Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009

SWIC musicians jazz up the room

"The Cabaret is an event that we really enjoy doing each year," said Adam Hucke, an assistant professor of music at SWIC. "It gives us a chance to bring great music to the community in a relaxed setting."

And, he could say, you don't get much better than featured guest artist Brian Owens. Still in his 20s, the young vocalist has opened for such legends as Ramsey Lewis and Spryo Gyra and was invited to sing at a tribute for Dianne Reeves.

"Working with Dianne Reeves and playing at Carnegie Hall was an amazing experience," said Owens, who spent three years as a lead vocalist with the Air Force Band of Mid-America at South Air Force Base. "I truly believe it was a defining moment in my progression as a vocal musician to work with and learn so much from everyone involved and to then share that with a live audience."

A veteran of ABC's "Good Morning America" and BET's "Jazz Discovery" he'll share it with you starting at 3 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free; the restaurant is at 2100 W. Main St. in Belleville. Sample Owens' third CD, "The Cole Sessions," at www.cdbaby.com/cd/brianowens3/from/payplay.

Autumn's Child

Experience a wondrous world of sight and sound when Mark Holland brings Autumn's Child to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville for an Arts & Issues Series concert at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Led by Holland on his Native American flute, the group will perform a unique hybrid of world music, jazz, classical and folk, a mix Holland calls "global chamber music." They'll be joined by Lowery Begay, a noted Native American hoop dancer.

It promises to be an evening of soothing, inspirational music especially created to celebrate the Thanksgiving season.

"Mark Holland is one of the top Native American flute players in the country, and we are thrilled to have him here at SIUE," said Grant Andree, the Arts & Issues Series coordinator, which is celebrating its silver anniversary this year. "It complements the many styles of music we've highlighted over the past 25 years."

Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. concert in the University Center are $27 for adults, $25 for seniors and $13 for students and are available through www.artsandissues.com or 650-2774.

SIUE jazz concert

The classic American songbook will get a fresh read Tuesday night when the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Department of Music presents its annual fall big band jazz concert in the Dunham Hall theater.

The 7:30 concert will feature Brett Stamps' SIUE Concert Jazz Band as well as Jason Swagler's SIUE Jazz Lab Band. Selections will include such time-honored favorites as Hoagy Charmichael's Stardust and the Duke's "Satin Doll" as well as more modern tunes such as Nat Adderly's "Work Song" and Joe Sample's "Put It Where You Want It." Several of the numbers have been arranged by Stamps, a professor of music and director of SIUE's Jazz Studies Program.

Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and those under 18.

Winter concert series

Creative compositions and technical virtuosity should put Fiddleback on just about any music lover's must-see list when it opens the Edwardsville Winter Concert Series Friday night.

That's what the critics say about this energetic trio that blends elements of jazz, classical, bluegrass and rock into its distinctively original sound. The group features Victoria Brannan and Andrew Driscoll on violin and Grant Krener on guitar.

"Two great string players plus friends get together for a wonderful set of original tunes -- some swinging, grooving and hot fiddling going on here," wrote Matt Glaser, the string chair at the Berklee College of Music, about the group's first CD, Tarantella. "Check it out -- you'll be glad you did."

Sample it for yourself at www.fiddlebackmusic.com. Then, buy a $7 ticket at the Edwardsville City Hall or library -- or at the door if any the 300 tickets remain. The 7 p.m. concert, which also will feature students from the St. Louis Fiddle Ensemble, will be at the N.O. Nelson Complex at 600 Troy Road in Edwardsville.

This year's schedule also will include a holiday concert on Dec. 11, Dueling Pianos from Jive & Wail on Jan. 22, the Sinatra-style swing group Dizzy Atmosphere on Feb. 19 and blues singer Kim Massie on March 19.

Jazz festival at McKendree

The top young jazz musicians from throughout Southern Illinois will converge on Lebanon Saturday for the Illinois Musical Educators Association's District VI Jazz Festival.

Last month, students from more than a dozen high schools from Alton to Mount Vernon auditioned in Highland for the chance to participate in this honors assembly. On Saturday, the winners -- including a large contingent from Belleville East and West -- will be grooving all day at McKendree University in preparation for a 4:30 p.m. concert.

Three instrumental ensembles and a vocal jazz group will take part in that final performance, which is open to the public in the Hettenhausen Center for the Arts. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for students and free for children under 10.