Gustavsen arrived in Philly with his trio–longtime drummer Jarle Vespestad and German-Afghan vocalist Simin Tander–to perform cuts off his new album entitled “What Was Said.” The musicians served up a diverse platter of musical and linguistic customs. Gustavsen’s understated piano playing sounded like lights flickering on and off (each key actually lit up each time it was touched!), drawing us in closer to observe what was taking place. Just as subtle was Vespestad, who drummed with beautiful restraint while exploring the percussion’s range.
Read MoreWith Eighth Blackbird closing out the LiveConnections season, we can now look to the 2016-17 season. One concert to watch for in the upcoming season is bassist John Patitucci and the Daedalus Quartet’s performance next April. In the meantime, Eighth Blackbird’s concert not only left the audience anticipating their next bold, musical statement, but also LiveConnections’ exciting and much-needed programming.
Read MoreThe overarching concept of the evening was “The Pale Blue Dot of Earth” by composer David Ludwig. The title of the piece comes from Carl Sagan’s 1994 book, Pale Blue Dot.
Read MoreThere is an abundance of voices here, with soprano Laquita Mitchell and tenor Rodrick Dixon in addition to a combined choir of talented singers from Lincoln University, Delaware State University, and Morgan State University, who brought intense passion to their roles.
Read MoreMy favorite description of chamber music has to be by Richard Walthew. In a 1909 lecture, Walthew referred to chamber music as the “music of friends”.
Read MoreWhat happens when an artist’s art becomes more than just that? What are you to do when your art is now a manufactured brand? These are some of the questions that Opera Philadelphia and the Bearded Ladies Cabaret’s world premiere of ANDY: A Popera (also part of the 2015 Fringe Arts Festival) asks the audience head-on.
Read MoreThe group’s music manages to segue from classically informed post-bop (a genre of small-combo jazz that broke out in the early to mid-1960s) to folk rock. I noticed that, like his newest album, Bennett’s tunes had some noticeably quirky titles, from the delicate “Strange Gym and the Zebra” and the mysteriously optimistic “The Spinning Top Stood Still” to the fluid “John Lizard Comes Home”.
Read MoreHolland has headlined at major concert halls, jazz clubs and cabaret rooms, in addition to performing in theater, developing a diverse fan base in the process. Her previous studio album, Before Love Has Gone, received acclaim from jazz, pop, and cabaret critics alike, and made the critic’s list as a Top CD of the Year at USA Today and as an Album Pick by All Music Guide.
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