Cotuit Center For The Arts Announces February Concerts

The Cotuit Center For The Arts has announced February concerts from Greg Abate, The George Gritzbach Band, and Rebecca Parris.

Purchase tickets online by visiting www.CotuitCenterForTheArts.org or call the Box Office at 508-428-0669.

Greg Abate

Greg Abate jazz saxophonist, flutist, composer continues as an International Jazz/Recording Artist with 150 days a year touring the globe. In the mid 70's after finishing a four year program at Berklee College of Music, Greg played lead alto for the Ray Charles Orchestra for 2 years.

Greg recorded his first CD Live at Birdland NYC in 1991 on the Candid Jazz Label with the trio of James Williams, Rufus Reid and Kenny Washington. To this date Greg has recorded over 12 other recordings and was nominated for a Grammy for his 2004 recording EVOLUTION in four categories. James Williams, Harvie S. and Billy Hart comprised the trio.

Greg is also an adjunct professor of Jazz Studies at Rhode Island College and is also a very active jazz clinician with sponsorship from the Conn-Selmer Instrument Co., conducting workshops and master classes through the U.S and abroad. 

Greg Abate performs Saturday, February 13, 2010 at 8:00 pm. Tickets are $20.

The George Gritzbach Band 

A three-piece band--drums, bass, and guitar; the music is blues/R&B based, we play a good deal of funk and New Orleans. What distinguishes our live performances are a healthy dose of slide guitar and the addition of racked harmonica, as well as high quality original compositions.
We play up-tempo material with the addition of a ballad or two per set. We consider ourselves a high-energy R&B dance band. That being said, we have the flexibility to go unplugged and play an acoustic set for a concert or coffee house crowd. At this time, we go by the George Gritzbach Band. George has shared the stage with: B. B. King, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Bonnie Raitt, Professor Longhair, Odetta, Taj Mahal, Libba Cotton, John Jackson, Little Feat, John Hammond, Bukka White, Mississippi John Hurt, Saffire, Robert Cray, Luther Guitar Johnson, Dr. John, Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown, James Cotton, koko Taylor, and Toni Lynn Washington.

The George Gritzbach Band performs Saturday, February 20, 2010 at 8:00 pm. Tickets are $20.

Rebecca Parris

Rebecca Parris was born in Newton, Massachusetts on December 28, 1951. She was born of a family of musicians and educators. Rebecca performed from the age of 6, mostly in musical theatre. Her parents encouraged her to pursue the study of music. She studied with world-famous vocal coach, Blair MacClosky (her uncle) and attended the Boston Conservatory. Rebecca started her professional career in music working with various top 40's bands in the Northeast. She found that she preferred singing jazz and embarked upon a career in the jazz world. Rebecca has performed all over the world with her own groups, as well as with some of jazz's greatest legends, including Dizzy Gillespie, Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, Terry Gibbs, David "Fathead" Newman, Norman Simmons. Harold Jones, Andy Simpkins, Gerry Wiggins, Bill Cunliffe, Red Mitchell, Buster Cooper, Nat Pierce, and many others.

Rebecca Parris performs Saturday, February 27, 2010 at 8:00 pm. Tickets are $35.

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