Emmanuel Kicks Off Summer Concert Series June 28

 

Weston’s Emmanuel Church launches their popular Summer Concert Series with, Celestial Jazz on a Summer Evening, featuring The Joe Utterback-Gary Mazzaroppi Duo on Wednesday, June 28 at 7:30 pm. The evening features a family-friendly, eclectic musical program with acclaimed area musicians Dr. Joe Utterback and Gary Mazzaroppi. The Utterback-Mazzaroppi duo will deliver an entertaining set, drawing from their CD, Shadows and Smiles, as well as select compositions from the Great American Songbook that will appeal to jazz enthusiasts and beyond. The concert will be followed by an ice cream social. Admission is free (though donations are welcomed) and the event is open to the public. Emmanuel Church is located at 285 Lyons Plain Road, Weston.

 Dr. Joe Utterback has been a compelling artist on the American jazz scene for more than 50 years, marked by long term “gigs” at the jazz centers of Kansas City, St. Louis, San Francisco and currently, New York City. Utterback has also taken part in extensive European and American tours and has nearly 400 published compositions. Pianoforte London said “Utterback brings...what might best be described as a composite of the greatest American and jazz piano styles of the century...”

Crowd favorite, Gary Mazzaroppi, has teamed up with Dr. Utterback on both their Shadows and Smiles CD and prior joint shows; Emmanuel’s concert will also showcase their unique chemistry and rapport. Gary attended Berklee School of Music, has toured with the Lionel Hampton Big Band, and has accompanied many jazz greats including Red Norvo, Herb Ellis, Stan Getz, Tal Farlow, Jim Hall, Buddy Rich, and Clare Terry, among others. Additionally, he’s performed at New York’s Carnegie Hall and Blue Note to Massachusetts’ Tanglewood to Capri, Italy. Gary teaches the History of Jazz at Rutgers University and Brookdale Community College.

 The second installment of Emmanuel’s Summer Concert Series will showcase New Haven’s St. Luke’s Steel Band on Wednesday, July 19 at 7:30 pm with the program, Sounds from Saint Luke’s Steel Band. Started with steel pans purchased in Brooklyn in 1999, St. Luke’s Steel Band has become a highly regarded, exciting ensemble, with members hailing from Antigua, Barbados, Bermuda, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago. Led by the directorial team of Debby Teason, Donna Johnson, and Kenneth Joseph, St. Luke’s Steel Band has a repertoire that is both impressive and entertaining; their musical styles include soca, calypso, reggae, classical, sacred, jazz, popular and island folk music. 

  “At Emmanuel, we celebrate the spirit of community, and are thrilled to bring events that celebrate culture and music. Our Summer Concert Series has proven to be a local favorite and these upcoming evenings will surely deliver,” said Steve Lewis, Musical Director, Emmanuel Church.

 For more information, visit www.emmanuelweston.org or call (203) 227-8565.

 

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Submitted by Redding, CT

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