Arizona Friends of Chamber Music host Calder String Quartet Nov. 3. Photo courtesy of AFCM.
CHAMBER
Arizona Friends of Chamber Music celebrates its 63rd season with impressive programming. AFCM’s Evening Concert Series is held at TCC’s Leo Rich Theater and features six shows by world-renowned artists like Czech Nonet (Oct. 13) and L.A.’s uber-hip Calder String Quartet (Nov. 3), who’ve played from Lincoln Center and Letterman to dank rock clubs. A three-concert Piano and Friends series offers Sunday matinees beginning in October, and the 18th annual Winter Chamber Music Festival takes place March 6-13, 2011. AFCM’s crowning achievement, though, may be their world-class commissioning program, which sponsors and premieres new works by young composers; tune in and turn on at ArizonaChamberMusic.org. – Lee Gutowski
Chamber Music PLUS performances feature an inventive amalgam of classical music, theater and visual arts. Created over three decades ago, the organization says its mission is “to entertain, inform and educate audiences of all ages through innovative and contemporary programming.” The 2010-2011 Rhythms of Life season includes Bolling Bonanza with the CMP Elegant Jazz Piano Quartet and guests (Nov. 28), Vivaldi’s 4 Seasons with Bob Clendenin and Aaron Boyd 9 (Jan. 2), Still'Life'(Jan. 23), God Glimmer starring Harry Clark (Feb. 27) and Lisztian Loves starring Andre Watts (April'3).' Find details at CMPSouthwest.org. – Lee Gutowski
ChamberLab: For a decidedly indie take on chamber music, check out Tucson-by-way-of-Austin transplant Chris Black’s subversive invention, ChamberLab.' The concept: non-classical composers writing music for string chamber ensembles.'The first outing took place in May at The Screening Room; keep an eye on ChrisBlackMusic.com for upcoming events.' – Lee Gutowski
CLASSICAL
The Tucson Symphony Orchestra’s 2010-2011 season has three different series; Classics, Masterworks and Pops. Come to the Classics series at the TCC Music Hall to hear Mozart & Beethoven (October), Tchaikovsky (November), Liszt & Ravel (February) and Brahms (March). The Masterworks series, presented at the Catalina Foothills High School, 4300 E. Sunrise Dr., will feature Mozart, Schumann, Beethoven, Hayden and Handel’s Messiah from Nov-March. TSO’s Pops series will be at the Music Hall with: Southwest Nutcracker with Mariachi Atzlan de Pueblo High School (December), The Wizard of OZ Film Screening with Orchestra (January), A Night at the Oscars (February), Jeans ‘n’ Classics—The Music of the Eagles (February), Simply Swingin’ with Steve Lippia (March) and Bernadette Peters (March). Visit TucsonSymphony.org for more information.
– Herb Stratford/ShowUp.com
Classical offerings by UAPresents this season include five great concerts. First up is The Seasons Project by the Venice Baroque Orchestra on Oct. 31. Next, on Nov. 21, is Menahem Pressler and his Orchestra with Richard Stoltzman performing compositions by Mozart and Brahms. On Feb. 12, Joshua Bell returns to Centennial Hall followed on Feb. 20 by The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble at Crowder Hall. The always exciting and engaging Kronos Quartet will perform on April 3 at Centennial Hall. – Herb Stratford/ShowUp.com
JAZZ & BLUES
Rhythm & Roots presents a robust line-up of renowned performers this fall with styles that include jazz and blues, but also veer into rockabilly, country and world music. Performers include: Rosie Flores (Sept. 18), The Rhythm Room All-Stars featuring Dave Riley (Sept. 24), The John Coinman Band featuring Peter McLaughlin (Sept. 25), The Nighthawks (Oct. 1), Christine Lavin (Oct. 7), It’s A Beautiful Day (Oct. 8), The Texas Tornados (Oct. 16), Strunz & Farah (Oct. 23), Qtango Orchestra with Argentine Tango Dancers (Oct. 30), Boulder Acoustic Society (Nov. 13), New Riders of the Purple Sage (Nov. 20), John McLaughlin and the 4th Dimension (Dec. 3). See RhythmandRoots.org for venues and times.– Zocalo
The Tucson Jazz Society presents several great programs this fall. The Downtown Latin Jazz Festival includes two shows; Friday, Sept. 10 Salsa Dance Party featuring Tito Y Su Nuevo Son at La Placita Plaza and on Saturday, Sept. 11 Salsa legend Larry Harlow takes the stage at the Leo Rich Theatre. Concerts at St. Philips Plaza, 4280 N. Campbell Ave., will be a part of the annual Jazz Under the Stars series with Ted Howe and the Ellington Trio (Sept. 19), Frank Guldseth & Tucson Swings with Julie Anne (Oct. 3), Christian Howes Jazz Violin (Oct. 10), Carol Welsman & Her Band (Oct.17 ) and The Tucson Jazz Institute (Oct. 31). See TucsonJazz.org for more details and ticket info.
– Herb Stratford/ShowUp.com
UAPresents will represent jazz and blues this season with four shows. Kind of Blue at 50 hits Centennial Hall on Jan. 29, with original Miles Davis drummer Jimmy Cobb performing with his So What Band. Jazz at Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis will showcase 15 world-class musicians when they perform on Feb. 18. T.S. Monk, son of legendary drummer Thelonius Monk, will perform Monk On Monk as an 80th birthday tribute to his father on March 6. April 9 sees American Legacies: The Del McCoury Band and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band bringing New Orleans Jazz to town like never before. – Herb Stratford/ShowUp.com
WORLD MUSIC
Tucson Spanish and Flamenco Festival: Since 2005, Casa Vicente at 375 S. Stone Ave. has served up delicious Spanish cuisine along with top-notch Spanish music and dancing most weekend nights, not to mention various dancing lessons on the patio. Last year, the restaurant hosted its first flamenco festival and if the success of that venture was any indication, this year’s will be even better! Combining forces with Club España, Marqués de Cáceres Wines and Flamenco del Pueblo Viejo, the festival opens Thursday, Sept. 16 with Spanish guitar concert Noche de Seis Cuerdas. Its showcase event, Noche Flamenca, takes place Sept. 17 & 18 with national and international flamenco professionals. The Sunday, Sept. 19 closing party, Fiesta Latina, promises to be a lively and energetic rumba and Latin music extravaganza! Other events include workshops and lectures on Spanish culinary arts, Spanish Cinema, flamenco dance, song, guitar, percussion, and history. Find out more at TucsonSpanishFlamencoFestival.com or 884-5253. – Jamie Manser
UAPresents world music fans have some great shows to look forward to - starting with Soledad Barrio and Noche Flamenca on Jan. 28 at Centennial Hall. World renowned Taiko drummers KODO will amaze with their raw power drumming and spectacle on Feb. 13. Septeto Nacional Ignacio Pineiro de Cuba will bring the rhythms of Cuba to Tucson. The group, who has performed in over 35 countries around the world, is now 80 years old and features a fourth generation of musicians. Rounding out the world music offerings this season will be The Johnny Clegg Band on May 6 with their blend of African Zulu pop music and dynamic stage presence. – Herb Stratford/ShowUp.com
