Brown Bag Concert Series
The Brown Bag Concerts are produced by 90.5 WICN & Mechanics Hall.
Wednesdays at Noon, March 11th-March 25th
Free Admission
Mechanics Hall
321 Main Street, Worcester, MA, 01608; 508-752-5608
Broadcast live on WICN 90.5 FM and streaming at wicn.org
For over 35 years, Mechanics Hall and WICN have been proud to provide quality live performances free to the general public! Every concert begins at noon and ends promptly at 1:00 pm. Bring your own “brown bag” lunch or purchase one at the Hall while they last! Brown Bag Concerts are broadcast on 90.5fm and stream live on wicn.org whenever possible. All concerts are free and subject to change without notice.
Dan Moretti
March 11:
The Dan Moretti Quartet
Saxophonist, composer, recording artist, and professor, Dan Moretti’s musical career has spanned the last 30 years. His musical influences range from jazz and classical to funk and Latin jazz. He has toured the globe. Moretti “offers a robust sound that illuminates the compositions…..They add a dimension to the sound that is sophisticated and rich. Moretti’s melody is modern yet grounded in the sounds of jazz… solid excellent musicianship”- Jazz Times
Steven Kirby
March 18th: Steven Kirby & “The Illuminations Project” Band
Guitarist, composer, Berklee alum and educator, Steven Kirby (“a guitarist of rippling technique and a poetic mind”-Downbeat Magazine) is known for performing exciting, melodic, expressive jazz as well, being fluent in other contemporary styles including Rock, Brazilian, Blues and in various classical genres. He has appeared on multiple recordings, including three as a leader, “Point Of Balance” and “North Light” (Challenge Records), and “Illuminations” (WCS records). “Illuminations” was Downbeat Magazine’s “Editors Pick” and was included on the Grammy Nominations list in 4 categories. He has toured in the U.S., Canada, Caribbean, Europe, China and Africa.
March 25th: The Armen Donelian Trio
Pianist and composer Armen Donelian has produced 13 distinctive recordings on the Sunnyside, Playscape, Odin and Atlas labels with an impressive host of musicians. He has composed more than 100 works, 72 of which appear on record. He has led The Armen Donelian Trio with David Clark and George Schuller since 2003, releasing two albums on Sunnyside – Oasis (2008) and Songs For My Ancestors (2014). He is Curator of the Hudson Jazz Festival, a Steinway Affiliated Artist, and a Fulbright Senior Scholar and Senior Specialist for residencies in Armenia, Finland, Switzerland, Sweden, and Greece. Donelian has lectured worldwide and taught in The New School Jazz and Contemporary Music Program since 1986, at William Paterson University, and Manhattan School of Music. With Marc Mommaas, Armen is the Co-founder of the Hudson Jazz Workshop, now in its 14th year.
Brown Bag Concerts started out as free organ recitals as a way for Mechanics Hall to thank the community for the dollars it donated to restore the Hall’s world-famous Hook Organ. WICN realized that Mechanics Hall was getting great audiences and tried a noontime series of its own….another great success. The following year they decided to become partners…Mechanics Hall provides the stage, the staff, and the tech support including sound; WICN programs and books the talent and broadcasts the performances live on 90.5 FM and streaming at www.wicn.org. Mechanics Hall and WICN share promotional responsibilities.
Brown Bag Concerts is sponsored by:
BROWN BAG ARCHIVE
WPI (Worcester Polytechnic Institute) has recognized the historical significance of the 30+ years of the Brown Bag Concert Series. WPI has documented the series history in its Jazz History Database. The database includes information from 1989 – 2008.
“Studio 3”, half-hour music and interview television program featuring some of the best jazz groups in New England and beyond, was taped between 1993 and 2000 before live audiences in the studios of WGMC-TV3 or on location, including Brown Bag concerts at Mechanics Hall. All shows were produced and hosted by jazz vocalist Toni Ballard, with production support from Greater Media Cable, and aired from 1993 to 2003 on WGMC-TV3. The WPI Jazz History Database includes Studio 3 videos.
Brown Bag Concert Series Spring 2019
Brown Bag Concert Series Fall 2018
Brown Bag Concert Series Spring 2018
Brown Bag Concert Series Fall 2017
Brown Bag Concert Series Spring 2017
Brown Bag Concert Series Fall 2016
Brown Bag Concert Series Spring 2016
Brown Bag Concert Series Fall 2015
Brown Bag Concert Series Spring 2015
Brown Bag Concert Series Fall 2014
Brown Bag Concert Series: Spring 2014
Brown Bag Concert Series: Fall 2013
Brown Bag Concert Series: Spring 2013
Brown Bag Concert Series: Fall 2012
Brown Bag Concert Series: Spring 2012