April 18, 2005
Arboretum Music Series at new amphitheater
begins April 21
By Scott Rappaport
UCSC will kick off its inaugural Arboretum Music Series on
Thursday, April 21, with a concert by singer/songwriter Keith
Greeninger, plus Dayan Kai and Band, at the new Arboretum Amphitheater
off Empire Grade in Santa Cruz.
Linda Tillery & The Cultural Heritage
Choir will perform on May 19. |
The Marie Beckham Arboretum Music Series, will present folk,
classical, cultural, and jazz performers on the third Thursdays
of the month from April through September. Performers this year
include tenor saxophonist Dave Ellis, Hawaiian slack key guitarist
Patrick Landeza, Linda Tillery & The Cultural Heritage Choir,
the Cypress String Quartet, and the Chicano folk-fusion band,
Quetzal.
Its a beautiful setting, said Stephen McCabe,
coordinator of research and education for the Arboretum. With
the abundant rain this year, the Arboretum's flowers are outstanding
this spring. Patrons will walk past or take a wagon shuttle
by the flowering gardens to get to the outdoor amphitheater.
Tenor saxophonist Dave Ellis performs
August 18.
|
McCabe added that the concert series is named in honor of Marie
Beckham who has been tirelessly volunteering in many capacities
at the Arboretum for the last 30 years, and has previously helped
bring concerts to other venues in the Arboretum.
The 2005 lineup:
Thursday, April 21--Keith Greeninger plus Dayan Kai and
Band
Singer/songwriter Keith Greeninger has drawn comparisons to
Jackson Browne and Bruce Cockburn for the soulfulness and imagery
of his phrasing and the power of his voice. He first started
gaining attention on the national music scene in 1989 as a principal
songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist for the groundbreaking trio
City Folk. The group was known for its powerful lyrics, harmony,
and instrumental virtuosity, and quickly became one of the prominent
new folk acts in northern California.
Greeninger has just put the finishing touches on his second
album, Back to You, on which he is joined by local Santa
Cruz favorite, Water. Doors open at 5:15 p.m.; the show starts
at 6:15 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door, Arboretum
members, $10.
Thursday, May 19--Linda Tillery & The Cultural Heritage
Choir
In 1992, Linda Tillery came across a treasure trove of field
recordings of traditional African American music. Within months
she had assembled the Cultural Heritage Choir, a six-member
ensemble to perform spirituals, work and play songs, field hollers,
and other slave songs in the folk tradition. The group is one
of the vital performing ensembles in its field, bringing traditional
forms of African American culture to the stage. In addition
to songs and chants, delivered through such stylistic forms
as call-and-response, multilayered harmonies, and repetitive
verse, the CHC repertoire includes intoned sermons, folk tales,
polyrhythmic percussion, and dance.
Thursday, June 16--The Cypress Quartet
Founded in 1996 in San Francisco, the Cypress String Quartet
has performed to great acclaim at prominent venues worldwide,
playing sold-out concerts at the Kennedy Center, the Ravinia
Festival, and Stanford Lively Arts. Praised by the Los Angeles
Times for their "musical astuteness and virtuoso resources,"
quartet members Cecily Ward, Tom Stone, Ethan Filner, and Jennifer
Kloetzel strive to reach a large and diverse audience through
an extensive touring schedule and an array of innovative education
and outreach programs. The quartet is also widely known as a
champion of American music. Having commissioned and performed
10 original works by leading American composers, the Cypress
recently won an Aaron Copland Award.
Thursday, July 21--Quetzal
From Los Angeles, Quetzal has built a strong reputation as
a catalyst for Chicano/Latino music. Blending a variety of music
traditions--including son, vera cruz, rock n' roll, and
traditional Mexican ballads--Quetzal has created a new music
scene reflecting the diverse mix of Mexican sounds in the United
States. In the past several years, the six-member group has
toured extensively with artists such as Taj Mahal, Ozomatli,
and Los Lobos. The group also has two full-length albums to
its credit, the self-titled Quetzal and the 2003 release
Sing The Real, produced by Los Lobos' Steve Berlin.
Thursday, August 18th--Dave Ellis Trio
Tenor saxophonist Dave Ellis was named Best New Talent (along
with Diana Krall) in the 1997 Jazziz magazine Readers
Poll. In 1992, Ellis became a pioneer in California's nascent
"new jazz" movement, teaming up with eight-string
guitarist Charlie Hunter and drummer Jay Lane to form the immensely
popular Charlie Hunter Trio. After recording for Les Claypool's
Prawn Song label, the trio signed to Blue Note, which brought
them national attention. State of Mind, his debut recording
for Milestone, has received international acclaim and was selected
as the 2004 California Music Award for Outstanding Jazz Album
of the Year.
Thursday, September 15--Patrick Landeza
Patrick Landeza is considered to be a leading performer of Hawaiian
slack key guitar, or ki ho'alu, one of the world's great acoustic
guitar traditions. His career highlights include becoming the
first slack key artist to perform the national anthem at a major
league baseball game and opening for legendary Hawaiian musicians
Israel "Bruddah Iz" Kamakawiwo'ole, Keali'i Reichel,
and HAPA. Noted pianist and ki ho'alu player George Winston
says "Patrick Landeza is one of the best and most dedicated
of the new generation of slack key players."
For more information and directions go to http://arboretum.ucsc.edu,
e-mail Stephen McCabe
at the Arboretum, or
call (831) 427-2998.
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