Thursday, October 30 2008

Carlos de Leon is a seasoned "salsa" band leader, composer, and musician who performs regularly in New England, New York, and Latin America. His music is lively, his presentation engaging and interactive, and his focus is on sharing his knowledge and love of Latin music with young audiences. To enhance the Latin American rhythms, colorful dancers meticulously execute dances including salsa, boleros, and the meringue.

Starchild--our house jazz quartet with a fresh approach to standards

The trio performs jazz standard arrangements from the 1930's to the 1990's … (don't be surprised to hear a re-arranged Beatles song or Stevie Wonder tune as well!!) The Shane Wood Trio features vocals, piano, saxophone and upright bass. Please Google Asiawood music on the internet or shanewoodjazz.com to hear the mellow sounds.

Join us for TCAN's Annual Benefit featuring Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter Paula Cole. Shortly after Peter Gabriel invited her to perform on his 1993-94 world tour, Paula released her debut album Harbinger, featuring songs that relied equally on dreamy melodies and poetic, introspective lyrics. Her real breakthrough came in 1996 when This Fire and its singles Where Have All the Cowboys Gone? and I Don't Want to Wait won her critical acclaim, seven Grammy nominations, and the 1998 Grammy for Best New Artist. Her fourth studio album, Courage, was released in 2007.

A post- concert champagne reception with the artist features desserts by Finale. Proceeds to benefit The Center for Arts in Natick, a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization.

Musicians, music lovers & dancers of all ages, all levels are welcome! Full band equipment lineup including Drums, Amps, 16 Channel PA, Grand Piano and Hammond Organ w/Leslie Cabs: just bring your self & your instrument! 1st come, 1st sign-up list, Jam starts at 8pm, get there early, it’ll be a great night!

BEZANSON RECITAL HALL

"Nicole Mitchell is a compelling improviser of wit, determination, positivity, and tremendous talent," writes Peter Margasak in the Chicago Reader, "on her way to becoming one of the greatest living flutists in jazz."

Jeff Parker is a widely-traveled jazz guitarist, equally at home in soul-jazz, hard-bop, dub, hip-hop, electronic and free jazz. He studied at Berklee College of Music beginning in 1985 and moved to Chicago in 1991. Once in the Windy City, Parker joined forces with cornettist Robert Mazurek and drummer Chad Taylor to form the Chicago Underground Trio, and he has also invigorated the bands of Ernest Dawkin's New Horizon Ensemble, Fred Anderson, Ken Vandermark and Nicole Mitchell's Black Earth Ensemble.

Bezanson Recital Hall

For the past three years, flutist Mitchell has placed first in Downbeat's "Rising Star" on her instrument, and was awarded "Chicagoan of the Year 2006" by the Chicago Tribune. The founder of the critically acclaimed Black Earth Ensemble, the Nicole Mitchell Quartet and the Indigo Trio, Mitchell's compositions reach across jazz, gospel, pop, and African music to create a fascinating synthesis of postmodern jazz.

Jeff Parker is a widely-traveled jazz guitarist, equally at home in soul-jazz, hard-bop, dub, hip-hop, electronic and free jazz. "If you went looking for a poster-child for Chicago's multidirectional, cross-pollinating, interstylistic music scene," writes John Corbett, "you couldn't find a better one than Jeff Parker."

Jones and his band will play brief sets that will segue into jam sessions.Participation in the jam sessions will be open to all Berklee students.

During the day, October 29-30, the quartet will present two master classes open to Berklee students only.

BEZANSON RECITAL HALL

featuring: Yoko Miwa, piano; Greg Loughman, acoustic bass; Scott Goulding, drums