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Jazz at the Duck February lineup to feature local musicians
Jazz at the Duck, the Thursday evening jazz concerts at the Inn at DePauw's Fluttering Duck, is back for February with a lineup of local musicians for the four dates.
The weekly concerts take place from 8:30-10:30 p.m. at The Duck.
The opener on Thursday, Feb. 5, as well as the Thursday, Feb. 19 date will be a jazz jam session featuring Veronica Pejril on piano, Bill Hamm on bass and Rick Provine on drums.
Organizer Steven Snyder said everyone is welcome, either to share their talents in the jam session or to enjoy some live music.
"Welcome everyone back to campus by sharing your talents with us at the jam," Snyder said. "We are very lucky to have this trio of musicians right here in town who love to share their great talents in the jam session format with our students and community. I am looking forward to joining them."
The Thursday, Feb. 12 show will be by the Sandy Williams Trio, featuring Kenny Phelps (drums) and Snyder (piano).
A homegrown Greencastle guitarist who has gone on to play with a who's who of jazz, blues, rock and pop artists, Williams has made a living playing guitar live and in the studio for more than 35 years. His live playing spans from performing with alt-country rocker Steve Earle to Liza Minnelli, crooner Michael Feinstein's live PBS special, and composer George Crumb.
He is currently on the faculty of DePauw and IUPUI.
Phelps, in addition to touring with jazz vocalist extrordinaire Dee Dee Bridgewater, has recorded with musical giants BeBe & CeCe Winan, Walter Hawkins, El Debarge, Pharaz Whitted, Roy Merriweather, Sly Hampton and George Duke.
In 2000, Phelps received the prestigious "Excellence in Indiana Award" for his work with public schools. And he was chosen as a spokesman for the "Harman How to Listen to Music" program, which toured city schools around the country, sponsored by Lafayette Productions of New York.
Snyder is a professor of jazz at DePauw. Performance credits include Randy Brecker, Jerry Bergonzi, Victor Goines, Landau Eugene Murphy Jr., Dick Sisto, Eric Alexander, Mace Hibbard, Brannen Temple, Efraim Owens, Art Gore, Brad Goode, Jeremy Long and many others.
He was selected as one of 66 pianists from all over the world to compete in the Martial Solal International Jazz Piano Competition, which was held in Paris, France, in October 2002.
Snyder is excited to be part of this ensemble.
"Sandy is well known to us here, and I am excited to be able to feature his beautiful playing with Indy's own Kenny Phelps on drums," Snyder said. "Kenny and Sandy have played with an incredibly wide range of artists. Last year we were joined by a special guest for a couple of tunes -- maybe again this time?"
The Thursday, Feb. 26 session will featured an artist well known to Greencastle audiences in Tad Robinson.
While he now makes his home in Greencastle, Robinson was raised in New York City and got his start in the music business in Chicago.
Since 2005, he has been nominated for seven Blues Music Awards.
A veteran of countless national and international tours, the soul blues singer is appreciated around the world and right here in his adopted hometown.
"Tad Robinson is a favorite in Greencastle, and for good reason," Snyder said. "Critical acclaim for his work in blues and soul is wide ranging and consistent. Tad brings his group to the Fluttering Duck for his yearly concert with Jazz at the Duck."