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Music @ the Library - Archives

        

May 16, 2010

MUSIC @THE LIBRARY: Eddie Pleasant

Eddie_Pleasant.jpgSunday, May 16, 2010
2:00 pm
McManus Room

Edward Pleasant distinguishes himself as an outstanding performing artist in opera and musical theater as well as in concert, recital and recording. He has been critically acclaimed by The New York Times for his “appealing stage presence.” He will present "Sincerely, Nat: The Life and Music of Nat "King" Cole," which tells the story of the entertainer's incredible career and why this man is truly "Unforgettable." The Edward Pleasant Trio will also perform with Isaac ben Ayala on piano (also the musical arranger), James Chirillo on electric guitar, and Paul Beaudry on string bass.

Supported by the Grace K. Salmon Foundation.

        

April 11, 2010

MUSIC @THE LIBRARY: Sandra Murphy and Rita Lapcevic

four-hands-piano1_5072.jpgSunday, April 11, 2010
2:00 pm
McManus Room

Sandra Murphy and Rita Lapcevic have been a duo-piano team for 38 years. Sandra, organist and choir director of Greenfield Hill Church, is well known in the Fairfield County area as a duo-pianist, ensemblist, and teacher. She is a member of the Silvermine Duo-Pianists as well as being Director of the Silvermine School of Music. As a member of the Schubert Club of Fairfield County, she has performed extensively. Rita, who earned her Masters degree in music from Duquesne University, is an active musician in Fairfield County both as a duo-pianist and as a chamber ensemblist. A member of the Silvermine Duo-Pianists and the Schubert Club of Fairfield County, she combines teaching with her performing activities.

Supported by the Grace K. Salmon Foundation.

        

March 7, 2010

MUSIC @THE LIBRARY: Bonefide Brass

Bonefide-Brass-A.jpgSunday, March 7, 2010
2:00 pm
McManus Room

Bonefide Brass will delight the audience with this classical performance (with a few surprises) by eight trombones. These trombonists are from Fairfield and Westchester counties and include of Glenn Babakian, Zachary Aaron Barkon, Christopher Espy, Paul Geidel, Nicole Hansboro, Jim Marbury, Frank Pedulla, and John Russo.

Supported by the Grace K. Salmon Foundation.

        

February 7, 2010

MUSIC @THE LIBRARY: Bennett Harris Acoustic Blues Trio

Fiddle-Trio.jpgSunday, February 7, 2010
2:00 pm
McManus Room

The Bennett Harris Acoustic Blues Trio presents a lively and memorable show of Americana blues and early jazz music. The group includes vocals, guitar, harmonica, fiddle, and bass. In addition to original tunes, their spirited repertoire draws from the songbooks of Robert Johnson, Bessie Smith, Blind Blake...and ranges through Irving Berlin, Gershwin, Janis Joplin and Jorma Kaukonen.

Bennett Harris is an expert traditional blues guitar fingerpicker, specializing in Piedmont ragtime and Mississippi Delta-sliding styles from the pre-World War II era. He plays slide on a 1930s vintage National steel Duolian and plays a neck-rack harmonica simultaneously. Kenny Kosek is one of the most recorded fiddlers in America today. His fluid, imaginative playing draws on an extensive stylistic vocabulary which allows him to move freely between numerous musical genres. Gary Brooks has occupied the bass chair with Bennett for many years. His steady, soulful, R&B influenced “groove” style anchors the trio’s sound. Gary also plays sax and keys, and over several decades has performed as a soloist and section player with many bands throughout the northeast.

Supported by the Grace K. Salmon Foundation.

        

January 10, 2010

MUSIC @THE LIBRARY: Frank Vignola

Frank_on_stage.jpgSunday, January 10, 2010
2:00 pm
McManus Room

Join guitarist Frank Vignola as he celebrates Django Reinhardt, a prominent European jazz musician.

Vignola is one of the most accomplished, multi-dimensional guitar players walking the planet today. Monster player, composer, and improviser, Frank plays proficiently in every genre, from jazz to bluegrass, and works with everyone and their brother. He has a wide range of influences, such as Les Paul, Eddie Van Halen and Frank Zappa. He studied at the Cultural Arts Center of Long Island and worked extensively as a sideman in the 1980s, with artists such as Madonna, Leon Redbone, and Ringo Starr. In 1993, he signed with Concord Jazz and has released several albums under his own name since then. He has written 18 instructional guitar books.

Supported by the Grace K. Salmon Foundation.

        

December 13, 2009

MUSIC @THE LIBRARY: Norwalk Symphony Quartet

Norwalk-Flute-Quartet.jpgSunday, December 13
2:00 pm
McManus Room

The Norwalk Symphony Flute Quartet, with Jane Shelly, Assistant Principal Flute, Nina Crothers, Principal Second Violin, Suzanne Sahlin, Principal Viola, and Gunnar Sahlin, Principal Cello, will play works by Haydn, Mozart, Devienne, and Rossini, liberally sprinkled with seasonal favorites.

Supported by the Grace K. Salmon Foundation.
        

November 8, 2009

MUSIC @THE LIBRARY: The Ragtime Evolution Quartet

quartet.jpgSunday, November 8
2:00 pm
McManus Room

Enjoy a toe-tapping afternoon with The Ragtime Evolution Quartet. Lew Green on cornet; Mary Green, on piano; Vince Giordano on string bass, bass saxophone and tuba; and Ken Salvo on banjo will present a musical stroll through "The Golden Age of American Music." Highlighting Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton, The Jazz Age, and others, they play in the authentic style of the period and give colorful background to place everything in historical context for an entertaining and informative musical presentation.

Supported by the Grace K. Salmon Foundation.

        

October 18, 2009

MUSIC @THE LIBRARY: Handler and Levesque

Handler.jpgSunday, October 18
2:00 pm
McManus Room

In an energetic program of music for guitar and mandolin, husband and wife duo Handler and Levesque blend Brazilian, Latin, gypsy, jazz, classical, and folk music influences to create unique, expressive arrangements. Judy Handler and Mark Levesque have performed over 1,000 concerts together throughout the U.S. Their CDs Passion, Acoustic Blend, and Two Guitars Live! have received critical acclaim and have been sold throughout the world.

The event is free and open to the public. No registration needed.

Supported by the Grace K. Salmon Foundation.

        

October 4, 2009

Special Music Event: The Schubert Club of Fairfield County

schubertclub-banner112308.jpgSunday, October 4
2:00 pm
McManus Room

Just as the Viennese public of the early 1800s attended Schubertiads in the time of Schubert, enjoy a Musicale presented by the Schubert Club of Fairfield County.

Items in the Library catalog on Schubert.

Supported by the Grace K. Salmon Foundation.

        

September 13, 2009

MUSIC @THE LIBRARY: Fair Winds Brass Quartet

FairWindsBrass_undertree.jpgSunday, September 13
2:00 pm
McManus Room

The Fair Winds Brass Quartet are versatile musicians who perfom many styles of music including Baroque, Classical, and Jazz. The group is composed of: Patricia Hurley on trumpet (degees from Cornell, Eastman and UConn and many years of professional experience as a principal, section, and chamber musician), Dr. Marjorie Seymour Callaghan on horn (Associate Professor of Music at Western Connecticut State University), Frank Tamburro on trumpet (degrees from the Eastman School of Music and Principal Trumpet of the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra), and Nicole Hansboro on trombone (degrees in Music Education from the UConn and in trombone perfomance from the New England Conservatory of Music and general music teacher at Jefferson Science Magnet School in Norwalk).

Program for the performance.

Supported by the Grace K. Salmon Foundation.

        

April 26, 2009

MUSIC@THE LIBRARY:
Mustard's Retreat

mustards-retreat.jpgSunday, April 26
2:00 pm
McManus Room

The duo of David Tamulevich and Michael Hough, Mustard’s Retreat, has been delighting audiences for over 35 years. Whether singing their own gentle love songs and vivid ballads, telling tall tales or offering treasures from America's vast traditional song bag. They discovered their mutual love of folk music while working as cooks at the Brown Jug Cafe in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where both attended the University of Michigan. More then anything, Mustard’s Retreat are storytellers and preservationists of folk’s oral tradition. “It’s a process I’m thrilled to be part of,” Tamulevich said. “You can do a nostalgia show but the best folk show evokes that nostalgia in contemporary terms. I think a strength we have is we were there in the ‘60s as teenagers. I think of us as troubadours.”

Supported by the Grace K. Salmon Foundation.
        

March 1, 2009

MUSIC@THE LIBRARY:
New England Winds

NEWINDS1.jpgSunday, March 1
2:00 pm
McManus Room

Bringing an attitude that is all their own, the Air Force's New England Winds create an intimate musical setting that will capture the imagination of any audience. This group of five is well versed in traditional quintet repertoire and performs musical selections ranging from the 18th century to the contemporary period. The group consists of Staff Sergeant Avril Claytor on flute, Staff Sergeant Kate Nettles on oboe, Senior Airman Ian Tyson on clarinet, Staff Sergeant Andrew Fordham on horn, and Staff Sergeant Christopher Stahl on bassoon.

More information.
Supported by the Grace K. Salmon Foundation.

        

February 8, 2009

MUSIC@THE LIBRARY:
Musica Plenti

Willows.jpgSunday, February 8
2:00 pm
McManus Room

The award-winning vocal chamber ensemble Musica Plenti commands a rich repertoire of music. Its members are professional singers who combine solo virtuosity with sensitive ensemble singing. Their concerts cover a wide range of classical music from madrigals and motets to opera and modern American music.

Musica Plenti website.
Supported by the Grace K. Salmon Foundation.

        

January 25, 2009

MUSIC@THE LIBRARY: The Ralph Lalama Quartet

L-R-Rick-Petrone,John-Hart,.jpgSunday, January 25
2:00 pm
McManus Room

Saxophonist Ralph Lalama will perform with a quartet that features Joe Corsello, drums, Rick Petrone, bass, and John Hart, guitar. They embody the great spirit of jazz with incredible improvisation and top notch musicianship.

Picture (L-R): Rick Petrone,John Hart,Joe Corsello, Ralph LaLama.
More information.
Supported by the Grace K. Salmon Foundation.

        

December 14, 2008

MUSIC@THE LIBRARY:
Katherine Di Pierro Isles and Amy Vinisko

music-notes2[1].jpgSunday, December 14
2:00 pm
McManus Room

Flutist Katherine Di Pierro Isles, former principal flute player with the Danbury Symphony orchestra as well as numerous ensembles, and pianist Amy Vinisko, on the music faculty at the Canterbury School in Connecticut, will perform a classical concert.

Supported by the Grace K. Salmon Foundation.

        

November 9, 2008

MUSIC@THE LIBRARY:
City Winds Piano Trio

citywindstrio-crop.jpgSunday, November 9
2:00 pm
McManus Room

The City Winds Piano Trio is a distinguished classical music trio that perform concerts throughout the East Coast creating a unique sound because of the unusual combination of instruments. The group includes Crispian Fordham on flute, Meredyth Coleman on oboe and Jack Bender on piano.

More information.
Supported by the Grace K. Salmon Foundation.

        

October 12, 2008

MUSIC@THE LIBRARY: Professor Louie

Crowmatix_2008.jpgSunday, October 12
2:00 pm
McManus Room

Based in Woodstock, NY, Professor “Louie” & The Cromatix have been recording and touring nationally for seven years, playing in such well-known clubs as B.B. King’s in NYC and the House of Blues in Los Angeles, and sharing the stage with musicians like The Wailers, Eric Burdon, Luther Alison, Jimmy Vaughn, Graham Parker, and Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame artist Garth Hudson from “The Band.” Composed of Aron Hurwitz, aka Professor “Louie,” on keyboard, accordion, and vocals; Marie Spinsosa on vocals and percussion; Gary Burke on drums; Frank Campbell on bass; and Josh Colow on guitar, the group has recorded six CDs on the Woodstock Records label.

More information on Professor "Louie".

Supported by the Grace K. Salmon Foundation.

        

September 14, 2008

MUSIC@THE LIBRARY:
Slider Trombone Ensemble

sliders2.jpgSunday, September 14
2:00 pm
McManus Room

Enjoy an afternoon of eclectic music—from jazz, swing, and Motown to classical and Sousa marches when the Slider Trombone Ensemble takes the stage. Slider features Loren Evarts on keyboards, vocals, and trombone; Ed Morcaldi on bass; Drake Smith, Sr., and Drake Smith, Jr., on trombone; Jeff Grubin, on bass trombone; Isaiah Cooper, on trombone; Mike Nicholson, on bass trombone; and Jake Zonderman on drums. The Slider musicians play in various Connecticut big bands, jazz combos, and orchestras, and all share a mission to bring the trombone out of the back row and into the spotlight, demonstrating the versatility and beauty of this venerable instrument.

Supported by the Grace K. Salmon Foundation.

        

May 19, 2008

SpokenWord: beTwixt, beTween & beTWAIN

betwixt-web.jpgMonday, May 19
7:00 pm
McManus Room

A one-act musical revue of Mark Twain’s stories and wit written by Danny Ashkenasi. The revue features musical adaptations of "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County," "A Genuine Mexican Plug," "Cannibalism in the Cars," "Life on the Mississippi," "Innocents Abroad," and many others.

More information on Danny Ashkenasi.

SpokenWord is sponsored by Jerry A. Tishman.

        

April 6, 2008

WESTPORT LIBRARY 100TH BIRTHDAY: Celebrate!

100th-bd-logo-with-dates.jpg Sunday, April 6
1:00 - 5:00 pm
Throughout the Library

A special party! The first in a year-long celebration!
Activities and entertainment for all ages, including musical performances, historic exhibits of Westport and the Library, Imagine 2108 projects presentation, roving entertainers, arts and crafts and much more.

Library 100th Birthday website.

        

April 6, 2008

MUSIC@THE LIBRARY: Special Performance for Library's 100th Birthday

broadway-a-la-carte5_sm.jpgSunday, April 6
Note time: 1:30 pm
McManus Room

"Bookends: from Gilbert and Sullivan to Broadway"
This muscial performance will include an original parody specially written for the Library's 100th. Performers include Metropolitan Opera baritone, Thomas Woodman, Juilliard tenor, Douglas McCormick, soprano, Susan Marnell, bass, Dan Daniels, baritone, Timothy Throckmorton, tenor, Frank Sisson, soprano, Carol Woodman, mezzo-soprano, Karen McCormick, and Lynn Riegler, piano.
NOTE: The time of this Music@ the Library program is 1:30 pm.

Library 100th Birthday website.

        

March 2, 2008

MUSIC@THE LIBRARY: Heather Hardy

heather_hardybw.jpgSunday, March 2
2:00 pm
McManus Room

Electric blues violinist and vocalist, Heather Hardy, brings together a phenomenal sound and excellent voice. Though classically trained, she has pursued her love of improvisation as a blues performer since the early 1990's. A wide variety of experiences, from European tours, performances in the NYC subway stations, and shows in blues clubs has enabled her to develop into an experienced leader of her band Lil'l Mama. "If you want great blues with a twist, this is it."

        

February 10, 2008

MUSIC@THE LIBRARY: Cumulus Chamber Ensemble

Sunday, February 10
2:00 pm
McManus Room

Rarely Heard Chamber Music for Woodwinds! From classical to pop, Cumulus Chamber Ensemble will perform a variety of octets (music for eight instruments). The core musicians are members of two longstanding local woodwind quintets: the Odyssey Woodwind Quintet and the Prevailing Winds.

        

January 13, 2008

MUSIC@THE LIBRARY: Swing for Jazz Quintet

swingforjazzquintet.jpg Sunday, January 13
2:00 pm
McManus Room

Swing for Jazz Quintet charms audiences with enduring melodies and wonderful lyrics from songs that topped the Hit Parade charts.

        

December 9, 2007

MUSIC@THE LIBRARY: Pamela Wyn Shannon & Lissa Schneckenburger

pamelawynshannon.jpg Sunday, December 9
2:00 pm
McManus Room

"Courting the Seasons" with Pamela Wyn Shannon on vocals and guitar, and New England fiddler and folk singer Lissa Schneckenburger This is a special program featuring traditional and original pastoral songs celebrating the seasons, nature and rural rambling. The program will include the music of Ireland and the British Isles along with songs in Gaelic.

More about Pamela Wyn Shannon

More about Lissa Schneckenburger

        

November 11, 2007

MUSIC@THE LIBRARY: Connecticut Chamber Orchestra

sayardstone.jpg
Sunday, November 11

2:00 pm
McManus Room

The Connecticut Chamber Orchestra, featuring conductor Sayard Stone with violin soloist Bernice Stochek Friedson return to perform a variety of pieces ranging from classical to selections from My Fair Lady.

music program
        

October 14, 2007

Music@the Library

alturas%20duo%20blog.jpg

Sunday, October 14
2:00 pm
McManus Room

The Alturas Duo, Scott Hill and Carlos Boltes, will play a fiery mix of South American and classical music with the unusual ensemble of the guitar, viola and charango. Their unique repertoire ranges from Bach and South American folkloric to new, commissioned music.

Alturas Duo website


        

September 9, 2007

Music@the Library

Ren%20Zhang%20blog.jpgSunday, September 9
2:00 pm
McManus Room

Pianist Ren Zhang, dedicated to reviving and performing music in the grand romantic tradition, has burst upon the international concert scene as one of the unique pianistic characters of his generation. Supported by the Grace K. Salmon Foundation.

Press Release