T0W3RS, the Chad Eby Quartet, Conductor Christopher James Lees, and Heather Maloney
T0W3RS
The music of TOW3RS has gone through a radical evolution in its brief history. The brain child of singer Derek Torres, what was once a 5 piece indie rock band has now become a one man dance party with depth. Tow3rs' music combines organic rock instrumentation and electronic sounds with sincere lyrics and melodies that are guaranteed to get stuck in your head.
The album TL;DR (which is internet slang for too long, didn't read) was released Tuesday by Winston-Salem's Phuzz Records. Its available on CD, online, and a white 12” vinyl. Tow3rs is playing a release party Saturday at The Garage, and he'll be treating the audience to a somewhat rare 8 piece band performance.
http://youtu.be/W0UXZfFNtq8
Phuzz Records is the label started by Philip Pledger & Drew Braden, which began as an offshoot of the Phuzz Phest Music Festival, and as a way to release their band Estrangers' LP. Philip & Drew also stopped by to talk about the TOW3RS release, and the first year of Phuzz Records.
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Chad Eby and "The Sweet Shel Suite"
Jazz Times calls him “a consummate improviser”, and AllAboutJazz.com “wholly satisfying”. Saxophonist and UNC Greensboro Associate Professor of Music Chad Eby has just completed a “wholly satisfying” new CD inspired by the poetry of Shel Silverstein. “The Sweet Shel Suite” features Chad on tenor, alto and soprano sax alongside all-star colleagues Brandon Lee on trumpet, bassist Steve Haines, and outstanding UNCG alumnus drummer Daniel Faust.
Today's show features That's “Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me, Too” from the new album. Chad's association with Silverstein's poetry dates back to early childhood and collections like “Where the Sidewalk Ends”. But he says he's become even more attached to the poems as an adult, reading them aloud to his children.
The album cover is an original drawing of the quartet by Emily Maynard in the unmistakable style of Shel Silverstein. The Chad Eby Quartet album release concert is Saturday night, November 15th at 8:00 pm in the UNCG School of Music Recital Hall. Incredibly this performance, with some of the finest jazz musicians you're liable to hear is free and open to the public. There'll be CDs for sale there of course.
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Christopher James Lees
You know, to make it in the classical music world today—just like the jazz world—you've got to be pretty amazing. Bring your violin to a typical symphony audition and, depending on the group, you might find yourself warming up alongside 400 or more other equally determined violinists, just as hungry as you are, and ready to duke it out for one chair in the orchestra. But at least there are lots of violinists in every orchestra, and they do tend to move around from orchestra to orchestra…occasionally.
Now picture a conductor audition. First off there's only one Music Director in an orchestra. And, after years and years of training, guest conducting, assistant conducting, and waiting on the bench, once they've got the gig, an orchestra all their own, they're not really all that anxious to leave.
Christopher James Lees made his debut with the L.A. Philharmonic—one of the world's finest orchestras—as a recipient of the prestigious Dudamel Fellowship. Conductor Gustavo Dudamel is the 21st century version of Leonard Bernstein—the 33 year old Venezuelan LA Phil Music Director truly is all that and a bag of chips. Anyhoo, Gustavo loves Christopher James Lees' conducting work, and so will you. He's now in his 14th week leading the UNC School of the Arts Orchestra where he's also associate professor of conducting. This weekend Christopher James Lees will lead the orchestra in a performance of Sir Edward Elgar's Enigma Variations, and Benjamin Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra.
You can see Christopher in action up on the podium, waving his baton and leading the UNCSA Orchestra this Saturday night in the Stevens Center, 405 West Fourth Street in Winston-Salem. The concert of music by Britten and Elgar kicks off at 7:30 pm.
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Heather Maloney
Singer/songwriter Heather Maloney has a dynamic, expressive sound that she says is influenced by "adventure folk."
Her lyrics, as The Huffington Post writes, "cut to the chase." Music writer and New York Times contributor Val Haller noticed her voice - "if I'd closed my eyes" she writes, "it could have been Joni Mitchell".
Maloney will be bringing her insightful lyrics and memorable voice to Winston-Salem next week when she performs as part of Roots Revival Stage on November 19th at Centenary United Methodist Church. There will be a brief worship service centered around one of Heather's songs, followed by an hour-long concert. The event is free and open to the public, but guests are asked to reserve a space.
Maloney is currently at work on her next full-length album, and she spoke with Bethany Chafin by phone from Nashville. Maloney shared when and how she began her journey as a singer/songwriter.
http://youtu.be/lyotn-3qycM
Triad Arts Weekend Watch: What else is going on in your community this weekend?
- He's one of the greatest guitarists of all time: Grammy-nominated virtuoso Paul Galbraith comes to UNC School of the Arts this weekend as part of the 2014 UNCSA Guitar Festival with events occurring throughout the day. He'll perform new music, and his own transcriptions of works by Mozart and Bach. If you are a fan of guitar, Paul Galbraith will absolutely blow you away! The recital begins Saturday night, November 15th at 7:30 in Watson Hall on the UNCSA campus, 1533 South Main Street, in Winston Salem.
- The UNC Greensboro Theatre Department presents the heartwarming story of a stuffed rabbit who's determined to become real through the love of his owner. “The Velveteen Rabbit” adapted by Janet Allard, and directed by Rachel Briley continues through November 23rd with evening shows at 7:30, weekend matinees at 2pm, and weekday performances at 9:30 am and noon. The North Carolina Theatre for Young People performances will be in the Taylor Theatre at UNCG, 406 Tate Street, in Greensboro.
- Krankies Coffee is closing its gallery space, but there's still time to catch its final exhibition. It's called Wanderlust, and it's a collection of photographs from Haydee Thompson. The photographs capture her experience sailing around Scotland, Holland, France, and Spain. She joined an adventurous couple & friend who undertook a cross-Atlantic trip of epic proportions, and she brought back her experiences, her insights, and a new outlook on her hometown.
- Jeffrey Dean Foster's new album The Arroe came out last week, but the official release party is this Saturday at SECCA. As if you needed another reason beyond great music to attend this event, it's also a benefit for The Shalom Project. Tickets on sale now through theshalomprojectnc.org and jeffreydeanfoster.com.
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