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Scheduled for this past spring in the Greenwich Arts Council’s meeting room were three lecture/concerts illuminating aspects of American jazz. Each event included discussion on the origins of works played and their interpretations. Jazz bassist Tod Hedrick curated the series, made possible in part by a Partnership Grant from the CT Commission on Culture & Tourism. Both Daryl Sherman and Arturo O’Farrill were featured players at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Tickets for each concert were $20 for GAC members, $25 for non-members. Light refreshments in The Bendhem Gallery preceded each concert.
Wednesday, April 11 – featured singer and pianist Daryl Sherman
According to The New Yorker, singer and pianist Daryl Sherman "has yet to meet a standard whose charms she couldn't extract...and manages to find contemporary resonance in everything." A sparkling mainstay of Manhattan nightlife, she regularly performs on Cole Porter's Steinway at the Waldorf Astoria and has been lauded for appearances at the Algonquin's Famous Oak Room, Iridium Jazz Club and Jazz at Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis.
Daryl Sherman at the Waldorf playing Cole Porter's piano
Wednesday May 9 – featured pianist Arturo O’Farrill
Although he is classically trained, “Jazz found me,” according to O’Farrill whose music reflects his Mexican, Cuban and Irish roots. “I’m a New York mutt, and that’s what comes across in my music.” He won the Latin Jazz USA Outstanding Achievement Award in 2003 and is now the musical director for Jazz at Lincoln Center's Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra.
Arturo O' Farrill
Wednesday June 6 – featured the Tod Hedrick Jazz Quartet
As a jazz bassist working in the NY/CT corridor, Tod is known for his progressive sound as arranger and composer. He has played at many of New York’s most important venues, including Birdland, Kavehaz, Bar 55, Cornelia Street Café, Louis Bar, Cleopatra’s Needle, The Knitting Factory, Tagine, CB’s Gallery, Bowery Poetry Club, Sofia’s Restaurant, and the jazz series at St. Peter’s Church. Putting his own innovative spin on jazz standards, supported by his knowledgeable commentary, Tod has delighted a wide variety of knowing audiences.
Tod Hedrick Jazz Quartet
Focus on French Cinema 2007, the third annual film festival organized by the Alliance Française of Greenwich and co-sponsored by the Greenwich Arts Council, was held at the Performing Arts Center at Purchase College, March 30 to April 1.
A full weekend of French and francophone cinema was scheduled, which featured 11 contemporary movies, including several US premieres, and a program of short films showcasing the works of emerging directors.
Opening night, Friday, March 30, lived up to its promise to be outstanding, with guest actors and directors available for a Q&A following the screening. The reception was hosted by Jean-Louis Gerin and friends.
For information and to make advance reservations, please call Jeanne Milleliri at 203, 629-2301.
Click here to read about Focus on French Cinema 2006.
Click here to read a press release about Focus on French Cinema from Nov. 28, 2006.
A Selection of Past Performances
Renaissance Quartet at Greenwich Academy
Picture of Amati bass neck. Photo credit, Diana Harrington.
The Greenwich Arts Council and The Greenwich Academy co-sponsored a special appearance by The Renaissance Quartet November 7, 2004, at The Greenwich Academy’s Massey
Auditorium. This collaborative effort by GAC and GA was hopefully the first of many other projects the two institutions can offer to the community in the future.
The Renaissance Quartet is named for the stringed instruments used by the musicians. They are literally Renaissance in origin, all rare, and all incredible works of art
themselves.
The violin, the Guarnerius "Del Jesu", 1731 and was played by Eric Grossman. The viola, Peregriro Zaneto, 1575, is the oldest of the instruments
and was played by Eric Nowlin. Mark Kosower, cellist played the A. Stradivarius "Duke of Marlboro" cello. The bass, produced by Nicola Amati in the
1650's was played by Constantin Popescu.
The four o’clock concert featured a program of chamber music followed by a reception, sponsored by Greenwich Academy, during which audience members had the unique
opportunity to look more closely at these instruments as well as talk with the players and find out more about the history of their instruments.
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That Woman: Rebecca West Remembers
An, at the time new, one-woman show, "That Woman: Rebecca West Remembers," by West biographer Carl Rollyson, her great-niece Helen Macleod, and the actress who
portrayed her, Anne Bobby, introduced West, the journalist, novelist and critic, to an audience that may never have heard of her. Directed by David Drake, the play, was
presented at the Greenwich Arts Council Meeting Room on Saturday evening, October 2, and Sunday matinee, October 3, depicted West telling her life story, aided by quotes
from her writings and anecdotes about her often stormy romances.
The two performance event of "That Woman: Rebecca West Remembers" was made possible by the generous support of Greenwich resident and West friend, Kit Wright.
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On Thursday evening, April 14, the Greenwich Arts Council presented internationally renowned classical guitarist Masami Itoh in concert at the second floor Meeting Room
of the Arts Center. A native of Nagano, Japan, Mr. Itoh is dedicated to teaching and promoting the art of classical guitar, especially to young children. Many of his
students are considered among the best classical guitarists in Japan. This concert marked Masami Itoh’s first appearance in the United States.
Greenwich Arts Council Meeting Room
299 Greenwich Avenue
2:30 pm to 4:30 pm
"Come to the cabaret old chum..."
the song goes, and each month the Meeting Room of the Greenwich Arts Center transforms into our
own version of the Kit Kat Klub. But instead of divine decadence and smoky bars with 2 drink
minimums, you get a room filled with the songs of some of the most talented singer/songwriters
around these days.
Schedule to be announced.
Please call the Greenwich Arts Council
at 203-622-3998 for more information.
(pictured l to r: Chuck Lawhorn; Barbara Tresidder Ryan; Bernard Argent; Andrew Dodds)
On April 22, at 7 pm, the Greenwich Arts Council presented the internationally renowned pan-Celtic group, IONA in Concert, as part of their 20th anniversary tour.
IONA treats its audience to high energy entertainment featuring Scottish fiddling, driving percussion, and strong vocals from all the Celtic nations, including America. Presenting the
music and dance of Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Man, Brittany, Asturies and Galicia, IONA emphasizes that America is not only the repository of all these cultural influences, but also the progenitor of many of its own.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, IONA has evolved into one of the top rated pan-Celtic groups in the world. Co-founded by Barbara Tresidder Ryan (lead vocals, Celtic bouzouki, guitars and
bodhran) and Bernard Argent (wooden flute, whistles, doumbek, back-up vocals), IONA now claims one of the most exciting young American fiddlers, Andrew Dodds. Rounding out the line up is Chuck Lawhorn (6-string bass guitar, whistles, and vocals).
©Wayne Ratzenberger
The Greenwich Arts Council joined with New Alliance Bank and the International Festival of Arts & Ideas in presenting a very special and unique event in Greenwich. In mid-June, Point-Counterpoint ll, the ingenious floating concert hall designed by the revered 20th-century American architect, Louis Kahn, was moored in Greenwich Harbor. A first-class curiosity, the Kahn symphony barge unfolds in an impressive display of hydraulic origami –- musicians rising in place from below decks –- to provide a bandshell for the 45-piece American Wind Symphony. Guided tours of the Kahn barge and a cocktail reception at the Delamar Hotel were offered at a private patron event on Thursday evening, June 14, from 6 to 8 pm. On Friday evening, June 15, the public was invited to sit along the harbor at the RBS building on Steamboat Road and enjoy a free concert provided by the American Wind Symphony. There was limited seating, and was a first-come first-served event, with the grounds having opened at 6:30 for the 8 pm concert. For information about the patron event, please call Frank Juliano, executive director, Greenwich Arts Council, 203-622-3998.
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