Bucks County Weaves 'Hammerstein and Sondheim American Songbook' in Morrisville

"The Hammerstein and Sondheim American Songbook Tapestry Woven in Bucks County" production will be presented on Saturday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Yardley Community Center, 64 S Main St, Morrisville, PA.

Presented by Matthew Parrish, it features Paul Jost - Vocals (Arranger), Marianne Solivan - Vocals, Fred Miller - Narrator, Matthew Parrish - Bass (Arranger/Musical Director), Tim Brey - Piano and Paul Wells - Drums.

Some of the songs by Oscar Hammerstein II that will be performed are from such shows as "South Pacific," "High, Wide, and Handsome," "State Fair," "The King and I," "Oklahoma" and "Very Warm for May," Additionally, unforgettable works from Stephen Sondheim include "Company," "Follies," "The Seven Percent Solution," and "Sweeney Todd."

Narration by musical lecturer/actor/musician, Fred Miller, will include historical and anecdotal information focused on the Hammerstein-Sondheim link. Fred will offer accounts of detailed Bucks County connections for certain songs and background on their impetus, including an interesting discussion of the Hammerstein and Sondheim mentoring/student, father/ son-like relationship.

Parrish said, "The two accomplished vocalists, Paul Jost and Marianne Solivan, have exceptional abilities to transmit the beauty and conviction of important Hammerstein and Sondheim works with their voice instruments, whether in single or duet songs. The other musicians won't be 'backing' the vocalists, but will be part of one, unified dedication to relaying all the feeling and complexities of the works."

Paul Jost is a vocalist, drummer, arranger and composer who performs regularly in New York, Philadelphia and New Jersey along with recent tours in South Korea, Ireland and Germany. His solo CD Breaking Through (Dot Time Records) continues to receive raves worldwide. In Jazz in Europe, Peter McLaren wrote, Paul is ... "an artist who deserves to be seen on all great festival stages worldwide." In All About Jazz, Jakob Baekgaard said, "Paul Masters every thinkable nuance of the singer's palette, from lightning-fast scatting to smoky, blues phrasings and elegant crooning." Paul can be heard on SiriusXM radio. Visit www.pauljostmusic.com.

Quickly becoming one of the most buzzed about jazz singers on the New York scene, Marianne Solivan has graced recital halls, jam sessions and club stages with such noted musicians as Roy Hargrove, Steve Lacy, Jeremy Pelt, Ray Gallon (Ron Carter, Lionel Hampton, T.S. Monk), Ugonna Ukegwo (Tom Harrell, Jacky Terrason) and Jane Monheit's sidemen Neal Minor and Michael Kanan. Trumpeter Jeremy Pelt has called her "the modern-day paradigm to which all singers should aspire." Visit www.mariannesolivanjazz.com for more.

For tickets and more information, visit www.bcpac.org/season16/AmericanSongbookinfo. Tickets in advance are $20/$15/$10 and at the door are $25/$18/$10 with cash, check, or credit card. Tickets can be purchased by phone at 215-493-3010. Doors open at 7pm for 7:30 show. Tickets are non-refundable.

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