A trio of Jazz concerts hosted by the Westport Arts Center

The Westport Arts Center located on 51 Riverside Ave. is once again hosting a series of jazz concerts in January, February and March.  

The new year kicks off with the sounds of Brazilian Samba and Bossa Nova as performed by Ali Ryderson and Joe Carter on January 11 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.  Jazz flutist Ali Ryerson teams up with longtime duo partner, guitarist Joe Carter, along with bassist David Finck and Brazilian percussionist Ze Mauricio, to perform an exciting program of Brazilian favorites from master composers Antonio Carlos Jobim, Luiz Bonfa, Carlos Lyra and more. Admission is $30.

On February 1 from 3 pm to 5 pm, the Westport Arts Center is hosting a "Jazz Jam." Admission: $15.00 WAC Members and $30 for non-members.  Guests are invited to join the Center's Artistic Director Brian Torff, for a free-wheeling jam session with some of the community's most active musicians. The sessions are intended to be a spontaneous exploration of Jazz, Blues, and other music styles. The Center encourages students and semi-professionals to drop in and jam for free!

On March 22, the Center is hosting  the Hartford Jazz Orchestra at the Pequot Library on 270 Pequot Ave. in Southport from 3 pm - 5 pm.  The Hartford Jazz Orchestra will perform songs from the great American songbook with vocalist Nicole Pasternack. Since it's inception in 1965, the Hartford Jazz Orchestra has performed concerts with the Woody Herman, Stan Kenton band along with joint appearances with jazz greats Zoot Sims and Clark Terry. Among its notable band members was Chic Cicchetti, who joined them as a trombone player and later rose to lead the HJO.  Admission is $30 for non members and $25 for members of WAC.

For more information and to register for these events visit http://westportartscenter.org/programs/jazz

Norwalk Symphony's 75th Celebration

The Norwalk Symphony is marking its' 25th anniversary celebration on Saturday October 25 with a performance by the world - renowned violinist Midori who will join the Norwalk Symphony for its opening concert at the Norwalk Concert Hall, 125 East Avenue, Norwalk, CT.

The evening starts with a celebration at the Norwalk Inn at 5:00pm, there will be food and beverages and good friends!   A $150 celebration ticket includes a ticket to the concert.   If you already have your ticket for the concert, celebration tickets are $100.  Tickets for the pre-concert event are available by calling the office at 203.956.6771 or by email at info@norwalksymphony.org.   There is limited seating for the pre-concert event. 

Ms. Midori* will play Robert Schumann's Violin Concerto.  Since her debut at the age of 11, she has established a record of achievement which sets her apart as a master musician, innovator and champion of the developmental potential of children.  In 1991, she founded Midori & Friends, a non-profit organization in New York which brings music education programs to thousands of underserved chlidren each year.  During the 2013-2014 season, she was featured on two new recordings: one in collaboration with the NDR Symphony and conductor Christoph Eschenbach in a rare recording of the Hindemith violin concerto and, the other, a recital program with pianist Ozgur Aydin in works by Shostakovich, Janacek and Bloch.

 

  Also on the program for the evening are Charles Ives' "The Unanswered Question," Mozart's Overture to the "Marriage of Figaro" and his "Symphony No. 29."   

Concert tickets range from $5 for students 18 and under and $20-$40 for adults and are available by visiting www.norwalksymphony.org and the Buy Tickets link, by sending an email to info@norwalksymphony.org or by calling 203.956.6771.