Andre Feriante and Michael Powers Play Triple Door, 9/17

Many times over the past 20 years these two gifted NW musicians have crossed paths and shared their passion for guitars on stage. Now, for the first time, Andre Feriante, and Michael Powers will connect on stage and bond over a new "unlikely love" -the ukulele.

Feriante plans to play multiple guitars: a classical arch-top for music in the mid-evil style; a modern classical by the late Richard Schneider for more modern compositions; a traditional jazz guitar; a flamenco and a classical guitar. But with the addition of the ukulele, Feriante and Powers promises to deliver a bit of whimsy and surprise.

Feriante will also sing original songs in both Italian and English along with some poetry. This concert will deliver a mix of originals and standards by everyone from Bach to the Beatles and Leonard Cohen. Powers will perform selections from his newest CD, Urban Ukulele.

A nylon string player from the classical tradition, Feriante's creative blend of classical, flamenco, and Brazilian styles speaks to people from all walks of life--from society sophisticates and blue-collar aficionados to Latin devotees and jazz hipsters. Often called the "People's Guitarist," Feriante brings his sensual, contemporary sound to an otherwise traditional genre. His bittersweet style and skillful playing is likened to Brazilian singer-guitarist Caetano Veloso; his style and sound have been compared to Andres Segovia; and his lyrical style to that of Leonard Cohen. Critics cite Feriante's music for its dreamlike healing quality, much like a piece of Impressionist art. Graceful, elegant, and ardent, he explores the delicate aspects of love and loss.

During the past two-plus decades, he's developed an international following, performing in Europe, South American and throughout the United States. And he continues to receive national and international acclaim. In December 2009, he performed a Christmas concert in Sweden and recently had the honor of playing for Harriett Bullitt at the Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort. Feriante currently hosts "La Guitarra" on Classic King FM 98.1, the Arts Channel. He recently had the honor of performing the Argentinean Anthem at a Sounders soccer game; and his 2011 concert bookings include a Benaroya Hall Valentines concert, a California tour with Brian Nova and a concert or two in the Carribean.

Up NEXT: Andre Feriante with Michael Powers on Friday, September 17, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. at the Triple Door. Tickets are $25 and on sale now at www.thetripledoor.net

ABOUT Andre Feriante - www.andreferiante.com

Over 20 years of performing and recording, award-winning, virtuoso guitarist Andre Feriante has left his musical mark on the classical, world music, and fusion scenes. He was born in Naples Italy and began playing the guitar as a teenager in Rome. At age 17 he traveled to Bogotá to study with the renowned guitarist Henry Rivas and at age 22 he was accepted to study with the legendary Andres Segovia in his Madrid master class. Feriante moved to Seattle in the late 1980s, where he continued performing while embarking upon his career as a recording artist. In the early '90s, he underwent a powerful artistic transition.

Many classical guitarists are slavishly tied to the written music they perform, and Feriante wanted desperately to explore the spontaneous creative expression of improvisation. He began to move away from being simply an interpreter of classical music and to explore new uncharted realms of creativity. Inspired by the metaphysical mysticism of the Sufi poet Rumi, and even by the introverted pop balladry of artists such as Nick Drake, Leonard Cohen, and Tom Waits, he began writing poetry, painting, and penning more innovative pieces of music that incorporated elements from his many musical influences.

A gracefully seasoned performer, with 11 CD to his credit, Feriante has dedicated his life to music, and his innovative, effortless style appeals to music lovers of all kinds. For Feriante, making art is about the universal search for healing and for meaning. It's no longer just about the guitar, or about any instrument, for that matter. Rather, it's about tapping into something less tangible and more unifying those transcendent, ethereal flashes of human communication that take place when we stop simply listening and give ourselves over completely to the experience of a single, wonderful moment.

ABOUT Michael Powers - http://www.michaelpowersmusic.com

Michael was born in New York City in 1960, but grew up in the San Francisco Bay area. His musical career began as therapy, when at the age of 15 he took up strumming the guitar to strengthen his wrist after a skateboard accident. Following his graduation from Berkeley High School when he was 15½, he moved to Seattle and frequented local jam sessions, keeping his fingers on the guitar strings and his mind on making his music reach a wider audience. Says Powers, "I learned how to play by sitting in at as many places as I could, developing eclectic tastes by playing with all types of bands: Jazz, Rock, Blues, R&B, and Top 40. I wanted to learn how to play any kind of music that featured a guitar as a solo voice."

As Michael's musicianship progressed, his interests broadened to include music theory. He enrolled at Seattle's prestigious Cornish College of the Arts where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Composition and Performance in 1982. While at Cornish, Powers studied under composers Gil Evans and Sam Rivers, bassist Gary Peacock, pianist Art Lande, and trombonist Julian Priester. His style was also influenced by a diverse group of musicians which includes Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, Charlie Parker, George Benson, Stanley Jordan, MiLes Davis, and Kevin Eubanks. On stage, Michael has shared performed with, recorded with or shared billings with piano giant Herbie Hancock, classic Jazz saxophonist Eddie "Clean Head" Vinson, B3 master Dr. Lonnie Smith, Ronnie Cuber, Gil Scott Heron, Keiko Matsui, Nancy Wilson, Les McCann, Najee, Tommy Davidson, Dr. Cornel West, the legendary Ray Charles, Afro-pop star King Sunny Ade, Grammy award-winning vocalist Diane Schuur, R&B greats Gladys Knight and the Pips and Atlantic Starr, contemporary Jazz artists Ronny Jordan, Tom Grant, David Benoit, sax great Ernie Watts, the Yellowjackets, and the duo of Tuck & Patti.

"It's hard to categorize my music, although it usually ends up in the Jazz record bins," says Michael. "If I had to put a label on it, I would call it contemporary instrumental music. It's a sound rooted in the Jazz tradition that keeps pace stylistically with Pop, R&B, and Blues; with Blues being at the core of my inspiration." His powerful performances have regularly commanded standing ovations.

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