The Kurt Weill Project, an innovative new quartet created to explore the music of Kurt Weill will debut in a prime time engagement at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, from March 25 to March 29.
Consisting of four highly accomplished musicians -- Hilary Gardner (vocals), Frank Ponzio (piano), Pete Donovan (bass) and Vito Lesczak (drums) -- The Kurt Weill Project premieres "A Song About Forever" featuring songs from the group's debut CD of the same name which was put out last year (Consolidated Artists Productions).
Combining the elegance of classical music, the freewheeling spontaneity of jazz and the drama of theatre, The Kurt Weill Project explores the world of Kurt Weill as if each performance were uncharted territory. Starting from a jazz perspective, with all its improvisational possibilities, "A Song About Forever" incorporates all the classical, theatrical and global influences that stem from Weill's music, and that, in the view of this ensemble, are responsible for the composer's continued resonance with listeners across a wide spectrum of tastes.
One of the group's most intriguing experiments is the pairing of "Mack the Knife" with "Marterl" in which the group, divided in two, juxtaposes arrangements. Several more traditional readings serve as beacons to help the musicians, and the audience, maintain our bearings as the journey forges deeper into the star-filled night.
The vocalist Hilary Gardner has collaborated with the multi-platinum recording artist Moby on original music, and performs frequently with longtime Dizzy Gillespie associate Mike Longo. In 2005 she performed with trumpet star Valery Ponomarev at the Moscow Philharmonic. The pianist Frank Ponzio has served as music director for Jacques D'Amboise National Dance Institute and Heidi Latsky Dance, while performing in major jazz rooms throughout the U.S. and composing for TV commercials, plays and films. Bassist Pete Donovan has played with the New York Philharmonic, The Who, and alongside Bono, Quincy Jones, Wynton Marsalis, Joshua Bell, Jose Carreras, Marilyn Horne, Liza Minnelli, Maureen McGovern and Barbara Cook. The Austrian drummer Vito Lesczak tours extensively and has been a member of the Andy Bey trio since 1997. He has performed and recorded with many jazz legends, including Art Farmer, Clark Terry, Annie Ross & John Hendricks, Mark Murphy, Bob Crenshaw and Larry Goldings.
Like much of Kurt Weill's music, "A Song About Forever" was conceived in the spirit of collaboration. And while each member of the group is an accomplished soloist in his or her own right, the real star of "A Song About Forever" is Kurt Weill himself. The group plans to build on the model of collectively arranging and performing the music of a specific composer for a period of time, but has yet to announce their next choice.
"A Song About Forever" performs 5 times: Wednesday through Saturday March 25, 26, 27, 28, at 7:30pm; and Sunday March 29, at 9:30pm. The music charge is $25. For reservations call 212/206-0440. Rated "Best of New York" by New York Magazine, the Nightlife and Bistro Award-winning Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, celebrates its third anniversary in May. www.metropolitanroom.com
You can hear some of the Kurt Weill Project's recordings at
www.myspace.com/TheKurtWeillProject
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