Savannah Music Festival

BILL FRISELL TRIO/BASSEKOU KOUYATE & NGONI BA

2010-04-04T01:00:00Z

Bill Frisell's unmistakable voice on the guitar is equal parts jazz and Americana. Mixing rock and country with jazz and blues, he's found what connects them: improvisation and a sense of play. He plays up the pleasure in the music while embracing tenderness and soul. This is his Savannah debut.

" The first time you hear Bill Frisell play will change the way you hear guitar forevermore." - Jambase

Bassekou Kouyate is a virtuoso on the West African lute known as the ngoni. One of the biggest stars in Mali's burgeoning music scene, Mr. Kouyate leads a captivating African dance band called Ngoni Ba, featuring his wife, vocalist Amy Sacko. Another Savannah debut.

" Understated but awesome beauty, full of lush melodies and supple rhythms, deep, peaceful and
healing...equally weighty and mesmeric.
- All About Jazz

THE DEL MCCOURY BAND WITH THE DIXIE BLUEGRASS BOYS

2010-04-03T23:00:00Z

The Del McCoury Band, nine-time IBMA Entertainer of the Year, has propelled from the top of the bluegrass world to become a unique torchbearer for the entire sweep of bluegrass and its history. With an illustrious career spanning over 50 years of splendiferous picking and singing, Del McCoury is one of Bluegrass' most admired elder statesmen, counting Elvis Costello, BjÃ¸rk, and Richard Thompson among his many fans. His last SMF appearance sold out, so don't wait long for your tickets. Sharing the bill is the outstanding Curtis Blackwell and the Dixie Bluegrass Boys

" Del epitomizes the bluegrass musician from the previous era, and also this one."
-Jerry Douglas, AKUS

BILL FRISELL TRIO/BASSEKOU KOUYATE & NGONI BA

2010-04-03T22:30:00Z

Bill Frisell's (left) unmistakable voice on the guitar is equal parts jazz and Americana. Mixing rock and country with jazz and blues, he's found what connects them: improvisation and a sense of play. He plays up the pleasure in the music while embracing tenderness and soul. This is his Savannah debut.

"The first time you hear Bill Frisell play will change the way you hear guitar forevermore." -Jambase

Bassekou Kouyate (right) is a virtuoso on the West African lute known as the ngoni. One of the biggest stars in Mali's burgeoning music scene, Mr. Kouyate leads a captivating African dance band called Ngoni Ba, featuring his wife, vocalist Amy Sacko. Another Savannah debut.

"Understated but awesome beauty, full of lush melodies and supple rhythms, deep, peaceful and healing...equally weighty and mesmeric." -All About Jazz

SENSATIONS V

2010-04-03T22:15:00Z

Daniel Hope
Associate Artistic Director

The critically-acclaimed Sensations chamber music series enters its sixth year under the leadership of Associate Artistic Director Daniel Hope. Each of these programs features chamber music masterworks performed by an elite corps of returning virtuosi, and this year welcomes several newcomers to Savannah including Gabriela Montero, Gautier Capuçon, Jeffrey Kahane and Mark O'Connor. This concert will be co-hosted by Fred Child from American Public Media's Performance Today.

Performers include: Benny Kim, CarlaMaria Rodrigues, Daniel Hope, Keith Robinson, Mark O'Connor, and Sebastian Knauer

Program:
Copland: Prelude for Piano Trio

Gershwin: Arrangements for Violin and Piano by Heifetz and Hope/Knauer

John Williams: Devil's Dance (from The Witches of Eastwick)

O'Connor: String Quartet No. 3, "Old-Time"

Bernstein: Three Songs from West Side Story

SINGING THE SACRED HARP: THE TATTNALL RIVER SHAPENOTE SINGERS

2010-04-03T16:30:00Z

Join SMF Director of Education Gene Pinion for this interactive, informative and fast-paced lecture/demonstration on one of America's oldest and continuous musical traditions. Experience Psalm-lining, the music of William Billings, the New England singing schools, and "patent" notes demonstrated in the rural nineteenth century Southern vernacular singing style still being sung today.

BILL FRISELL TRIO/BASSEKOU KOUYATE & NGONI BA

2010-04-03T01:00:00Z

Bill Frisell's (left) unmistakable voice on the guitar is equal parts jazz and Americana. Mixing rock and country with jazz and blues, he's found what connects them: improvisation and a sense of play. He plays up the pleasure in the music while embracing tenderness and soul. This is his Savannah debut.

"The first time you hear Bill Frisell play will change the way you hear guitar forevermore." -Jambase

Bassekou Kouyate (right) is a virtuoso on the West African lute known as the ngoni. One of the biggest stars in Mali's burgeoning music scene, Mr. Kouyate leads a captivating African dance band called Ngoni Ba, featuring his wife, vocalist Amy Sacko. Another Savannah debut.

"Understated but awesome beauty, full of lush melodies and supple rhythms, deep, peaceful and healing...equally weighty and mesmeric." -All About Jazz

ALL-STAR SWING SUMMIT

2010-04-02T23:30:00Z

This year's annual Swing Central Finale is a magnificent gathering of jazz all-stars including The Clayton Brothers, Marcus Roberts Trio, Wycliffe Gordon, Marcus Printup, Ted Nash, Chris Crenshaw, and others, performing classic and original jazz masterworks in a one-time only SMF production.

BILL FRISELL TRIO/BASSEKOU KOUYATE & NGONI BA

2010-04-02T22:30:00Z

Bill Frisell's (left) unmistakable voice on the guitar is equal parts jazz and Americana. Mixing rock and country with jazz and blues, he's found what connects them: improvisation and a sense of play. He plays up the pleasure in the music while embracing tenderness and soul. This is his Savannah debut.

"The first time you hear Bill Frisell play will change the way you hear guitar forevermore." -Jambase

Bassekou Kouyate (right) is a virtuoso on the West African lute known as the ngoni. One of the biggest stars in Mali's burgeoning music scene, Mr. Kouyate leads a captivating African dance band called Ngoni Ba, featuring his wife, vocalist Amy Sacko. Another Savannah debut.

"Understated but awesome beauty, full of lush melodies and supple rhythms, deep, peaceful and
healing...equally weighty and mesmeric." -All About Jazz

SEBASTIAN KNAUER/JEFFREY KAHANE

2010-04-02T22:15:00Z

This one-time-only double-bill pairs SMF favorite Sebastian Knauer (left) and acclaimed pianist Jeffrey Kahane. Each performs solo in this extraordinary recital. Renowned as a pianist and conductor, Jeffrey Kahane (right) is recognized by audiences around the world for his mastery of diverse repertoire from Bach to Gershwin, and he is entering his twelfth season as Music Director of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.

Jeffrey Kahane:
Chopin: Etude in E-flat minor, Op. 10, No. 6
Chopin: Nocturne in E-flat, Op. 55, No. 2
Chopin: Polonaise-Fantasy in A-flat, Op. 61
Chopin: Three Mazurkas
Chopin: Scherzo No. 4 in E, Op. 54

Sebastian Knauer:
Schubert: Sonata in C minor, D 958, op. posthum.

Mr. Kahane and Mr. Knauer:
Schubert: Fantasia in F minor, D 940

SWING CENTRAL COMPETITION

2010-04-02T13:00:00Z

SWING CENTRAL features live jazz performances, workshops, master classes and an opportunity for students to work with some of the greatest musicians of our time: clinicians like Wycliffe Gordon, Marcus Roberts, and Jim Ketch with strong ties to university jazz programs such as The Juilliard School, Florida State University and the University of North Carolina.

Competition is being held from 9am until 3pm.

The top three bands, selected by a stellar panel of jazz performers and educators, perform in the SWING CENTRAL FINALE at 7:00 PM, April 2nd at the Lucas Theatre for the Arts.

Additionally, each band participating in SWING CENTRAL is showcased in concert at ROUSAKIS PLAZA from 9:00 AM-3:00 PM on April 1st.

BEN TUCKER AND FRIENDS: 80TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

2010-04-02T01:30:00Z

Celebrate a milestone in the life of Savannah icon Ben Tucker, whose diverse history of accomplishments in a 60-year professional career have recently resulted in his best-ever recording session. This one-time only program features the noted bassist and composer of over 300 songs with such outstanding talents as Wycliffe Gordon,
Marcus Printup, Kevin Bales and others.

BEN TUCKER AND FRIENDS: 80TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

2010-04-01T23:30:00Z

DEREK TRUCKS & SUSAN TEDESCHI BAND - Wood Brothers open

2010-04-01T23:30:00Z

Unquestionably the most formidable husband/wife team in the history of southern rock and blues music, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi have put together a new band that will perform an original mixture of rock, soul, funk and blues at the 2010 Savannah Music Festival. Trucks' slide guitar playing is second to none. He has been the slide guitarist for the Allman Brothers Band for more than ten years, toured the world with Eric Clapton, and leads the Derek Trucks Band. Tedeschi has risen to fame with multiple Grammy Award nominations, and her powerful singing voice and fearless stage presence has made her one of the most original soul and blues musicians of our time.

"...two of the best young blues musicians in the world. Tedeschi, whose singing never ceases to amaze, mixed with 'Trucks' jaw-dropping solos left everyone in the crowd--and on the stage-- breathless." -Deseret News

SENSATIONS IV: FORBIDDEN MUSIC

2010-04-01T22:15:00Z

The critically-acclaimed Sensations chamber music series enters its sixth year under the leadership of Associate Artistic Director Daniel Hope. Tonight's performance takes place in America's third oldest temple. Performers: Daniel Hope (violin), Lorenza Borrani (violin), Jeffrey Kahane (piano), Benny Kim (violin), Philip Dukes (viola), CarlaMaria Rodrigues (viola), Keith Robinson (cello), and Eric Kim (cello.)

Program:
Schulhoff: String Sextet

Schulhoff: Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 2

Gideon Klein: String Trio

Zikmund Schul: Two Chassidic Dances arranged for Violin and Cello

Pavel Haas: Suite for Piano

BEN TUCKER AND FRIENDS: 80TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

2010-04-01T21:30:00Z