The Dvorak American Heritage Association will feature An Evening with George Mraz & Friends on Friday, February 26th. World-renowned jazz bassist George Mraz was presented The Medal of the President of The Czech Republic for Lifetime Achievement on his 65th birthday, June 10, 2009 at the Prague Castle. Known for his historic work with jazz icons Stan Getz, Oscar Peterson, Tommy Flanagan and Hank Jones, to name a few, Mraz appears for the first time publicly performing a program consisting entirely of his own compositions with legendary drummer Joey Baron (Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Tony Bennett, David Bowie, and Michael Jackson...) and stellar tenor saxophonist Rich Perry (Thad Jones/Mel Lewis now Vanguard Orchestra, Maria Schneider's Orchestra, Chet Baker, and Billy Hart). This totally original program has been recently recorded on CD and DVD for release later this year.
The Dvorak American Heritage Association (DAHA) offers a series of annual concerts in historic Bohemian NationAl Hall. Aware that among composer Antonin Dvorak's American students were the teachers of Ellington and Gershwin, DAHA has invited master jazz artists such as Jimmy Heath, who did a concert of music by these giants, and now George Mraz, a master born in Dvorak's home country, at the invitation of Musical Advisor, Maurice Peress.
Bohemian NationAl Hall is located on 73rd Street between First and Second Avenues (Easy access via cross-town bus #72 to Second Avenue stop; First Avenue Bus uptown; Second Avenue Bus downtown; or Lexington Avenue Subway 6 to either 77th or 68th Street.) Discounted parking information is available at the Czech Center website at www.czechcenter.com.
Ticket reservations can be made by visiting dvoraknyc.org. On the homepage, click News & Events. To reserve tickets, click on events@dvoraknyc.org. Your reservation will be responded to by e-mail with a reservation number, which you will present at the box office on the evening of the performance and pay at the door $20 general admission/$10 students/seniors.
The event takes place at the Bohemian NationAl Hall, 321 East 73rd Street, a recently restored NYC landmark building dating from 1896.
For more information about George Mraz visit: http://www.georgemraz.com/.
