Lunchtime Music Series is sponsored by

ALL PERFORMANCES ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

2009-2010 Concert Series

October 15th, 2009
Eric Crittenden and his JukeJoint Blu Band.

Eric Crittenden is a local singer, songwriter and saxophonist. Rooted in the Jazz tradition, Crittenden gets spiritual in a musical celebration of Jazz and Blues. He lets the music pour naturally, with powerful influences from earlier decades, as well as up-to-date contemporary creations that make a deep impression. Hi JukeJoint Blu band provides a powerful setting as the leader moves from "moody saxophone hues" to "driving multitracked vocal tirades."

November 5th, 2009
Colleen Williams Trio.
Colleen Williams, who is originally from Corning, NY, came to Buffalo in 1986. Music had always been her passion but performing had been something of a hobby, a sideline to her regular work as a marketing executive. In 1997, after a serious cancer scare, Williams decided to abandon that successful marketing career to pursue her life-long love of music as a professional singer. In 1998, in collaboration with Buffalo's musical luminaries, jazz saxophonist Bobby Militello (Dave Brubeck Band) and keyboardist and Hammond B3 player, Bobby Jones who served as the album's producers, Williams recorded her first album, "Torched." Anthony Violante (Buffalo News) called her vocals "sultry and powerful...straight from the soul...What makes the CD special is her emotion and range." In 2003, Williams released "Colleen Williams" the much anticipated follow-up CD. Williams performs extensively in both Buffalo and Rochester. She has been the featured artist at many of the areas most prestigious events including: M&T Plaza Concert Series and the Buffalo News Jazz at the Albright-Knox. In 2007, Williams performed with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra at ArtPark in a Tribute to George Gershwin.

December 3rd, 2009
Babik, Jazz quartet.
Babik is a progressive Gypsy Jazz band inspired by the legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt. Babik has the ability to bridge passionate jaw-dropping virtuosity, with a rare toe-tapping danceability that keeps its audiences enthusiastically engaged. Babik stays busy performing over 150 shows a year at concert halls and festivals, in addition to facilitating educational programs and improvisation workshops at high schools and colleges. In March 2008, Babik worked with arranger Brent Havens to create the first ever orchestral arrangement of the music of Django Reinhardt, which was performed with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra to an audience of thousands. Babik has also performed with the contemporary dance troupe Configuration Dance in a tightly choreographed theatrical show. Their hometown of Buffalo, N.Y. has awarded them "Best Jazz Band" by two different magazines for three years in a row.

January 21st, 2010
Andrew Marino, guitarist.
Andrew Marino performs and arranges music for classical guitar. He also works as a private instructor of classical guitar in and around Western New York. He is a graduate of Villa Maria College. Andrew has performed in masterclasses for some of the finest classical guitarists in the world including Jason Vieaux, Stephen Aron and Stanley Yates. Andrew is currently studying privately with Jeremy Sparks. He has decided on the following program for the M&T Concert:

• Packington's Pound - Anonymous
• Kemp's Jig - Anonymous
• Wilson's Wilde - Anonymous
• Fantasia X - Alonso Mudarra (c. 1510-1580)
• Koyunbaba - Carlo Domeniconi (1947-present)
• Voces de Profundis - Stepan Rak (1945-present)
• Danza Brasilera - Jorge Morel (1931-present)
• Tango en Skai - Roland Dyens (1955-present)
• Sevilla - Isaac Albeniz (1860-1909)
• The Girl with Flaxen Hair - Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
  

February 18th, 2010

West African Drumming with Bernard Woma.

Bernard Woma is currently an adjunct percussion faculty and director of the SUNY Fredonia African Drumming Ensemble. He is a true cultural treasure from Ghana who has toured the worls as xylophonist and lead drummer of the National Dance Company of Ghana. Bernard is an extremely dynamic artist and deeply experienced educator. His recent appearances in the US include a performance with the New York Philharmonic at the Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center; a residency with the Ethos Percussion Group; performances and seminars at New York's AXF (African Xylophone Festival) and at various universities and colleges. The performance of his composition "Gyil Nyog Me NA" in the spring of 2006 at Zankel Hall in Carnegie Hall is a testimony to his musicianship. Bernard Woma is also the Artistic Director of Saakumu Dance Troupe (who performed at Villa Maria College in the Spring of 2009) and the founder and director of the Dagara Music and Arts Center in Accra, Ghana.

March 18th, 2010

Emily Tworek-Helenbrook is a 15 year old lyric coloratura soprano who has been thrilling audiences with her performances throughout WNY and Canada since she was 10 years old. She has been described as a "vocal prodigy", "a true artist" possessing a "hauntingly beautiful voice" who has performed as a soloist with Buffalo's Ars Nova musicians in the acclaimed VIVA VIVALDI Festival since 2008. Last year she was a soloist with the Geneseo Symphony, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, performing the music of Mozart, Gounod and Dvorak among others. Emily studies with Patricia Alexander at the Eastman School of Music and Adrienne Tworek-Gryta of Villa Maria College and has participated in master classes given by internationally acclaimed sopranos.
Emily will present a varied program of song literature including works of Bach, Schubert, Mozart, Chopin, Moniuszko and operatic arias of Puccini and Dvorak in German, Italian, French, Polish and Czech. She will be accompanied by Dr. David Bond, organist and choirmaster at the First Presbyterian Church.

April 22nd, 2010
Jonathan Golove Improv Trio.
Jonathan Golove is a native of Los Angeles, California and a resident of Buffalo. He currently serves as Associate Professor of Music at the University of Buffalo. Mr. Golove's career is marked by its versatility, sense of adventure, and commitment to the performance of both new and traditional works, as well as improvised music. Mr. Golove has been featured as soloist with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Slee Sinfonietta, New York Virtuoso Singers, and, as a Baroque cellist, with the USC Early Music Ensemble. He has recorded extensively and has appeared as a guest at numerous music festivals around the world. Mr. Golove is also active as an electric cellist, particularly in the field of creative improvised music. Mr. Golove is also an active composer and his works have been performed throughout North America and Europe