Jazz Pianist Fred Hersch /Steve J. Sherman
Jazz Guitarist Julian Lage /Julian Lage
St. Cecilia Music Center (SCMC) in Grand Rapids will kick off their Spectacular Jazz Series with innovative award-winning jazz pianist Fred Hersch featuring special guest GRAMMY® nominated jazz guitarist Julian Lage on Thursday, October 17, 2019. Fourteen-time GRAMMY® nominated pianist Fred Hersch is proclaimed “the most arrestingly innovative pianist in jazz over the last decade” by Vanity Fair, “a living legend” by The New Yorker and “singular among the trailblazers of their art, a largely unsung innovator of individualistic jazz — a jazz for the 21st century” by the New York Times Sunday Magazine.
Hersch has regularly garnered jazz’s most prestigious awards, including recent distinctions as a 2016 Doris Duke Artist, 2016 and 2018 Jazz Pianist of the Year from the Jazz Journalists Association, and the 2017 Prix Honorem de Jazz from L’Acádemie Charles Cros for the totality of his career.
Julian Lage is hailed as one of the most prodigious guitarists of his generation. The 31-year-old New York-based musician boasts a prolific résumé as sideman, soloist, and bandleader. He’s also a GRAMMY® nominated guitarist who explores the American song catalog from a truly unique vantage point, performing music written by a range of audacious and original artists, from Roy Orbison to Ornette Coleman. Lage builds upon a wandering sonic outlook with jazz fusion, jam band liberation, standards, and rock ‘n’ roll using virtuosic precision, adventurous improvisation, and a remarkably clear vision.
St. Cecilia Music Center Executive Director Cathy Holbrook says, “We are thrilled to bring two amazing jazz musicians, pianist Fred Hersch and guitarist Julian Lage, together in concert at St. Cecilia Music Center. It’s not often that we feature two jazz artists at the top of their individual arenas together in concert, so this experience will be extra special for all music lovers and jazz fans.”
Concert tickets for Jazz Pianist Fred Hersch featuring special guest Jazz Guitarist Julian Lage are $40 and $45 and can be purchased by calling St. Cecilia Music Center at 616-459-2224 or visiting the box office at 24 Ransom Ave. NE. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.scmc-online.org. A pre-concert reception for $15 at 6:30 pm, with wine and hors d'oeuvres, is available by reservation in advance (by Friday, October 11). A post-concert party with dessert, coffee and wine is open to all ticket-holdersto meet the artists, obtain autographs and CD purchases.
For more about the artists, videos and audio releases see fredhersch.com and julianlage.com/home.
All SCMC Spectacular Jazz Series Concerts this Season
- The Jazz Series will launch on October 17 with Fred Hersch featuring special guest Julian Lage. Fred Hersch is a select member of jazz’s piano pantheon. He is known as one of the most influential creative forces who has shaped jazz piano over more than three decades as an improviser, composer, educator, bandleader, collaborator and recording artist. Julian Lage is hailed as one of the most prodigious guitarists of his generation. The 31-year-old New York-based musician boasts a prolific résumé as sideman, soloist, and bandleader as well as a GRAMMY® nomination. Lage builds upon a wandering sonic outlook with jazz fusion, jam band liberation, standards, and rock ‘n’ roll using virtuosic precision, adventurous improvisation, and a remarkably clear vision.
- On January 16, 2020 SCMC will bring Emmet Cohen’s Master Legacy Series featuring Benny Golson to the Royce Auditorium Stage.This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the renowned saxophonist Benny Golson with the Emmet Cohen Trio. Emmet Cohen’s mission is to celebrate the last remaining legendary jazz artists by documenting, featuring, and preserving their artistry and excellence in the later stages of their careers. As the producer of the Masters Legacy Series, Cohen has released two acclaimed recordings including Volume 1 with Jimmy Cobb and Volume 2 with Ron Carter.
- On March 5, the uniquely talentedJazz VocalistLuciana Souza will perform on the Royce Auditorium Stage. Billboard Magazine proclaims Luciana Souza as “a uniquely talented vocalist who organically crosses genre borders. Her music soulfully reflects, wistfully regrets, romantically woos, joyfully celebrates...” Entertainment Weekly says, "Her voice traces a landscape of emotion that knows no boundaries.” Beginning her recording career at age three with a radio commercial, Souza recorded more than 200 jingles and soundtracks becoming a first-call studio veteran at age sixteen. From 2005 to 2010, she was the Jazz Artist in Residence with the prestigious San Francisco Performances. In 2005 and 2013 Luciana was awarded Best Female Jazz Singer by the Jazz Journalists Association.
- Capping off the 2019/2020 Spectacular Jazz Series season will be the two time Grammy-nominated Clayton Brothers Quintet performing on April 16, 2020. The Clayton Brothers Quintet which is led by John and Jeff Clayton became a quintet when trumpeter Terell Stafford joined the group. The quintet is invigorated by young blood with John’s son Grammy-nominated Gerald Clayton on piano and David Alvarez on drums.
Tickets
Season subscription tickets to the 2019-2020 Spectacular Jazz Series and Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Concert Series are now available at special rates by calling 616-459-2224 or visiting St. Cecilia Music Center at 24 Ransom NE, Grand Rapids, 49503 or online for new subscribers at www.scmc-online.org. Single tickets to chamber, jazz, and folk concerts are also on sale now and can be purchased by phone at 616-459-2224 or online at www.scmc-online.org. For each concert,a post-concert party is open to all ticket-holders giving the audience the opportunity to possibly meet the artists and obtain signed CDs of their releases. There will also be pre-concert receptions for the CMS of Lincoln Center concerts and the Jazz Series concerts featuring wine and hors d'oeuvres for $15 per person.
Series Subscribers are offered with great benefits including:
- 15-20% discount off single ticket prices
- A discounted rate on pre-concert reception ticket price ($10 per person per reception in the Jazz or Chamber Music series – discounted from $15 per person per reception)
There is a $2.50 fee for all single tickets. All concerts start at 7:30pm. All concerts include a post-concert party for concert ticket holders.
SUBSCRIPTION TICKETS
Spectacular Jazz Series
4-concert subscription
15% discount off single ticket prices
A Sec. Subscription $153
A Sec. Subscription with Pre-Concert Reception $193
B Sec. Subscription $136
B Sec. Subscription with Pre-Concert Reception $176
Chamber + Jazz Subscription package
20% discount off single ticket prices
7-concert combination series
A Sec. Subscription $252
A Sec. Subscription with Pre-Concert Reception $322
B Sec. Subscription $224
B Sec. Subscription with Pre-Concert Reception $294
Chamber Music Society Series
3-concert subscription
15% discount off single ticket prices
A Sec. Subscription $115
A Sec. Subscription with Pre-Concert Reception $145
B Sec. Subscription $102
B Sec. Subscription with Pre-Concert Reception $132
SINGLE TICKETS
Jazz Series Single tickets
Fred Hersch featuring special guest Julian Lage
Thursday, October 17
A section $45 | B Section $40
Emmet Cohen’s Master Legacy Series featuring Benny Golson
Thursday, January 16, 2020
A section $45 | B section $40
Luciana Souza
Thursday, March 5, 2020
A section $45 | B section $40
The Clayton Brothers
Thursday, April 16, 2020
A section $45 | B section $40
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Single tickets
Great Innovators
Thursday, November 21, 2019
A section $45 | B section $40
French Enchantment
Thursday, January 23, 2020
A section $45 | B section $40
From Prague to Vienna
Thursday, April 30, 2020
A section $45 | B section $40
Folk Series single tickets
Lee Ann Womack
Thursday, October 3, 2019
A section $45 | B section $40
Judy Collins
Sunday, October 20, 2019
A section $55 | B section $50
The Infamous Stringdusters
Thursday, February 6, 2020
A section $35 | B section $30
Rosanne Cash with John Leventhal
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
A section $55 | B section $50
Chris Thile
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
A section $55 | B section $50
Raul Midón
Thursday, February 27, 2020
A section $45 | B section $40
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