Warner Theatre Jazz Series Continues with Arti Dixson Group Tonight

The Warner Theatre Jazz Series will continue tonight, July 18th with the Arti Dixson Group performing in the Nancy Marine Studio Theatre at 8 pm. Arti is a seasoned performance artist whose list of achievements spans a rich and diverse spectrum of both venue and genre. It was studying with Jack DeJohnette that inspired Arti to pursue a musical career.

He has played with many musicians in the New York and Connecticut region including Eartha Kitt, Tom Elias, Kit Hane, Michael Bolton, Brian Torff, Ali Ryerson, Blue Lou Marini, Joe Beck,and many more.

In 1993, Arti played in a jazz trio with a string quartet and pianist Ahmad Jamal at Carnegie Hall. Following that, he toured the world and recorded with Ahmad for the next year. Upon his return to the states, Arti began working at the Foxwoods Casino as one of the house drummers where he played with many of the groups that came there includingHarry Connick, The Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Connie Francisand Ray Cousins.

Arti has put his own band together to perform jazz education concerts and workshops throughout the school systems in Connecticut for Young Audiences. He is a member of theMusic Teachers National Association. He has recorded many albums and CDs with a host of singers and musicians from Boston to Philadelphia. He currently his playing percussion on a project written by Cuban composer Jorge Martin with Yehuda Hananni on cello and Bill Schimmel on accordion scheduled to be recorded in November as well as his own solo project.

Tickets are $35 and $40 and can be purchased by calling the Warner Box Office at 860-489-7180 or at www.warnertheatre.org.

Warner Jazz Series is sponsored by Sharon Hospital.

Built by Warner Brothers Studios and opened in 1931 as a movie palace (1,772 seats), the Warner Theatre was described then as "Connecticut's Most Beautiful Theatre." Damaged extensively in a flood, the Warner was slated for demolition in the early 1980s until the non-profit Northwest Connecticut Association for the Arts (NCAA) was founded and purchased the theatre. The Warner reopened as a performing arts center in 1983, and restoration of the main lobbies and auditorium was completed in November 2002. In 2008, the new 50,000 square foot Carole and Ray Neag Performing Arts Center, which houses a 300 seat studio theatre, 200 seat restaurant and expansive school for the arts, was completed. Today, the Warner is in operation year-round with more than 160 performances and 100,000 patrons passing through its doors each season. Over 10,000 students, pre K-adult, participate in arts education programs and classes. Together, with the support of the community, the Warner has raised close to $17 million to revitalize its facilities. NCAA's mission is to preserve the Warner Theatre as an historic landmark, enhance its reputation as a center of artistic excellence and a focal point of community involvement, and satisfy the diverse cultural needs of the region. To learn more about the Warner Theatre, visit our website: www.warnertheatre.org.

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