Brown Bag Concert Series: Fall 2011

Wednesdays At Mechanics Hall
321 Main Street, Worcester, MA, 01608; 508-752-5608
Broadcast live on WICN 90.5 FM and Streaming at wicn.org

Brown Bag Concerts are produced by Mechanics Hall and WICN public radio in partnership with Bank of America. Free admission. Every concert begins at noon and is one hour long. Table seating is the norm, but occasionally seating is theater style. Bring your own lunch or purchase one at the Hall, prepared by Eric’s LaPatisserie Café. Performances are subject to change without notice and are broadcast live whenever possible on WICN 90.5 FM and around the world on www.wicn.org.

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November 9 - Laszlo Gardony
Laszlo Gardony is a critically acclaimed Hungarian born jazz piano artist who has brought his soulful and elegant improvisations to audiences in 23 countries. Winner of the Great American Jazz Piano Competition, Gardony has been called "a pianist worthy of praise within the highest pantheon of performers:" by Jazz Review.com

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November 16 - John Stein
"John Stein is one of the finest jazz guitarists you'll ever hear, with beautiful touch, tone, swing, detail, and emotion. He is what you might call deep mainstream, surprising at every turn with familiar material." - The Boston Phoenix
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November 23 - Hailey Niswanger and Quartet
"The 19-year-old alto saxophonist Hailey Niswanger is poised to break out as a Young Lioness on the strength of her commendable debut. She tackles challenging material by Thelonious Monk, Herbie Hancock, Benny Golson, Joe Henderson and Wayne Shorter, with rhythmic assuredness, rare verve and an abundance of chops. "Confeddie" (debut album) title track, her debut CD is her tribute to Eddie Harris with allusions to "Freedom Jazz Dance," hints that she may be a budding composer as well as a promising new voice on the scene." -JazzTimes

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November 30 - Greg Abate
Widely considered among jazz writers and aficionados to be one of the "best post bebop alto players out there today," Greg Abate is a jazz saxophonist, flutist, & composer. Abate is a Grammy nominee who spends 150 days a year touring the globe. He has played with the Ray Charles Orchestra, Channel One, and the revived Artie Shaw Orchestra. Greg tours the U.S., Canada, and Europe. He is an adjunct professor of Jazz Studies at Rhode Island College and an active jazz clinician at home and abroad.

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December 7 - USAF Band of Liberty Jazz Band
From the swingin' sounds of Glenn Miller to the best of contemporary big band jazz, the United States Air Force Liberty Jazz Band plays it all with style and sophistication. Part of the United States Air Force Band of Liberty from Hanscom Air Force Base outside Boston, this stellar ensemble has been entertaining audiences throughout the Northeast for more than a quarter century. Made up of 13 outstanding musicians from around the country, the Liberty Jazz Band takes pride in preserving the heritage of America's true art form - jazz.

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