On the first half of this double-header concert, Contemporary Improvisation students, faculty, and friends will explore the songs of Randy Newman. By turns satirical, heartbreakingly poignant, and darkly humorous, these songs often feature dramatic characters, sometimes thoroughly unsavory protagonists, through whose eyes we see the world.
The second half of the concert celebrates the 25th anniversary of NEC's Jewish Music Ensemble, (Hankus Netsky, director) which gave birth to the renowned Klezmer Conservatory Band and other contemporary klezmer performers. The program will focus mainly on Hasidic traditions, with arrangements for strings, saxophone, and clarinet, and a guest appearance by the Nigun Chamber Ensemble, directed by Yelena Neplok.
The concert at 8 p.m. in NEC's Jordan Hall is free and open to the public. The pieces performed on the first half are:
The Music of Randy Newman
Scott Sandvik, Director
All songs: music and lyrics by Randy Newman
Back On My Feet Again
The Patrons: Ryan Barrett - vocals, drums; Jonah Kraut - vocals, guitar; Cory Bortnicker piano; Julian Hill - bass; Matthew Riley congas; Tanya Jacobs, Heather Masse, and Rachael Price, background vocals.
Cowboy
Christopher McDonald, voice, piano, laptop; Jessyka Luzzi, voice.
Living Without You Sean Wood, voice; Hankus Netsky, piano.
The World Isn't Fair
Colin Stack, vocal & piano.
Let's Burn Down the Cornfield
Dana Sandler, voice; Pat Donaher, bass clarinet; Sasha Brown, electric guitar: Adam Clark, drums.
I Think It's Going to Rain Today
Gar Ragland, voice, guitar.
Same Girl
Elden Kelly, guitar.
Texas Girl at the Funeral of her Father
Vanessa Morris, voice; Scott Sandvik, guitar.
Lonely At the Top / Zayn Be-rosh Heyst Zayn Aleyn
Jewish Music Ensemble; Hankus Netsky, director; Tanya Jacobs, vocal; Marissa Licata, violin; Michael Winograd, clarinet; Jaime Branch, trumpet; Daniel Blacksberg, trombone; Samuel Kunstler, cello; Christopher McDonald, piano; Karl Doty, bass; Tom Monahan, drums.
In Germany Before the War
Ran Blake, piano.
For more information, call the NEC Concert Line at (617) 585-1122 or visit NEC on the web at www.newenglandconservatory.edu/concerts.
ABOUT NEW ENGLAND CONSERVATORY
Recognized nationally and internationally as a leader among music schools, New England Conservatory offers rigorous training in an intimate, nurturing community to 750 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral music students from around the world. Its faculty of 225 boasts internationally esteemed artist-teachers and scholars. Its alumni go on to fill orchestra chairs, concert hall stages, jazz clubs, recording studios, and arts management positions worldwide. Nearly half of the Boston Symphony Orchestra is composed of NEC trained musicians and faculty.
The oldest independent school of music in the United States, NEC was founded in 1867 by Eben Tourjee. Its curriculum is remarkable for its wide range of styles and traditions. On the college level, it features training in classical, jazz, Contemporary Improvisation, world and early music. Through its Preparatory School, School of Continuing Education, and Community Collaboration Programs, it provides training and performance opportunities for children, pre-college students, adults, and seniors. Through its outreach projects, it allows young musicians to engage with non-traditional audiences in schools, hospitals, and nursing homes-thereby bringing pleasure to new listeners and enlarging the universe for classical music and jazz.
NEC presents more than 600 free concerts each year in Jordan Hall, its world- renowned, 100-year old, beautifully restored concert hall. These programs range from solo recitals to chamber music to orchestral programs to jazz and opera scenes. Every year, NEC's opera studies department also presents two fully staged opera productions at the Cutler Majestic Theatre in Boston.
NEC is co-founder and educational partner of “From the Top," a weekly radio program that celebrates outstanding young classical musicians from the entire country. With its broadcast home in Jordan Hall, the show is now carried by more than two hundred stations throughout the United States.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
