Maverick Concerts Presents Jazz at the Maverick

Maverick Concerts introduces a new series within its 96th season this year, Jazz at the Maverick.

Jazz at the Maverick will feature performances by three leading artists: clarinetist Don Byron, along with his Ivey-Divey Trio, on August 6; pianist Bill Charlap on August 13; and pianist Uri Caine on August 20.

The Maverick festival has in recent years embraced the idea of broadening the definition of "chamber music" to include almost any small ensemble playing music in a small, fairly intimate setting. Historically, chamber music, which has been with us since the early days of the Renaissance, has gone from being entertainment for the idle aristocracy to being "the music of friends." Some of the most profound and heartfelt compositions in all of music are to be found under its rubric.

In addition to the traditional classical repertoire, the Maverick roster has included, over the past several seasons, folk and world music as well as jazz. This year, Maverick's 96th, the festival has strengthened its commitment to the jazz idiom with three concerts over consecutive Saturdays in August.

And in a change from recent practice, most of Maverick's Saturday concerts have moved from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Concertgoers can plan for a festive night out, not just an early-evening, after-dinner diversion.

Clarinetist Don Byron will be taking the Maverick stage on Saturday, August 6, at 8:00 p.m., for an evening with his Ivey-Divey Trio. Don's has long been a singular voice in an astounding range of musical contexts. He explores a wide variety of musical traditions and continually reaches for what he calls "a sound above genre." Indeed, he continues to redefine every type of music he engages in: classical, salsa, hip-hop, funk, rhythm & blues, klezmer, or any jazz style from swing and bop to cutting-edge downtown improvisation.

Pianist Bill Charlap makes his Maverick debut on Saturday, August 13, at 8:00 p.m. A pianist since the age of three, Bill has recorded seven albums for the Blue Note label, including two Grammy-nominated CDs. He has recorded with many of the greatest jazz masters, including Gerry Mulligan, Benny Carter, Phil Woods, Wynton Marsalis, Tony Bennett and Barbra Streisand. Bill appears at least twice a year for lengthy runs at some of the world's major jazz clubs.

Uri Caine, also making his Maverick debut, will perform a program titled "Mahlerian Journey" on Saturday, August 20, at 8:00 p.m. Uri is an esteemed and prolific composer, performer, and arranger. In addition to his treatments of Mahler, he is well known for his settings of Bach, Beethoven, Wagner, and Schumann. Uri is composer-in-residence of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra and has worked with masters in diverse genres-Don Byron, Dave Douglas, John Zorn, Terry Gibbs, Buddy DeFranco, Clark Terry, Annie Ross, and many others. A recent project combines jazz, funk, instrumental hip-hop, and jazz fusion, and he has been commissioned to write for ensembles like the Seattle Chamber Orchestra and the Beaux Arts Trio.

Maverick Concerts is the oldest continuous summer chamber music festival in America and a winner of the Chamber Music America/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming. Built by Maverick Art Colony founder Hervey White, Maverick Concert Hall first opened its doors to music lovers in 1916. The rustic hall is located at 120 Maverick Road, Woodstock, N.Y. 12498. With acoustics ideally suited to the intimacy of live chamber music performance, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

For additional details, including a schedule of concerts, ticket prices, and seating information, visit www.maverickconcerts.org or call Maverick's recorded message line at 845-679-8217.
Yamaha is the Official Piano of Maverick Concerts. The C7 grand piano in the Maverick Concert Hall is a generous loan from Yamaha Artists Services.

Maverick Concerts is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. "Bernstein and Friends" and the Maverick Concerts 96th season, "The Virtuoso Composer," are supported in part by awards from the National Endowment for the Arts. Construction at the Maverick Concert Hall is supported in part by a Save America's Treasures grant, administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. Maverick Concerts thanks U.S. Congressman Maurice Hinchey for securing this funding. Maverick Concerts is supported in part by funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency; the Maverick Endowment Fund; Friends of Maverick; the towns of Woodstock and Hurley; local businesses; and other public and private foundations.

To post a comment, you must register and login.