March 29, 2024
Annapolis, US 46 F

Classical meets jazz at Unitarian Universalist Church next Friday

The Clazzical Project blends classical pieces with jazz renditions and humor and comes to Annapolis, Friday April 24, 8 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis. Don Stapleson (flute), Pete Fields (guitar)and Fred Lieder (cello) pictured above will be joined by guest pianist Brian Ganz.
The Clazzical Project blends classical pieces with jazz renditions and humor and comes to Annapolis, Friday April 24, 8 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis. Don Stapleson (flute), Pete Fields (guitar)and Fred Lieder (cello) pictured above will be joined by guest pianist Brian Ganz.

On Friday, April 24, at 8 pm the Clazzical Project comes to Annapolis.  Pianist Brian Ganz will play classical pieces while the Clazzical Project trio then blends each classical piece with jazz renditions and humorous ?anecdotes? designed to educate and entertain.  Featured are Don Stapleson (flute), Pete Fields (guitar), Fred Lieder (cello) and guest pianist Brian Ganz.  The concert will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis (UUCA), 333 Dubois Road.    The program is part of the ?Fourth Friday?concert series featuring Brian Ganz and Friends, offered monthly to benefit the UUCA church?s work. Tickets are $15 at the door. For more information, visit www.uuannapolis.org/slider/fourth-friday or call410-266-8044, Monday-Thursday.

During the evening Brian Ganz will play the original classical pieces (adapting piano concerto for piano only)followed by Clazzical Project artists with their jazz interpretation and commentary.  The pieces to be performed are: Beethoven Moonlight Sonata, first movement followed by Moonlight Samba; Chopin Nocturne in F minor, Op. 55, No. 1 followed by Swing in F minor; Chopin Prelude in E minor, Op. 28, No. 4 followed by Antonio Carlos Jobim’s How Insensitive (based on Chopin’s theme); Mozart Piano Concerto in C major,K. 467, 2nd movement (“Elvira Madigan”) followed by The Blueberry Madigan; and Eric Satie Gymnopdie No. 1 followed by a jazz version of the same name.

The Clazzical Project group is a cross between classical and jazz and aptly coined by the group as ?outside the ?Bachs? making it accessible to music lovers of all kinds. After hearing the classical rendition you will enjoy ?ingenious and beautiful juxtaposition of jazz treatments against iconic classical melodies?according to Jeffrey Silberschlag, Music Director of Chesapeake Orchestra and Italy?s Alba Music Festival. The performance will take you on a journey of mind bending ?What ifs?; combining famous classical works with improvisational jazz.  Through stories both fictional and funny, commentaries on each piece include an almost believable fantasy allowing you to imagine the possibility of unusual musical classical composer and jazz artist meet ups surprising the listener again and again.  

The Classical Project trio combines known freelancers who discovered their mutual love of improvisation, storytelling and their outside the box music tastes. Don Stapleson (flute) is director of the St. Mary?s College Jazz Bands and performs with his group, ?The Don Stapleson Quartet? and has performed with Ray Charles,Wayne Newton, Nancy Wilson, and Martha Reeves. Pete Fields (guitar) has mastered diverse musical styles and unique guitar techniques with performance in the U.S. and Europe.  His repertoire ranges from classical guitar, jazz, and Latin music. His release ?Stillness of the Heart,? is a collection of compositions for classical guitar and has received airplay throughout the country. Fred Lieder (cello) has been a fixture on the Washington area music scene playing classical, jazz, blues, rock and Celtic.  He has arranged rock tunes for solo cello including works by the Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Jimi Hendrix, and Carlos Santana.  Lieder released his solo instrumental tunes on ?Cello Blues? and his first book My Cello Has the Blues.

Guest pianist Brian Ganz is known for his mastery of classical music and is considered a leading pianist of his generation. He has performed world-wide with major symphonies and just completed his fifth sold-out Strathmore ?Extreme Chopin recital in February.

This month’s program, April 24, is one of a year-long concert series offered monthly on the 4th Friday at 8PM at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis (UUCA). Individual tickets are $15, and a “Friday five-pack” can be obtained at the door for $60, allowing the purchaser to attend multiple concerts at a discount or bring guests to a single concert. The May 22 concert will feature local favorite, the Unified Jazz Ensemble with an innovative program of jazz standards and original pieces. See www.uuannapolis.org/slider/fourth-friday for more information and future programming.

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