Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota presents
The Miami Saxophone Quartet in
“Four of a Kind”
January 24 North Port Performing Arts Center
Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota opens the second season of its North Port concert series with the “infectiously joyful arrangements, soulful improvisations and musical prowess” of this renowned sax quartet.
“Saxophone players take note! For you, this is filet mignon. The Miami Saxophone Quartet gets into an ensemble groove that also leaves plenty of room to roam the fields of improvisation. Solid musicianship and upbeat arrangements are the rule of the day. A winner!” — George Fendel, Jazz Society of Oregon
(Sarasota, Florida) Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota’s popular North Port concert series is back for a second year, opening with the Miami Saxophone Quartet, Sunday, January 24, 3 p.m., at the North Port Performing Arts Hall, 6400 West Price Boulevard, North Port. Featuring Mike Brignola, Ed Calle, Gary Keller and Gary Lindsay, the Quartet will perform hits from their critically acclaimed CD, “Four of a Kind” (one of Jazz Times’ Top 50 releases of 2013), including such popular favorites as “Sophisticated Lady,” “It’s a Raggy Waltz,” “Lost and Found,” and much more. Reserved seat tickets are $30; students with ID, $10. Tickets can be purchased online at www.artistseriesconcerts.org; by calling the North Port Performing Arts Center’s box office at 941-426-8479; or by visiting the box office in person at 6400 West Price Boulevard, North Port.
As the Miami Sax Quartet, Gary Keller, Gary Lindsay, Ed Calle, and Mike Brignola have created a contemporary sound unique among saxophone quartets, with an appeal to audiences of all ages and all musical persuasions. Led by the award-winning writing of Lindsay and Calle, the group explores the flexibility and wide-ranging appeal of the saxophone across the realms of jazz, pop, Latin, R&B, and chamber music. They perform their own original compositions as well as their own arrangements of songs mined from a diverse array of music legends, including John Coltrane, Paul Simon, Pat Metheny and James Taylor.
Quartet founder Gary Keller has toured, recorded and performed with a variety of illustrious jazz artists and ensembles, including Woody Herman, Frank Sinatra, and Mel Tormé. He has also performed and recorded with the Florida Philharmonic, New World Symphony, and the American Jazz Philharmonic. His debut CD, “Blues For An Old New Age,” garnered critical praise, as well as a three-and-a-half star award from prestigious Penguin Guide to Recorded Jazz.
Those who know the music of Gloria Estefan, Frank Sinatra, Julio Iglesias, Rihanna, Chick Corea and Arturo Sandoval have most likely heard the saxophone artistry of Ed Calle. The Grammy winner is one of the world’s top recording saxophonists, with more than 1,200 albums and 8,500 singles by top artists from the pop, jazz, and Latin idioms to his name. His other credits include such diverse artists as Frank Sinatra, Ricky Martin, Lenny Kravitz, and Natalie Cole. Calle writes frequently for the Quartet.
As an arranger, Gary Lindsay’s pop music credits include Jose Feliciano, Gloria Estefan, Julio Iglesias, Christina Aguilera, Michael Bolton and many others. His jazz writing credits include the Maynard Ferguson Band, Pat Metheny, Arturo Sandoval, as well as commissions for the U.S. Air Force Airmen of Note. Arturo Sandoval’s album, “I Remember Clifford,” garnered Lindsay a Grammy nomination for jazz arrangement. His extensive writing for the Miami Saxophone Quartet includes both original compositions and arrangements of pieces by prominent artists. Lindsay has performed with Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Henry Mancini, Stevie Wonder, Johnny Mathis, Mike and Randy Brecker, Arturo Sandoval, and others.
One of the world’s great baritone saxophone and bass clarinet players, Mike Brignola, has been a member of the Miami Saxophone Quartet since its inception in 1996. Over the course of his 30-year performing career he has played in a wide variety of musical settings as a jazz soloist, ensemble player, and recording artist. Brignola performed with jazz legend Woody Herman for the last seven years of Herman’s career as a big band leader. Over the past decade Brignola has continued as the road manager and personnel director of the Woody Herman Orchestra.
Joseph Holt, Artist Series Concert’s director of artist programs, says the organization is thrilled to be back in North Port for a second season.
“The audience response to our inaugural North Port series this past winter was better than we could ever have expected. We’re looking forward to launching our second season with this exciting and innovative quartet.”
Artist Series Concerts’ North Port Series continues on February 21 with a solo performance by Emmy Award-winning pianist Dick Hyman and concludes on March 6 with “My Favorite Things: The Music of Rogers and Hammerstein,” featuring four outstanding solo vocalists and the Gloria Musicae Singers.
Since 1996, Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota has presented an ever-expanding annual season of concerts by globally renowned and celebrated emerging artists. The 2015-2016 20th anniversary season runs through May 2016 and includes six concerts in its “Classical Recital Series,” four concerts in its “Pop Series,” three special concerts and the inaugural North Port concert series. Three “Lunch, Look and Listen” events were also scheduled. For more information about the Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota’s 2014-2015 season, visit www.artistseriesconcerts.org or call 941-306-1202.
Artist Series Concerts Of Sarasota’s
Remaining 2015-2016 Season At A Glance
Classical Recital Series
Saturday and Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m. at the Historic Asolo Theater; 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. Tickets at 941-360-7399 or www.artistseriesconcerts.org.
- Les Amies: Carol Wincenc, a Grammy-nominated artist and one of the most acclaimed flutists performing today, leads this winning trio, which includes harpist Nancy Allen and violist Cynthia Phelps. January 23, 7:30 p.m.; and January 24, 7:30 p.m.
- Akropolis Reed Quintet: Described by Fanfare Magazine as playing with “imagination, infallible musicality, and huge vitality,” the Akropolis Reed Quintet, (oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon and bass clarinet), is a cutting-edge ensemble that performs an innovative, living repertoire with acclaimed precision. February 20, 7:30 p.m., and February 21, 7:30 p.m.
- Trio Celeste: Violinist Iryna Krechkovsky, cellist Ross Gasworth, and pianist Kevin Kwan Loucks combine to form an exciting, dynamic and intelligent ensemble. They are each strong instrumentalists in their own right and have what only the best groups have; an understanding of each other’s emotions, the ability to play with both power and subtlety, and what can best be described as a spark. March 5, 7:30 p.m., and March 6, 7:30 p.m.
- Amit Peled is an Israeli-American cellist and virtuoso called a “larger than life presence on stage” (The Washington Post). Peled, a musician of profound artistry and charismatic stage presence, is known as one of the most exciting instrumentalists on the concert stage today. At 6’5″ tall (he was once a basketball player), Peled often surprises audiences with the ways he breaks down barriers between performers and the public, making classical music more accessible to wider audiences. April 9, 7:30 p.m., and April 10, 7:30 p.m.
- 20th Year Retrospective Celebration: As a close to the 20th anniversary season, Artist Series Concerts is bringing back favorites from past years. The performers that Sarasota audiences have loved before will be here again to entertain, celebrate and inspire. May 28 and 29, 7:30 p.m.
Pop Series
At the Historic Asolo Theater; 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. Tickets at 941-360-7399 or www.artistseriesconcerts.org.
- QuinTango, a touring quintet of two violins, cello, bass and piano, brings a century’s worth of tango repertoire to the concert stage with sizzling musicality and captivating narrative style. Winner of two consecutive WAMMIES, QuinTango is the only tango music group to have given a command performance at The White House. QuinTango has been heard on NPR’s “Morning Edition,” CNN, and network television in both the United States and Costa Rica. When QuinTango made its debut at Charleston’s Piccolo Festival, critic Robert Jones wrote exuberantly that “their concerts packed the place and sent the customers home tango crazy.” April 30, 7:30 p.m., and May 1, 2:00 and 7:30 p.m.
- “My Favorite Things,” Music of Rodgers & Hammerstein, featuring acclaimed soloists Mara Bonde, soprano, Katherine Pracht, mezzo soprano, Aaron Blake, tenor, Marcus DeLoach, baritone, and the Gloria Musicae Singers: May 7:30 p.m., and May 8, 2:00 and 7:30 p.m.
Lunch, Look and Listen
One-hour concerts at 11 a.m. followed by lunch at 12:15 p.m. At Michael’s On East Ballroom, 1212 East Avenue South, Sarasota. Tickets at 941-306-1202.
- Ann Alton, cello; Joyce Valentine, piano: January 21.
- Miami Guitar Trio: February 18.
- Gulfshore Trio: Reiko Niiya, violin; Susannah Kelly, cello; William Dawson, piano: March 17.
Soiree Series
Sunday afternoons at 2:00 p.m. and Monday evenings at 7:30 p.m. At the Weisenborne/Fischer residence. Call for address. Tickets at 941-306-1202.
- Bob McDonald singing songs made famous by Broadway leading man John Raitt: March 27 & 28.
North Port Performing Arts Center Series
Sunday afternoons at 3:00 p.m. At the North Port Performing Arts Center, 6400 W. Price Blvd., North Port. Tickets at 941-306-1202.
- Miami Saxophone Quartet in “Four of a Kind.” Infectiously joyful arrangements, soulful improvisations, fine musical prowess and four of the finest saxophone players in the business in an afternoon of lively jazz, featuring “Sophisticated Lady,” “It’s a Raggy Waltz, “Lost and Found,” and much more: January 24.
- Dick Hyman in Concert. A solo performance by the legendary Emmy Award-winning pianist and composer, renowned for his 50-year career as one of America’s most prolific and versatile jazz musicians: February 21.
- “My Favorite Things: The Music of Rogers and Hammerstein.” Featuring the Qol Quartet, (Johanna Fincher, Robyn Rocklein, Adam Bielamowicz, and Christopher Holloway), and the Gloria Musicae Singers, directed by Joseph Holt: March 6.
Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota
Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota was formed in 1996 as the Artist Series of Sarasota. The group is a non-profit corporation based in Sarasota, FL, that prides itself on presenting several major national and international varieties of concert, opera, orchestral, Broadway and film performances throughout their season. The majority of the performances are staged at the restored Historic Asolo Theater at The Ringling.
