Jere Flint’s Last Hoorah!

Jere Flint’s Last Hoorah!.

A Star Studded Night

Last night’s performances from Livingston Taylor and Liz Longley were spectacular! If you missed out, read our review! Or if you were able to join us, leave your comments!

 Last night, Northeast Georgian audiences were treated to some spectacular songwriting – the seasoned and the emerging. Livingston Taylor and Liz Longley took us on a journey where every possible emotion was evoked out of us, in the span of two hours. The audience cried, it felt elated; it sympathized, it celebrated; it sat pensive, it applauded with jubilation.

The concert opened with the haunting vocals of Liz Longley’s When You’re in Trouble. Packed into the beautiful face and body of this twenty-four year old is a soul that has aged gracefully with the trials and tribulations of generations. Her understanding of the primordial emotions of love, hate, anger and passion are way beyond her years. She is capable of defining teen angst yet with a lack of incensed discontent. Her lyrics are distinctly personal set to bare and sparse acoustic music. She forsakes grandeur for simplicity allowing her elastic voice to infiltrate every cellular membrane of your being. Her slow and sensuous ballads stroked your mind and jolted the heart. During the performance of Unraveling her husky voice and intense lyrics left us stunned with pain and the insistent stinging memory of those we have lost to the senseless and infinite oblivion that encompasses Alzheimer sufferers. Liz shares a slight smile even when we know her lyrics have come from a broken heart. Her song Camaro, pines over love lost and is an ode to the endurance of unconditional love. She is a thoughtful singer/songwriter aimed at honesty whose only motivation seem to be the sure passions and desires to write and sing things that cleanse the soul.

 Next, came the one and only Livingston Taylor! To introduce him as James Taylor’s brother is a disservice to Liv’s talent and ingenuous songwriting skills. A natural born performer, Liv’s body language, boyish smile and everyman presence on stage make him instantly lovable – that is until he starts singing. Then one is immediately reminded of his genius as a music maker and entertainer. This audience was more than content to stoke the fire of nostalgia. Liv gave us memorable originals, a little Gershwin, some Broadway and some folk-based Americana. We were all predetermined to enjoy good times gone by. His vocals range from cathartic to witty though never beat you over the head with machismo. He holds the ability to seem fresh with ideas and sage-like at the same time. The young and the young at heart were mesmerized with his ability to tell the most magnificent stories put to music – a performance packed with hilarious, spiritual and musically intense works. Liv has successfully crossed the generation gap – which musically is a testament to his life’s work. Liv embodies exceptional intellectual ability, creativity and originality. He was and will remain a threat to the mediocre mean that often passes as music.

The evening came to an end with Liv and Liz singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow. The two-headliners harmonized with undimmed affection and respect for one another. Standing ovations were instantly produced by the crowd and it was the moment when energy and musical skill met most harmoniously – on stage and off. This was an evening to remember.

The mad dash at intermission to buy CD’s and have them signed!

Livingston Taylor signing CD’s

Livingston Taylor and Bill Beyer

Liz Longley and Parker Henderson

Next time, don’t hear about one of our events the next day–BE THERE!!

The Arts Council is proud to present A Gift for the Village as our next film in the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Films  Friday, March 23 at 7:30pm at The Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center

AND

 Wycliffe Gordon as a part of our Evenings of Intimate Jazz series Saturday, March 24 at 8pm at The Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center! 

Call (770) 534-2787 or go online for tickets

Arts in Schools

We at The Arts Council believe in the importance of art in education and want to introduce and expend local students interest and benefits of art in academia. Recently, we have had the opportunity to present two very well known artists, Lynne Arriale and Evan Christopher into local schools. Lynne and Evan performed at The Arts Council’s Evenings of Intimate Jazz to standing ovations. The Arts Council sponsored two clinics at North Hall High School and Chestatee Academy of Inquiry and Talent Development respectively. We were all thrilled to find young, talented students eager to learn from the best in their art.

Both artists were so complimentary of the jazz programs in both schools and look forward to more clinics of this nature in our area.

Lynne Arriale instructing the musicians in the North Hall High School Jazz Band.

The very enthusiastic, attentive, and talented musicians in the North Hall High School Jazz Band.

Lynne teaching them the importance of the rhythm section in a jazz band.

Lynne was very impressed by the students talent and eagerness to learn.

The North Hall High School Jazz Band with their talented teacher Kevin Carwile, Lynne Arriale, Principal Joe Gheesling, and  Chair of the Arts in Schools Committee for the Arts Council,Vicki Hough.

Evan Christopher presenting valuable instruction to the musicians of Chestatee Academy of Inquiry and Talent Development.

An attentive group of Chestatee musicians!

Evan’s jazz style pays homage to the earliest creators of jazz. Armstrong and Bichet used to listen to opera for inspiration. They saw their instruments as the voice in opera. Here Evan demonstrates the clarinet singing an aria from La Traviata. The children were mesmerized!

 The jazz musicians of Chestatee Academy of Inquiry and Talent Development.

Evan Christopher performing for Chestatee jazz musicians! We thank Terry Sleister, band director for Chestatee, for being such a wonderful leader to these future stars!

Thank you to both Lynne and Evan for giving such wonderful clinics! And thank you to the teachers, band directors, and students at both schools for allowing The Arts Council and these awesome musicians time in your classrooms! As always we strive to keep the arts vibrantly alive in Northeast Georgia.

Did You Know… Liv a Little…

Did you know…

Livingston Taylor, James Taylors brother, is coming HERE March 15!

Some little known facts about the artist:

Livingston is the fourth child born into the very musical Taylor family, including; Alex, James, Kate, and Hugh.

He has had top 40 hits recorded by his brother James like “Going Round One More Time”.

Livingston has toured with major artists such as, Linda Ronstadt, Jimmy Buffett, and Jethro Tull.

He hosted a nationally syndicated television show called This Week’s Music.

His single, “I Will be in Love With You”, reached #30 on the Billboard Charts.

He recorded a duet with his brother James, called “City Lights” in the late 80’s.

  

“I got the early attention,” James Taylor said, “but there is no real reason that it couldn’t have been Liv. We could easily have swapped. Our sense of the world is informed by each other.” 

He has been a full professor at Berklee College of Music in Boston since 1989 where he teaches Stage Performance to aspiring artists.

We are beside ourselves with excitement as we anticipate the arrival of Livingston Taylor!

Purchase tickets today for his show March 15, 2012, 8pm at Pearce Auditorium by calling The Arts Council, (770) 534-2787, or go online!

PS-We heard he is bringing a special guest with him!! 

An Inside Look

Have you ever wondered what The Arts Council thinks about its upcoming performers? Or why they choose to bring certain acts to Gainesville? Gain some insight from two Arts Council insiders!

NAIRIKA

1. What’s all the buzz about Stringfever? 

What started out as 4 young men with a passion for music is today becoming an international sensation! These men are talented, innovative, humorous… AND have British accents! Could we really ask for more??? They have proven themselves on the European continent and are now crossing the pond to showcase their brilliantly honed classical skills with twists that make them whacky, whimsical and completely watchable!! A guaranteed visual and aural treat!

2. Who, according to you, will most appreciate Stringfever? 

I ask, who will NOT appreciate Stringfever? This group plays everything from Bach to Beyonce; boisterous and sensual;  emotional and serene; impulsive and choreographed; tender and aggressive…

3. What do you think/hope you’re going to hear? 

I cannot wait to hear and see the history of music in FIVE minutes. Does anyone see a link between Beethoven’s 5th and Stayin’ Alive??? They do and I want to hear it!

4. What do you find most unique about Stringfever? 

At the outset, it’s a band of 3 brothers and a cousin, remarkably talented and funny.  When many generation X-ers lamented the possible demise of classical music fans, Stringfever has reinvented the wheel. They have turned Lady Gaga fans into their own; they have made 20 year olds tap to their tunes; and they consistently leave their audiences begging for more!

5. What brings them to Gainesville? 

The Arts Council brings to Northeast Georgia a variety of artistic entertainment for all ages. Gladys (Artistic Director) saw this group perform in the Baltics and knew immediately she had to bring them to Gainesville. Our audiences are savvy, appreciative and enthusiastic. Like Stringfever, what’s not to love about Northeast Georgia?(!) We want to give these British boys a warm Southern welcome with a SOLD OUT SHOW!!!

GINNA

1. What’s all the buzz about Stringfever?

Stringfever is all the rage in London, and as we all know once you’ve made it big there, it’s time for a move across the pond! They aren’t a boring quartet that solely plays classical music, they play anything from Bach to Beyonce-and everything in between. They are the WORLDS FIRST genetically modified string quartet and even have a beat-boxer! If I could sum Stringfever up with one word it would be ENERGY.

2. Who, according to you, will most appreciate Stringfever?

EVERYONE! From our most educated, cultured patrons to the youngest of ears! If you love music, concerts, excitement, and having a great time then this show is for you!

3. What do you think/hope you’re going to hear?

I hope to hear their rendition of Bolero-I’ve seen it on Youtube and am really hoping that it is a regular piece they perform. I would also love to hear some modern pieces by Lady Gaga or Madonna.

4. What do you find most unique about Stringfever?

Besides obviously being the one and only group  of their kind, their uniqueness comes from more than just their electronic instruments. The group is made up of 3 brothers and a cousin that couldn’t be more original spunky, or fun if they tried! Each member of the group brings a certain something to the performance to elevate a song you may have heard a thousand times, to an entirely new level.

5. What brings them to Gainesville?

Gainesville is fortunate enough to be Stringfever’s 2nd stop in their 2012 US Tour! Gainesville is growing demographically, geographically, and culturally everyday-why not have an up and coming British sensation knock our socks off on an otherwise stagnant Friday night?

The show is this friday night, Feb. 10, at 8pm at Pearce Auditorium

Call (770) 534-2787 or go online today to get tickets!

SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION

It is with great pleasure that I inform you of SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION – The Art of Jazz Improvisation! This will be a 30-35 minute lecture-demonstration and Question & Answer session, with pianist Lynne Arriale, prior to her performance on January 28, 2012. You will have a chance to receive some rare insight into Jazz music, its beginnings, its future and some of Lynne’s personal anecdotes and stories. If you would like to take advantage of this special opportunity, please arrive at The Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center no later than 7:30pm. This presentation is included in the cost of your ticket. Tickets are still available at The Arts Council, please call today! 

 What is Spontaneous Combustion?

 Critically acclaimed jazz pianist, recording artist, composer and educator, Lynne Arriale’s demonstration will introduce jazz as a ‘language,’ the basic elements of a jazz solo and why improvisation is so much fun! Lynne’s approach makes understanding jazz completely accessible and enjoyable to anyone.

 The audience will gain a better understanding and appreciation of America’s great art form through simple examples and active participation.

For Example:

1.   The building blocks of a jazz solo and how basic melodic ideas, which may sound as simple as nursery rhymes, make up the improvisation.

2.   An example of using these basic melodic ideas in a solo, so that the audience can clearly identify where these ideas or ‘building blocks’ are present.

 3.   How any tune can be played in different styles, such as Bebop, blues, Brazilian, waltz, funk and various tempos which change the entire character of the piece.

4.   Audience participation in a Q & A session to make jazz a listener-friendly art form. 

Hope to see you all this saturday night at 7:30! 

Coffee, cookies, and salty snacks provided byThe Arts Council. You are welcome to bring your beverage and snack/food of choice!