SYMPHONY CENTER PRESENTS

JUNE 10-12 & 16-18 a journey through musical roots New York City FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 8:00 BILL CHARLAP piano Th is portrait of New York’s rich and varied musical Kurt Elling vocals history focuses on two distinct and important eras. Ken Peplowski clarinet First, Bill Charlap directs an all-star ensemble, Jeremy Pelt trumpet including Chicago native and jazz vocalist Kurt Jimmy Greene tenor saxophone Elling, on a journey through the music of the Roaring Peter Washington bass Twenties, Broadway, Ellington, Bernstein, Sinatra and Kenny Washington drums be-bop. In the second half, accomplished singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega and guests Richard Julian and legendary folk singer SUZANNE VEGA guitar and vocals and Chicago native Tom Paxton celebrate the New York folk music Tom Paxton guitar and vocals scene of the 1950s, ‘60s and beyond. Richard Julian guitar and vocals Gerry Leonard guitar Mike Visceglia bass

Route 66 SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 8:00 ARLO GUTHRIE guitar and vocals Inspired by America’s “Mother Road,” this performance CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Vance Gilbert guitar and vocals is directed by legendary folk singer Arlo Guthrie, and SYMPHONY CENTER PRESENTS Eliza Gilkyson guitar and vocals showcases the nostalgic songs and music of an era when 220 South Michigan Avenue Chris Smither guitar and vocals this famous highway was the path of choice through the Chicago, IL 60604-2559 American west, uniting people on their journey from Chicago to Los Angeles. With its starting point adjacent to Symphony Center at the corner of Michigan and Adams, Route 66 celebrates its 85th anniversary in 2011. Singer-songwriters Vance Gilbert, Eliza Gilkyson and Chris Smither join Guthrie for this celebration of America’s most famous highway. Join us for this journey through

America’s musical roots! New Orleans SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 7:00 DONALD HARRISON, JR. alto saxophone and vocals Th e birthplace of the great American brass band tradition, New TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT Rebirth Brass Band Orleans is home to one of the fi rst black neighborhoods in America, CSO.ORG/USA AND 312-294-3000 Dr. Michael White clarinet Treme, which is the heartbeat of the city and home to Congo Square. Big Sam Williams trombone and vocals “A Night in Treme” (Th e Musical Majesty of New Orleans), produced in James Andrews trumpet conjunction with HBO, features the legendary Rebirth Brass Band joined Wendell Pierce narrator by Mardi Gras Indian Chief and alto saxophonist Donald Harrison, Jr., clarinet virtuoso Dr. Michael White, funky trombonist Big Sam Williams, charismatic trumpeter James Andrews, and narrator Wendell Pierce, star of HBO’s Treme.

Memphis THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 8:00 KIRK WHALUM tenor saxophone From the early jug bands to today’s crunksters, Memphis William Bell vocals has given birth to some of America’s most infl uential Media Sponsor: Production of the United Sounds of America is made possible with leadership support from Joe and Madeleine Glossberg, with additional funding from the Komarek-Hyde- Wendy Moten vocals musical styles including blues, southern soul, gospel and McQueen Foundation and Patricia Hyde. Symphony Center Presents extends special rockabilly. Th e renowned recording studios and record labels thanks to Joe Glossberg for chairing this concert series. Artists, prices, and programs subject to change. of Memphis have spread these sounds throughout the world. Celebrated saxophonist and CEO of the Stax Museum of American Soul Music Kirk Whalum leads an ensemble of Memphis legends including Stax/Volt pioneer William Bell and contemporary songstress Wendy Moten. Symphony Center Presents, in association with Absolutely Live Entertainment, showcases a series of unique concerts that will put a unifying spotlight on the immense variety of American sounds that have emanated from our country’s musical capitals. Highlighting music from the “Great White Way” to the Memphis blues, from the sweet soul of Detroit to the brass band traditions of New Orleans, and from the fi ne melodies of Austin to the road songs of Route 66, these concerts will bring together artists with often-divergent musical styles in multigenre and multigenerational collaborations.

For each concert, these seven musical directors have designed a program exploring the unique Detroit FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 8:00 sounds of their city, inviting special guest artists to collaborate on these dynamic and distinctive concerts. See the concert listings within for complete program and artist information. MARSHALL CRENSHAW guitar and vocals While Detroit is synonymous with Motown Records, the city also boasts Special Guest Regina Carter violin a rich history of jazz, rhythm & blues, gospel, rock & roll, hip-hop and Bettye LaVette vocals techno. Singer-songwriter and guitarist Marshall Crenshaw developed NIGHTS & Brendan Benson guitar and vocals this concert, focusing primarily on the jazz, rock and R&B scene of yesterday and Mick Collins guitar and vocals today in Detroit, featuring special guest Regina Carter as well as the great lady of Wayne Kramer guitar soul Bettye LaVette, Brendan Benson of the Raconteurs and Mick Collins of the 6 UNIQUE COLLABORATIONS Amp Fiddler keyboards and vocals Dirtbombs. Ralphe Armstrong bass Ali Jackson drums

Austin SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 8:00 ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO guitar and vocals Austin boasts a diverse and vibrant live music scene. It Roky Erickson guitar and vocals is home to a thriving Tejano music community and to Butch Hancock guitar and vocals some of the fi nest songwriters in modern American music. David Pulkingham guitar and vocals Insightful and eclectic, Alejandro Escovedo explores over Stephen Barber keyboards and vocals 100 years of the “Live Music Capital of the World” with many of Cindy Cashdollar dobro and guitar Austin’s fi nest musicians such as singer-songwriters Roky Erickson Joel Guzman accordion and vocals and Butch Hancock.

BILL CHARLAP BILL SUZANNE VEGA GUTHRIE ARLO JR. HARRISON, DONALD WHALUM KIRK CRENSHAW MARSHALL ESCOVEDO ALEJANDRO Glenn Fukunaga bass

Consulting Producer for The United Sounds of America: Absolutely Live Entertainment, LLC Danny Melnick, President and Director Chris Searles drums CHRIS SMITHER ARLO GUTHRIE WENDELL PIERCE MARSHALL CRENSHAW New YorkCity

BIG SAM MICK COLLINS WILLIAMS JUNE 10

DR. MICHAEL WHITE JIMMY GREENE WAYNE KRAMER BETTYE LAVETTE Route 66

JUNE 11

ROKY ERICKSON BILL CHARLAP VANCE GILBERT New Orleans

REBIRTH BRASS BAND ELIZA GILKYSON AMP FIDDLER DAVID PULKINGHAM

JUNE 12

KURT ELLING SUZANNE VEGA Memphis

JOEL GUZMAN KIRK WHALUM RICHARD JULIAN KEN PEPLOWSKI

JUNE 16

TOM PAXTON JEREMY PELT CINDY CASHDOLLAR Detroit

JUNE 17

REGINA CARTER BRENDAN BENSON STEPHEN BARBER DONALD HARRISON, JR. Austin

ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO BUTCH HANCOCK JUNE 18

CSO.ORG/USA