Grammy-Winning eighth blackbird Performs at UW's Jones Playhouse Tonight

eighth blackbird combines the virtuosity of a string quartet with the energy of a rock band and the audacity of a storefront theater company. The three-time Grammy-winning "super-musicians" (Los Angeles Times) make music full of ideas and surprises. With their program, Still in Motion, the ensemble takes audiences on a witty, mind-bending, and atmospheric musical road trip. The all-acoustic recital features works by an adventurous new breed of contemporary composers, including two indie musicians, The National's Bryce Dessner and Arcade Fire's Richard Reed Parry, who prove that contemporary music is not just for a cerebral few.

eighth blackbird will be performing tonight, February 7, 2015 at Jones Playhouse on the University of Washington campus at 7:30pm.

Program:

Bryce Dessner: Murder Ballades
Sean Griffin: Pattycake
Richard Reed Parry: Duo for Heart and Breath
Lee Hyla: Wave
Gabriella Smith: Number Nine
Tom Johnson: Counting Duets
György Ligeti: Études (arr. for sextet)

For tickets, visit uwworldseries.org or call 206-543-4880.

About eighth blackbird - Three-time Grammy Award winners, the Chicago-based string quartet, eighth blackbird, entertains and provokes audiences across the country and around the world.

Colombine's Paradise Theatre is eighth blackbird's new staged, memorized production hailed as a "tour de force" by The Washington Post. Composer Amy Beth Kirsten challenges the sextet to play, speak, sing, whisper, growl and mime, breathing life into this tale of dream and delusion. The 2014/15 season kicked off with a performance at Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art followed by a season-opening performance at The Miller Theater in New York.

The season's acoustic program, Still in Motion, features new works by The National's Bryce Dessner (the folk-inspired Murder Ballades), Lee Hyla, Sean Griffin and rising star Gabriella Smith. eighth blackbird brings this show to Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York, Washington (Seattle's Meany Hall), and Hawaii.

Other highlights include the premiere of Hand Eye, a new work for eighth blackbird by the superstar composer collective Sleeping Giant, in a debut at Brooklyn Academy of Music in collaboration with LA Dance Project, and a New Orleans-inspired romp with special guest singer-songwriter-accordionist Michael Ward-Bergeman at Symphony Space in New York. To top it off, the group will conduct guest residencies at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and a multi-visit residency at the Interlochen Center for the Arts.

eighth blackbird holds ongoing Ensemble in Residence positions at the Curtis Institute of Music, University of Richmond and University of Chicago. A decade-long relationship with Chicago's Cedille Records has produced six acclaimed recordings. The ensemble has won three Grammy Awards, for the recordings strange imaginary animals, Lonely Motel: Music from Slide and Meanwhile.

eighth blackbird's members hail from America's Great Lakes, Keystone, Golden and Bay states, and Australia's Sunshine State. There are four foodies, three beer snobs and one exercise junkie. The name "eighth blackbird" derives from the eighth stanza of Wallace Stevens's evocative, aphoristic poem, "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird" (1917). eighth blackbird is managed by David Lieberman Artists.

About UW World Series - The UW World Series is one of Seattle's leading performing arts organizations, presenting innovative, provocative, and diverse international artists in music, theater and dance. Over 500 visiting artists from around the world have performed as part of the UWWS. The eclectic mix of programming has given Northwest audiences a broad view of the world of performing arts, from sampling unique cultural traditions to experiencing innovative new works that expand the scope and direction of contemporary performing arts. The UW World Series' mission includes supporting the educational goals of the University of Washington by providing extensive arts learning opportunities for UW students and faculty, area school children and teachers, and members of the community at large.

Purchase tickets: Call 206-543-4880, or order online at uwworldseries.org. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the ArtsUW Ticket Office, located at 1313 NE 41st. Or fax your order to the Ticket Office at 206-685-4141. Tickets are subject to availability. Artists, dates, programs and prices are subject to change.

Prices: Regular single tickets are $25. Discounts are available for students, seniors (65+), UW Alumni Association members and UW employees. UW student tickets start at $10. Discount tickets are subject to availability.

Location and parking: Jones Playhouse is located at 4045 University Way NE at the intersection of NE 41st and University Way NE. Parking is available in the Central Parking Garage (entrance at 15th Avenue and 41st Street). On-street metered parking is also available.

Accessibility: The University of Washington is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation contact the Disability Services Office at least ten days in advance at: 206.543.6450/V, 206.543.6452/TTY, 206.685.7264 (FAX), or e-mail at dso@u.washington.edu.

Disability seating with up to three companion seats per disability space is available for all UWWS events. Reservations for disability seating must be made at the time of purchase. Please contact the ArtsUW Ticket Office at 206-543-4880 for specific seating options and availability.

To post a comment, you must register and login.