@ THE FAC 2011-2012 THE JOY OF SAX JAMES FARM FEATURING JOSHUA REDMAN, AARON PARKS, MATT PENMAN AND ERIC HARLAND Saturday, September 24, 8pm, Bowker Auditorium James Farm is the collaborative band featuring saxophonist Joshua Redman, pianist Aaron Parks, bassist Matt Penman, and drummer Eric Harland. The band uses traditional acoustic jazz quartet instrumentation for its song-based approach to jazz and incorporates the members’ myriad of influences: rock, soul, folk, classi- cal, and electronica, among many others. Reserved Seating: $30, $15; FC, GCC, STCC and 17 & under $10 "Mr. Redman is a supremely affable and flowing improviser, at times a borderline brilliant one, working in a glow of clar- ity." – The New York Times
SOLOS & DUOS JAMES "BLOOD" ULMER Thursday, September 29, 8pm, Bezanson Recital Hall Ulmer was the first guitarist to record and tour extensively with the legendary Ornette Coleman and has spent the last 40 years forging a singular sound. "Avant-gutbucket," is how Bill Milkowski describes the music of "Blood" Ulmer, "conjuring images of Skip James and Albert Ayler jamming on the Mississippi Delta." General Admission: $10, students $5
GALA SEASON OPENING PATTI LUPONE: THE GYPSY IN MY SOUL Saturday, October 1, 8pm, Concert Hall Known for her Tony Award-winning performances in Evita and Gypsy, her Olivier Award-winning performance in Les Misérables, and turns in Sweeney Todd, Sunset Boulevard and so many other critically acclaimed roles, Patti LuPone is a true theatrical force of nature. With her powerhouse vocals, impeccable timing, and skilled acting, Ms. LuPone cap- tures the essence of each song and makes it uniquely her own. An extraordinary talent, an extraordinary concert—Patti LuPone is not to be missed! Reserved Seating: $65, $50, $35; FC, GCC, STCC and 17 & under $25 (Special event – no discounts)
WU MAN: CHINESE PIPA Wednesday, October 5, 7:30pm, Bowker Auditorium Grammy-nominated Wu Man is an internationally renowned pipa virtuoso and one of the world's greatest ex- ponents of this ancient Chinese lute-like instrument. She has collaborated with Philip Glass and the Kronos Quartet and was the first Chinese musician to perform at the White House with Yo-Yo Ma, with whom she now performs as part of the Silk Road Project. Wu Man's solo performance features 19th-century pipa works alongside contemporary pieces and her own compositions, showcasing the instrument's unique tonal quali- ties and her breathtaking musical skills. Reserved Seating: $30, $15; FC, GCC, STCC and 17 & under $10
CREOLE CHOIR OF CUBA Wednesday, October 12, 7:30pm, Concert Hall Be prepared to hear something completely different and "new" from Cuba. The Creole Choir of Cuba cele- brates the history of Haitian descendents enslaved to the Caribbean from west Africa. With vibrant dancing and irresistible melodies driven by richly textured harmonies, shifting Caribbean rhythms with a very original root bass sound, this is impassioned singing by a unique group. Reserved Seating: $30, $25, $15; FC, GCC, STCC and 17 & under $10
GALLIM DANCE Wednesday, October 19, 7:30pm, Concert Hall Audiences can expect the unexpected when Gallim Dance performs. Since its debut in 2006, Gallim Dance has caused a stir in the world of dance and choreography. With former Batsheva Ensemble dancer Andrea Miller at the helm, this contemporary dance company has received praise after praise for each new dance. Miller’s ability to tap into primal sensations results in elegantly disciplined work. The choreographer blends playful and physical movements with subtle moments of introspection, set to indie music from different parts of the globe. Reserved Seating: $35, $30, $15; FC, GCC, STCC and 17 & under $10 “Delicious strangeness, fierce aggression, and raw beauty.” – Susan Reiter, New York Press
SOLOS & DUOS JOSHUA ABRAMS’ NATURAL INFORMATION SOCIETY Wednesday, October 26, 8pm, Bezanson Recital Hall Playing bass and guimbri (North African bass lute), composer Joshua Abrams has been in the thick of Chi- cago's vibrant music scene for 15 years. “Joshua Abrams has delivered one of the rough gems of the post- everything musical era in Natural Information,” writes Ben Ratliff, of the musician's recent Eremite release. Special guests tba. General Admission: $10: Students $5
SHANTALA SHIVALINGAPPA SWAYAMBHU Friday, October 28, 8pm, Bowker Auditorium Treasured in both India and Europe, Shantala Shivalingappa is an acclaimed dancer and choreographer of kuchipudi, a 2,000-year-old classical style based on an ancient codification of dance, music, and theater. Born in India and raised in Paris, Shivalingappa has had the privilege of working with some of the greatest artists of our time, including Maurice Béjart, Peter Brook, Bartabas, and Pina Bausch. She will perform Swayambhu, a program of contrasts, at the same time swift and suspended, earthly and ethereal, symmet- rical and asymmetrical. Shivalingappa will be accompanied by four master musicians from India. Reserved Seating: $30, $15; FC, GCC, STCC and 17 & under $10
The American Place Theatre’s Literature to Life® Stage Presentation of THE THINGS THEY CARRIED BY TIM O’BRIEN Wednesday, November 2, 7:30pm Bowker Auditorium This masterwork of contemporary literature is a collection of short pieces about the character, Tim O'Brien, and his experiences during the Vietnam War. He presents a blurred line between truth and reality, fact and fiction, that makes his journey unforgettable. Actor Billy Lyons, who trained with Wynn Handyman, per- forms this work. General Admission: $15; FC, GCC, STCC and 17 & under $10 Please visit www.fineartscenter.com for related events on campus and in the community.
SAMULNORI: KOREAN DRUMS AND DANCE Tuesday, November 8, 7:30pm, Concert Hall SamulNori is an eight-member group of virtuoso percussionists, musicians, and dancers dedicated to per- forming and preserving traditional Korean music and dance. Anna Kisselgoff of The New York Times wrote, “their drumming, modulated into sounds of any nuance, could lead to total astonishment…. Samul- Nori is a complete theatrical experience.” Fun for the entire family. Reserved Seating: $30, $25, $15; FC, GCC, STCC and 17 & under $10
NEW CENTURY CHAMBER ORCHESTRA Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Music Director Thursday, Nov. 10, 7:30pm, Concert Hall The Grammy-nominated New Century Chamber Orchestra relies on the virtuosic skill of each individual— instead of a conductor—to achieve its improvisatory sound, with power, color and precision. Performing standing, their rhythmic unanimity and velvety smooth string tone will knock your socks off and remind you of all that's delicious in the world. Program includes Mendelssohn’s String Symphony, Barber’s Adagio for Strings, Bolcom’s Violin Concerto Romanza, and Richard Strauss’ Metamorphosen. Reserved Seating: $40, $30, $15; FC, GCC, STCC and 17 & under $10
THE JOY OF SAX THE TIA FULLER QUARTET Wednesday, Nov. 16, 7:30pm, Bowker Auditorium Saxophonist Tia Fuller definitely leaves an impression. Influenced by legends such as Cannonball Adder- ley, Sonny Stitt, and John Coltrane, her playing is dynamic and fluid as she navigates the trickiest of lines with a tone that is rich and meaty. It’s a sound that works well in the modern brand of straight-ahead bebop she writes for her quartet, but Fuller is also flexible enough to play in Beyoncé’s all-woman touring band. Billy Taylor Jazz Residency Artist Reserved Seating: $25, $15; FC, GCC, STCC and 17 & under $10 ARLO GUTHRIE: BOYS NIGHT OUT Friday, Nov. 18, 8pm, Concert Hall Three generations of Guthrie boys on stage! Arlo Guthrie is gearing up for the Guthrie "Boys' Night Out" with Abe and Krishna. For over four decades, Arlo Guthrie has toured the world winning a broad and dedicated following. In addition to being an accomplished musician, Guthrie is a natural-born storyteller whose hilari- ous tales and timeless anecdotes are woven seamlessly into his performances. Reserved Seating: $35, $30, $15; FC, GCC, STCC and 17 & under $10
SPIRIT& SOUL: ESCORTED BUS TOUR SATYAGRAHA Saturday, November 19, Metropolitan Opera House, New York City Composer: Philip Glass, Librettists: Constance de John & Philip Glass The Met’s visually extravagant production is back for an encore engagement. Richard Croft once again sings Gandhi in Philip Glass’s unforgettable opera, which the Washington Post calls “a profound and beau- tiful work of theater.” Sung in Sanskrit with English supertitles. Tickets: $175 each, all inclusive. Subscriber's special: $160 each before July 1.
SOLOS & DUOS GÜNTER "BABY" SOMMER/ WADADA LEO SMITH DUO Friday, December 2, 8pm, Bezanson Recital Hall Günter "Baby" Sommer is one of the master musicians of contemporary European jazz, a percussionist of enormous originality and humor. He has recorded with Cecil Taylor, Peter Brötzmann, and Günter Grass. Trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith is a hugely influential trumpeter and educator, who has worked with every major improviser of the last 40 years. “The cinematic effect of this music is absolutely uncanny,” writes Thom Jurek. General Admission: $10; Students $5
ANA MOURA Sunday, February 5, 7pm, Concert Hall Portuguese vocalist Ana Moura, whose soulful and riveting interpretation of her land's captivating fado style has made her a star in Europe, brings her gentle, persuasive magic to North American audiences. The 25- year-old singer has become a leading exponent of this poetic, deeply expressive idiom which personifies the Portuguese psyche as it explores such universal themes as lost love, separation, and longing. Reserved Seating: $30, $25, $15; FC, GCC, STCC and 17 & under $10
SUZANNE FARRELL BALLET Wednesday, February 22, 7:30pm, Concert Hall One of George Balanchine’s most celebrated muses, Suzanne Farrell remains a legendary figure in the ballet world. She joined Balanchine’s New York City Ballet in 1961, and by the mid-1960s had become not only one of Balanchine’s most renowned ballerinas but also a symbol of the era. She founded the Suzanne Farrell Ballet in 2000 as a way of preserving Balanchine’s legacy. The company has been described by The New York Times as “one of the most courageous projects in ballet today.” The Suzanne Farrell Ballet brings the full range of Balanchine's choreography to the Fine Arts Center. Reserved Seating: $40, 30, 15; FC, GCC, STCC and 17 & under $10
MAGIC TRIANGLE TWO TROMBONE TRIOS Thursday, February, 23, 8pm, Bezanson Recital Hall The first-ever Magic Triangle double bill, with two takes on the trombone trio: Frank Lacy (trombone), Kevin Ray (bass), and Johnathan Blake (drums) share the evening with BassDrumBone: Ray Anderson (trombone), Mark Helias (bass), and Gerry Hemmingway (drums). General Admission: $12; Students $7
SFJAZZ COLLECTIVE Thursday, March 1, 7:30pm, Concert Hall Featuring Miguel Zenón, Robin Eubanks, Avishai Cohen, Edward Simon, Matt Penman, Stefon Harris, Eric Harland, and Mark Turner Given the extraordinary talent assembled in the SFJAZZ Collective, it is tempting to think of this ensemble as an “all-star band,” pure and simple. But these exceptional artists have come together in pursuit of a larger purpose—namely, the celebration of jazz not only as a great art form, but as a constantly evolving, ever- relevant, quintessentially modern art form. In The New York Times’ emphatic words: “Modernity is the man- tra of the SFJAZZ Collective.” This program features arrangements of Stevie Wonder tunes, as well as origi- nal compositions inspired by him. Reserved Seating: $35, $30, $15; FC, GCC, STCC and 17 & under $10
CIRCA Tuesday, March 6, 7:3PM, Concert Hall Circa is movement at its most adventurous and dangerous. The exhilarating and physically astonishing, Brisbane-based company performs its self-titled remix CIRCA —a compilation of their three most acclaimed and engaging main-stage works. Combining physical beauty, extreme circus skills, and dance, seven per- formers move from highly complex tumbling sequences to fast-paced flashes of great intricacy where preci- sion and timing are everything. The result is a new kind of circus, at once poetic, sensual, and immense. Reserved Seating: $30, $25, $15; FC, GCC, STCC and 17 & under $10
TAO: THE ART OF THE DRUM Tuesday, March 27, 7:30pm Concert Hall Move over KODO, here comes TAO! Athletic bodies and contemporary costumes meet explosive Taiko drumming and innovative choreography in a show that has critics waxing lyrical about TAO’s extraordinary precision, energy, and stamina. With hundreds of sold-out shows and more than a million spectators, TAO has proven that modern entertainment based on the traditional art of Japanese drumming has massive in- ternational appeal. "Extraordinarily talented...incomparable muscular zeal" – Chicago Tribune Reserved Seating: $35, $30, $15; FC, GCC, STCC and 17 & under $10
MAGIC TRIANGLE SHAKERS 'N BAKERS Thursday, March 29, 8pm, Bezanson Recital Hall The manifestation of several years of in-depth study, Shakers ‘n Bakers is co-led by Jeff Lederer (reeds) and Mary LaRose (vocals), and dedicated to exploring "Vision Songs" received by women of the Shaker reli- gious sect during ecstatic spiritual trances. “Shakers 'N Bakers sends chills down my spine every time I hear it,” writes Dave Wayne. The group features Miles Griffith (vocals), Jamie Saft (electric harpsichord), Chris Lightcap (bass) and Allison Miller (drums). General Admission: $12, Students $7
THE JOY OF SAX ERNIE WATTS & FRIENDS Saturday, March 31, 8pm, Bowker Auditorium Two-time Grammy Award winner Ernie Watts is one of the most versatile and prolific saxophone players on the music scene. In a diverse career that has spanned more than 30 years, he has been featured on more than 500 recordings by artists ranging from Cannonball Adderley to Frank Zappa, always exhibiting his un- forgettable trademark sound. In collaboration with the UMass Music Department's 14th Annual High School Jazz Fest Reserved Seating: $30, $15; FC, GCC, STCC and 17 & under $10
BALLET HISPANICO Tuesday, April 3, 7:30pm, Concert Hall Known for its magnetic energy and vivacious choreography, Ballet Hispanico’s works fuse Latin dance with elements of classical and contemporary forms to create a new sphere of concert dance in which the- atricality and passion propel every move. Under the leadership of new artistic director Eduardo Vilaro, the company’s 13 stunning dancers “dance with elegance and lyricism... [their] graceful phrases look effort- less. Audiences will return to see Ballet Hispanico for its enduring graciousness.” – Washington Post Reserved Seating: $35, $30, $15; FC, GCC, STCC and 17 & under $10
THE JOY OF SAX RAVI COLTRANE QUARTET Friday, April 13, 7:30pm, Bowker Auditorium To say Ravi Coltrane was born in auspicious circumstances is a bit of an understatement. The son of saxophone legend John Coltrane and Alice Coltrane, he was named after sitar master Ravi Shankar. Yet, Ravi has followed his own path in music since 1991, and while working within his father’s long shadow (as all saxophonists do), he has established himself as a major player with a unique personal sound. Reserved Seating: $30, 15; FC, GCC, STCC and 17 & under $10
SPIRIT& SOUL: ESCORTED BUS TOUR SAKURA: CHERRY BLOSSOMS IN BLOOM Saturday, April 14, Brooklyn Botanical Garden From April to early May, Garden visitors enjoy over 200 Japanese flowering Cherry trees of over 40 differ- ent species and cultivars. Join us for this lovely, fully-escorted trip to view and experience the beauty of flowering Cherry trees. The Cherry Esplanade is a broad green field bordered by two allées of the daz- zling Prunus "Kanzan." These double-flowering cherries typically bloom at the end of April and are a high- light of the Garden’s annual cherry blossom festival, Sakura Matsuri. Tickets: $80; Students, Seniors & 17 and under $70
THE KNIGHTS Thursday, April 19, 7:30pm, Concert Hall The Knights is a chamber orchestra of adventurous musicians who cultivate collaboration and engage au- diences in the shared joy of musical performance. Based in New York City, The Knights expand the con- cert experience with their innovative format and unique atmosphere of camaraderie that engenders the intimacy and immediacy of chamber music. Program includes Satie’s Gymnopedie, a selection of Schu- bert’s Leider and Unfinished Symphony, Glass’ Company, and Jacobsen’s Ascending Bird. Reserved Seating: $30, $25, $15; FC, GCC, STCC and 17 & under $10
MAGIC TRIANGLE STEVE COLEMAN & FIVE ELEMENTS Thursday, April 26, 8pm, Bezanson Recital Hall Alto saxophonist, composer, and philosopher Steve Coleman has had a major impact on Black American music. “To me, Steve’s as important as Coltrane,” says pianist Vijay Iyer. “He has contributed an equal amount to the history of the music. He deserves to be placed in the pantheon of pioneering artists.” Five Elements is Jonathan Finlayson (trumpet), Tim Albright (trombone), Jen Shyu (vocals), Thomas Morgan (bass), and Tyshawn Sorey (drums). General Admission: $12, Students $7
SPECIAL PACKAGED SERIES! Buy any of these packages and save 25%! Available for Price Range A and B tickets only. You can add any other event to these packages and save 15%. College student and youth tickets are price range C and are not discounted.
DANCE PACKAGE SERIES SAMPLER GALLIM DANCE GALLIM DANCE Wednesday, October 19, 7:30pm, CH Wednesday, October 19, 7:30pm, CH
SHANTALA SIVALINGAPPA SFJAZZ COLLECTIVE Gamaka: Vibrations of Sound and Move- Thursday, March 1, 7:30pm, CH ment Friday, October 28, 8pm, BA TAO: THE ART OF THE DRUM Tuesday, March 27, 7:30pm, CH SUZANNE FARRELL BALLET Wednesday, February 22, 7:30 pm, CH THE KNIGHTS Thursday, April 19, 7:30pm, CH BALLET HISPANICO Price Range A: $101.25 Tuesday, April 3, 7:30pm, CH Price Range B: $86.25 Price Range A: $105 Price Range B: $90 WORLD MUSIC PACKAGE CREOLE CHOIR OF CUBA JAZZ PACKAGE Wednesday, October 12, 7:30pm, CH JAMES FARM Saturday, September 24, 8pm, BA SAMULNORI: KOREAN DRUMS AND DANCE Tuesday, November 8, 7:30pm, CH THE TIA FULLER QUARTET Wednesday, Nov. 16, 7:30pm, BA ANA MOURA Sunday, February 5, 7pm, Concert Hall SFJAZZ COLLECTIVE Thursday, March 1, 7:30pm, CH TAO: THE ART OF THE DRUM Tuesday, March 27, 7:30pm CH ERNIE WATTS & FRIENDS Price Range A: $93.75 Saturday, March 31, 8pm, BA Price Range B: $78.75
RAVI COLTRANE QUARTET Friday, April 13, 7:30pm, BA MAGIC TRIANGLE PACKAGE Total Price: $112.50 TWO TROMBONE TRIOS Thursday, February, 23, 8pm, Bezanson Re- cital Hall CLASSICAL PACKAGE WU MAN: CHINESE PIPA SHAKERS 'N BAKERS Wednesday, October 5, 7:30pm, BA Thursday, March 29, 8pm, Bezanson Recital Hall NEW CENTURY CHAMBER ORCHESTRA Thursday, Nov. 10, 7:30pm, CH STEVE COLEMAN & FIVE ELEMENTS Thursday, April 26, 8pm, Bezanson Recital THE KNIGHTS Hall Thursday, April 19, 7:30pm, CH Price Range A: $27.00 Price Range A: $75.00 Price Range B: $63.75