); and “Best Contemporary Jazz Album 2009.”
click for more information

Morgan Guerin Quartet
April 16
8 PM
The Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center

This 11 year-old saxophone and trumpet phenomenon will “blow you away.” Get ready to be amazed!
click for more information

Steve Cunningham Trio
May 13
8 PM
The Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center

Steve is a blend of jazz, rock, blues, and bluegrass. This soulful and introspective blend of styles is a favorite of all music lovers.
click for more information

The concert, featuring a variety of symphonic selections, will conclude with a medley of classic country hits.

Local singer Michelle Martin will show her skills as both a classical vocalist and a Patsy Cline impersonator. Tenor Russell Andrade will join her in a medley of selections from “Naughty Marietta” by Victor Herbert.

The concert will also feature the fabulous technique of Sam Skelton on alto and tenor saxophone.

Skelton is well-known in the area, having performed as a featured artist in the Nights of Intimate Jazz series at the Gainesville Arts Council.

Other selections will include John Philip Sousa marches, music from operettas, overtures and a suite Sousa wrote for his last tour of Europe.

Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $50 for students. Tickets are available at the Arts Council, 770-534-2787, or at the door.

Ronald J. Evans and Mercer E. Crook will be conducting.

Singer/songwriters including Deanna Bryant, Brice Long, Cody McCarver, Billy Dean, Richard Leigh and Monty Holmes will take the stage in honor of one of north Georgia’s premiere song writers.

Concert begins at 6 p.m.
Sept. 23rd
Brenau University front lawn
500 Washington St., Gainesville
$30 per ticket
$25 in blocks of five or more

All proceeds benefit the John Jarrard Foundation.
For more info, call 770-710-9191 or visit the website below.

Click here for more info on the event and the foundation.

Flowery Branch – Sterling on the Lake
Songs 4 Summer concert, Flowery Branch. Featuring Reality Showband. 7-10 p.m. Saturday, Sterling on the Lake Village Green, 7005 Sterling Blvd., Flowery Branch. Free concert; $5 parking. 770-967-9777.

Gainesville – Brenau University
Patriotic Picnic Pops concert, Gainesville. Gainesville Symphony Orchestra with Shawn Megorden. 7:30 p.m. July 3, Brenau University Amphitheater, Brenau University, 500 Washington St., Gainesville. $30 adults, $27 seniors, $12 students. Add $50 per table of eight. 770-532-5727.

Gainesville – The Arts Council
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Gainesville. Bring blankets or chairs. 8 p.m. July 30, Smithgall Arts Center, 331 Spring St. SW, Gainesville. Rain date Aug. 1. $35; $32 seniors, $28 students and children; $320 for a table of eight. 770-534-2787. 

Summer MusicFest, Gainesville. The Swingin’ Medallions. Bring blankets or chairs. 8 p.m. Aug. 12, Smithgall Arts Center, 331 Spring St. SW, Gainesville. $25; $240 for a table of eight. 770-534-2787.

Back in Time Band, Gainesville at The Arts Council. Bring blankets or chairs. 8 p.m. Friday, June 25th Smithgall Arts Center, 331 Spring St. SW, Gainesville. Free for members; $20 nonmembers; $200 for a table of eight. 770-534-2787.