Wednesday, June 4 2008

Wonders of the Wurlitzer is a time-honored tradition in the City of Providence; people of all ages are welcome to attend and enjoy local organists demonstrating the impressive and rich sounds of this rare and mighty instrument.

The concerts are scheduled throughout the spring and fall and are supported by Providence Performing Arts Center's Annual Fund donors and our sponsors.

For additional information, call (401) 421-ARTS or visit ppacri.org for details and updates.

Lunchtime Summer Music Series

The Vinyl Skyway's brand of independent album rock has been described by Boston Phoenix critic Jonathan Perry as "lush summery music in the vein of the Thrills, the Pernice Brothers, or Lindsay-Buckingham era Fleetwood Mac"

Joining Karadonev for this performance are bassist Dave Buda, drummer Steve Langone and vocalist Elena Koleva.

As Budd Kopman says in his All About Jazz review: "Crossing Lines, the debut recording by pianist Plamen Karadonev (who also plays accordion), is a marvelous and continually surprising creation. Karadonev has that something which is relatively rare and which marks the true improviser. He is in complete command technically and rhythmically assured, and yet is never complacent or predictable. The arrangements sound extremely organic but have a built-in precision from which the excitement of the unknown originates. One could listen to the opening title track, a nine-minute masterpiece, a dozen times and still never tire of it."

The Bert Seager Quartet - with Rebecca Shrimpton Vocals - performing "Requited" the songs of Bert Seager and Anita Diamant - CD release party. "Requited" is the meeting of three artists: pianist/composer Bert Seager, best-selling novelist Anita Diamant (lyricist), and jazz singer Rebecca Shrimpton. Together, they have created a modern twist on the American Songbook that is both fresh and hauntingly familiar. Seager and Diamant’s songs are a provocative union of beautifully surprising melodies, harmonic density, and exquisitely crafted images, performed with depth and seemingly effortless grace by Rebecca Shrimpton and a brilliant group of instrumentalists.

Maine Storyteller Lynne Cullen tells 'Here Be Dragons' a series of stories in which people are suddenly tilted from their normal existence into other worlds.

Blue Champagne, pouring out jazz standards and jazz arrangements of popular tunes, is a new addition to the Worcester music scene. Blue Champagne features vocalist Nancy Smith; pianist, Nat Needle; reed player, Noel "Dr. Soul" Cary; bassist, Brian "Downtown" Newark; and drummer, Rick "The Stick" McCarthy.

Blue Champagne's wide-ranging repertoire extends from Brazilian bossa nova to Dixieland swing. Thelonious Monk and Miles Davis come alive right alongside George Gershwin and Duke Ellington. With Blue Champagne, you never know what will bubble up next.

For more information on Blue Champagne, call 508-757-0116

Steve Howard is a singer songwriter who, although based in New England, has performed his music all over the country. He has worked and shared the stage with many noted performers from Tom Rush and Jamie Brockett to Jerry Garcia, Peter Rowan, Dave Bromburg, Juice Newton and Lacy J. Daltron. His songs are stories, sometimes serious, at times humorous but each with Steve's unique style and craftsmanship.

Come on down and share a song, a poem or play something for the always attentive and willing audience. Come and sign up beginning at 6:30pm. Bring your friends.

The Brakes are a genuine rock and roll band at first glance, but given a closer look, elements of folk, jazz and even post-rock reveal themselves, making their sound a distinct intertwining of American music, held together by insightful lyrics and memorable songs. Carney is a 4-piece Los Angeles musical phenomenon, who despite their young age (all 4 members are in their early 20's), have years of musical experience behind them. George Stanford's EP shows a songwriter following in the tradition of such greats as Paul Simon through to Chris Martin. It also displays his immense range of talent: With his unique and definable voice, Stanford also plays all instruments except drums on the EP.

Bruce Marshall, a celebrated singer songwriter from Concord, will host acoustic open mike every Wednesday night. Musicians are invited to perform with Bruce or solo. Bruce has recently released a solo CD entitled Restless Soul. The 15 song disc contains solo acoustic versions of some of Bruce's most requested original songs some of which that have not been previously released. This is Bruce's first solo CD and is being released in conjunction with his receiving the "Outstanding Acoustic Musician" award in the Blues Audience Magazine Readers Poll for '07.

[Dan Bern] strums drop-dead gorgeous melodies like a demon with his tail on fire; and expresses his love for humankind through scabrous, literary, skeptical rhymes full of hyper-articulation and the tormented self-knowledge of the really, really smart. With the new album, "New American Language," Bern's caustic side is less jokey and obfuscating, his sentimentality hearty and plain, and they're inextricable." – Arion Berger, The Washington Post

Steve Riley grew up in the prairie town of Mamou where French is spoken on the street, the national holiday is Mardi Gras, and a poor family is one without a fiddler or accordion player. American popular culture was stealing Mamou’s children away when Steve took up the accordion and became his hometown’s favorite son. He plays a single-row diatonic instrument made by his cousin, famed accordionist Marc Savoy. At age 15, this young prodigy was noticed by Dewey Balfa, who invited Steve to join his band. Under Dewey’s guidance, he grew as a performer, learning hundreds of French songs and how to sing them in Balfa’s singular hurts-so-good style, and taking up the fiddle as well. He and David Greely later formed the Mamou Playboys, which rapidly gained prominence on the international folk scene without sacrificing the allegiance of Louisiana fans.

Featuring: Greg Hopkins -- Trumpet, Tim Miller -- Guitar, Bruno Raberg -- Bass, Bob Gullotti -- Drums.

Greg will be "smokin" with his all-star band..Won't be a better gig in town!

A professor at Berklee College of Music, Greg Hopkins has toured nationally and internationally, appearing at the Newport, Monterey, and other major jazz festivals. Hopkins has also performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, Joe Williams, Tony Bennett, The Supremes, Burt Bacharach, Nancy Wilson, Lou Rawls, Mitzi Gaynor, Michel Legrand, Johnny Mathis, Shirley Maclame, Marvin Hamlisch, and Lena Home, as well as the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Pops, and the Boston Brass Ensemble.