Civic Music Association

Join jazz vocalist Max Wellman and the Belin Quartet for an all new, innovative show debuting the work of composer Sam Wells. Wellman has been working with Sam Wells for over a year on this concert, drawing on his classical training to create a new kind of American music… a true hybrid between the classical world and the Great American Songbook. Featuring the talents of the superb Belin Quartet, this concert is sure to be one-of-a-kind.

Pianist Christopher O’Riley and cellist Matt Haimovitz join together to explore the lyrical and virtuosic properties of their instruments in a collaboration that crosses in and out of the classical and pop music genres. The program showcases their talents as … Continue reading

For his Mack Avenue recording debut, the 36-year-old bassist / bandleader / educator / artistic director / Grammy Award winner CHRISTIAN McBRIDE delivered the remarkable Kind Of Brown, a 10-track album featuring his new acoustic jazz quintet Inside Straight, comprised of old friends, pianist Eric Reed, alto saxophonist Steve Wilson and drummer Carl Allen, as well as newcomer vibraphonist Warren Wolf, one of McBride’s former students.

The Cuban American jazz band Ninety Miles is a three-piece group consisting of Stefon Harris (vibes), David Sanchez (saxophone), and Nicholas Payton (trumpet). The collaboration of these three outstanding musicians has created a unique collection of songs, blending traditional bebop with Latin and afro-Caribbean influence. Their highly anticipated 9 track album was recorded in Havana, Cuba over the course of a week and features the talents of the Cuban pianists Rember Duharte and Harold- Lopez Nussa, adding to the authentic Cuban flavor in the band’s music.

Sisters in Spirit: Sacred Song from Medieval Spain to Early America

Anonymous 4 travels from old world to new: the first half of this program contains 13th-century polyphony and sacred Latin song made for the nuns of the famous Spanish convent, Las Huelgas, all featured on the group’s newest CD, SECRET VOICES; the second half is a collection of Anglo-American tunes from their hit recordings AMERICAN ANGELS and GLORYLAND.

“With the Anonymous 4, there is no accompaniment, no amplification and no fancy staging. It’s just four rarefied voices – pure, simple and stunning.”–Denver Post

“Jim Hall is the reigning master of the jazz guitar. This poetic player says more with fewer notes than any living improviser.”
— The New Yorker

In a career spanning nearly seven decades, Jim Hall’s musical style has been in a state of continuous development throughout. With each new concert tour and recording Jim reveals yet another facet of himself, not just as a player and composer, but also as a collaborator and explorer. Not only is Jim Hall one of the jazz world’s favorite guitarists, but he has also earned critical acclaim for his skills as a composer and arranger, garnering formal recognition in 1997 when he won the New York Jazz Critics Circle Award for Best Jazz Composer/Arranger.

FIVE EXTRAORDINARY ARTISTS ONE EXPLOSIVE COLLABORATION What do you get when you combine five award-winning, critically acclaimed musicians and a program of contemporary and classic works? One unforgettable evening of music.

Percussionist Colin Currie has established a unique reputation for his charismatic and virtuosic performances. Regularly commissioning and recording new works, he has made an inspirational contribution to the percussion repertoire and has emerged as one of today’s most innovative and compelling artists.

Hailed by the New York Times as possessing “explosive vigor and technical finesse”, the colorful and dynamic Miró Quartet, one of America’s highest-profile chamber groups enjoys its place at the top of the international chamber mu- sic scene. The quartet captivate audiences and critics around the world with its startling intensity and fresh perspective.