Mariano Vidal and Alex Brown Set for Union City Christmas Concert, 12/9

Mayor Brian P. Stack & Board of Commissioners announce that the City of Union City will be presenting "The Union City Christmas Concert" featuring two highly acclaimed musicians,  renown tenor Mariano Vidal and accomplished pianist Alex Brown, on Friday, December 9, 2011 at 7:00 PM at the Union City Performing Arts Center.  "The Union City Christmas Concert" promises to be an elegant evening of live theatre full of memorable holiday music. 

Mariano Vidal first studied voice with Victor Molil and Tonia D’Andrea at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Fort Lee, New Jersey. A singer of epic eclectic proportions, his repertoire includes opera, operetta, zarzuela, Broadway, standards, plus Neapolitan, Cuban and other Latin American songs. He made his operatic debut with the Delaware Valley Opera in Don Pasquale, and followed with leading roles in The Student Prince, The Merry Widow and Eugene Onegin. He continues to perform in concert with the same Company.
 
After taking first prize in the Alta Classica Vocal Competition in ’98, he went on to sing the lead tenor roles in La Tabernera del Puerto, El Duo de la Africana, El Retablo de Maese Pedro (with the New York Virtuosi Chamber Symphony) and Maria La O, at the historic Town Hall in New York City.
 
Over the years, Mariano has become Paquito D’Rivera’s favorite tenor. The multi-Grammy award winning artist has invited Mariano to sing in stages ranging from NJPAC to Weil Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, where Mariano premiered excerpts from Paquito’s Cecilio Valdes, a parody of the famed Cuban zarzuela. 

Setting the tone for the second decade of the 21st century, pianist Alex Brown kicked it off with a feature article in the January 2010 issue of Keyboard Magazine.  His reputation continues expanding via his notable performances with everyone from innovative saxophonist Miguel Zenon to the legendary Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.  A member of the Paquito D’Rivera’s ensemble since 2007, he shared in that ensemble’s 2010 Grammy nomination for D’Rivera’s album, Jazz-Clazz.  OF Brown’s 2010 debut CD with his own ensemble, Pianist (Sunnyside), DownBeat magazine proclaimed it “A really fine record that leaves you wanting more.”  This just a year after his 2009 graduation with a Bachelor of Music from New England Conservatory where he studied with Danilo Perez and Charlie Banacos, among others.  Due to his diverse influences, Classical, rhythm & blues, hip-hop, Afro-Caribbean and Brazilian styles all co-mingle – naturally and infectiously – in Brown’s music.  Doubtlessly, this versatility contributed to his collecting an array of student and young composer awards from ASCAP, DownBeat Magazine and BMI, propelling him towards a professional career.  Now in Alex Brown’s rear-view mirror are appearances at top jazz venues and festivals, including: Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater, Birdland, and the Blue Note in New York (and Tokyo), Blues Alley in Washington DC, the Heineken Jazz Festival and Israel’s Red Sea Jazz Festival.  The understated virtuosity of pianist Alex Brown is a clear indication that reports of jazz music’s demise are greatly exaggerated.  
    
Kick-off the Holiday Season with this warm and elegant show!!!  Admission to the performance is free.  Free parking is available at the 23rd Street Parking Deck located on 23rd Street between Summit and Kerrigan Avenues.
"Union City Christmas Concert"
Friday, December 9, 2011 @ 7:00 PM

Union City Performing Arts Center - UCPAC
2500 Kennedy Boulevard
Union City, NJ
Free Admission
Free Parking at the 23rd Street Parking Deck
For more information, visit:  www.UnionCityPAC.com

To post a comment, you must register and login.