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All Star Big Band and Susquehanna String Band to perform at Norwood Village Green July 6, 9

Posted 6/30/14

NORWOOD -- The Norwood Village Green Concert Series will present Tony DeSare as guest artist with the All Star Big Band July 6 and the Susquehanna String Band will perform July 9. The All Star Big …

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All Star Big Band and Susquehanna String Band to perform at Norwood Village Green July 6, 9

Posted

NORWOOD -- The Norwood Village Green Concert Series will present Tony DeSare as guest artist with the All Star Big Band July 6 and the Susquehanna String Band will perform July 9.

The All Star Big Band under the direction of Wally Siebel will perform on Sunday at 7 p.m. and the Susquehanna String Band with Rick Bunting, John Kirk and Dan Duggan will play on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

DeSare, vocalist, pianist and composer has been describes as “The cream of the current crop” Jazztimes, a “Rising Star, Male Vocalist” Downbeat Critics, and “Bobby Darin meets Bobby Short” Wall Street Journal.

Tony DeSare has performed with the major orchestras of America and Canada including the Cleveland Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Pops, Rochester, National (Washington D.C.), Detroit, Philadelphia, NY Pops, Vancouver, Edmonton and National (Ottawa), and prestigious venues such as Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Carlyle and the Algonquin, as well as casinos in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and Connecticut. He has appeared twice on Piano Jazz w/ Marion McPartland. In 2013 he released his fourth CD recording, “Piano”, a solo recording in which he plays a Yamaha acoustic grand as if it were a full orchestra without the use of synthesizers, an amazing feat. He is a national Yamaha artist.

When the All-Star Big Band formed back in the ‘80s, their repertoire consisted of music of the big band era. The audience was well pleased with this fare but the band members needed a creative challenge. Thus started the era of bringing in guest artists who would provide their own arrangements, challenging the sight-reading abilities and sparking the creative juices of the musicians.

As this developed another collaboration evolved. A partnership was formed with Crane Youth Music, a summer music camp for 12-18 year olds. In this partnership the Norwood Village Green Concert Series director chooses a guest artist in consultation with the All Star Big Band director and with the approval of the director of Crane Youth Music. Guest artists are chosen for their music skills and their workshop teaching gifts. The guest artist sends the charts in advance and they are distributed to the band members. These charts are special to the guest artist and may be his/her own compositions or pieces written especially for the artist. Many of these charts are musically challenging.

The Susquehanna String Band was founded in 1979 in Bainbridge on the banks of the Susquehanna River.

Rick Bunting, past chair of music education at the Crane School of Music and formerly the director of Crane Chorus, has long been recognized for his vocal renditions of Scottish airs and ballads. Complimenting this great vocal tradition, Bunting excels instrumentally on banjo, lap dulcimer, concertina and flute.

Dan Duggan is a nationally touring performer and teacher. Dan has recorded four CDs of original compositions and a Family album of original songs. Selections of Dan's recordings, have been aired on National Public Radio. Dan's dulcimer work can also be heard on Paul Simon's Grammy nominated CD "Your The One" released in October of 2000.

John Kirk lyric voice, good sense of humor and versatile instrumental skills have earned him folk music recognition on an international scale. He demonstrates a vast knowledge of musical traditions and teaches at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY, and at Bennington College in Vermont. In addition, John’s been working as a teaching artist for primary and secondary school residences for three decadesHe can be heard on Ken Burns, “The West”, with Jay Ungar, Molly Mason and on other TV, video, radio and theater projects. The Dixie Chicks recorded his song, “Long Roads.”

Admission is free but there is a “pass the bucket.”

For more information about Tony DeSare or the Susquehanna String Band and the rest of the schedule, visit www.nvgcs.org