by Max Newman
The Oberlin Chamber Orchestra, a flagship ensemble of the Oberlin Conservatory, delivered a sterling performance at Finney Chapel on the evening of April 3. Under the direction of Raphael Jiménez, the performance featured three pieces of varying styles and moods, all played with aplomb.
The technical ability on display was brilliant. One of the more impressive aspects of the performance was the ability of the players to maintain an unerring control of dynamics. [Read more…]
by Max Newman
Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla may have passed away over thirty years ago, but his contributions to the tango music genre are truly eternal.
“Even in his sweetest melodies, there are things that are powerful,” said Derek Snyder, the self-described “de-facto leader” of the Oblivion Project, a musical group that has been performing and exploring the works of Piazzolla for over twenty years.
The project will take the stage at the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Gartner Auditorium on Friday, March 28 at 7:30 pm. Tickets available online. I was lucky to get to speak to both Snyder and Malena Dayen, the project’s vocalist, over the phone prior to the performance.
by Max Newman
One of the most wonderful things about the annual Tri-C JazzFest is the wide range of artists that are on display. Free jazz, modal jazz, bebop, and more, have all graced Playhouse Square’s theaters.
On the evening of June 22, this trend continued, as the crowd in the Allen Theater was given a masterclass in Brazilian jazz by guitarist Diego Figueiredo. The performer, hailing from Sao Paulo, was absolutely dazzling, and solidified his Reputation as one of the most technically skilled contemporary jazz guitarists around.
Jazz critic Scott Yanow once wrote that “Diego has the rare ability of making everything sound beautiful.” And he’s right. No matter what the guitarist was playing — samba, bossa-nova, flamenco, or anything else across the jazz spectrum — it was almost hypnotizing. Every single pluck of the string, every single strum lingered, making its effect, no matter how loud or soft.
by Max Newman
On the afternoon of June 22, the New York-based quintet ARTEMIS graced the stage at Tri-C JazzFest 2024 and did not disappoint. Filling the Mimi Ohio Theatre with mesmerizing sound, this was undoubtedly one of the most impressive performances of the festival this year.
The performance immediately followed “Flying Home: a Trumpet Summit,” which celebrated generations of Tri-C alumni. The blistering whirlwind of intricate soloing and grooving rhythms was the perfect lead-in to the groundbreaking sonic experimentation of the main act.
by Max Newman
“It’s everything. To have a project like this is something that makes you evolve as a human.”
That’s how Mexican DJ, producer, percussionist, and vocalist Paulina Sotomayor describes her Pahua project which bridges the gap between alternative electronic music and Latin rhythms.
On July 10 at 7:30 pm she will bring her talents to the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Transformer Station as part of CMA’s City Stages series of free outdoor concerts that feature the best in global music.
And Pahua certainly is that. With over fifteen million streams on music platforms, the artist is thrilled about the upcoming concert. “It’s my first time in Cleveland. I am really excited and we are going to try to do something super special.”
by Max Newman
If there’s anything to be said about legendary acapella sextet Take 6, it’s that the group has most certainly still got it. This was apparent on the evening of June 20 as the ensemble took the stage at the Mimi Ohio Theatre at Playhouse Square. The concert was the perfect introduction to Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland 2024, with a timeless musical performance and an incredible level of energy to boot.
by Max Newman
This year’s ENCORE Music & Ideas Festival, themed around “Planet Earth,” graced the Cleveland area with some brilliant performances over the course of this month. One of those came on the evening of June 14, when Oberlin Conservatory played host to the series.
Violinist and founder Jinjoo Cho, violinist Mathieu Herzog, and pianist Hyunsoo Kim starred in a terrific performance at Warner Concert Hall. The event also featured a conversation with Chris Stanton, the Senior Naturalist at Lorain County Metro Parks, which perfectly served ENCORE’s season theme as an ode to the natural world.
by Max Newman
The 2024 edition of ChamberFest Cleveland has already seen a variety of wonderful events since its opening on June 12. However, the June 16 musical celebration of “CFC at the Nature Center: Music on the Path,” was the perfect addition to ChamberFest’s diverse programming and undoubtedly put a smile on the faces of all who attended.
Centered around the parking lot of the Nature Center, the sunlit late-morning event at Shaker Lakes had an inviting, family-friendly atmosphere. [Read more…]
by Max Newman
Every year, the James Stroud Classical Guitar Competition provides audiences with a look at some of the most talented young musicians aged 13-18 that our nation has to offer. And the competition’s fifth edition did not disappoint.
On the evening of June 9 at the Cleveland Institute of Music’s Mixon Hall, the competition’s four finalists went toe-to-toe over the course of an hour that was as much a joyous celebration of music as it was an entertaining competition.
Although Californian Elle Davisson, a 16-year-old native of the Bay Area, eventually came out on top with the grand prize, all the performers showcased astonishing skill and should come away feeling proud. [Read more…]
by Max Newman
In addition to the stellar indoor lineup, there will be a myriad of talented artists featured on the outdoor stage at this year’s Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland, to be held June 20-22 at Playhouse Square. One to keep an eye on is New York-based trombonist and composer Sam Blakeslee, who will be performing on Friday, June 21 at 6:45 pm as the bandleader of the Sam Blakeslee Large Group.
Blakeslee is cherishing the opportunity. “I have a pretty close relationship with Tri-C,” he told me during a telephone conversation. “When I was still living in Cleveland, I was the director of the JazzFest Academy, and then I taught trombone lessons at the College. I’m very grateful they’ve been supportive of me to come through and work with the students a couple of times a year, but this is the first time since 2017 that I’ll be performing with my own band. So it will be a nice reunion of sorts.”