Brad Mehldau and Gary Burton’s Generations Bring their Hallmark Blend of Jazz-Rock to the Kimmel Center
January 20, 2005
Gary Burton
Mehldau to Perform Solo
International jazz piano sensation Brad Mehldau and master jazz vibraphonist Gary Burton Generations will perform in the Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall with special guest and 19-year-old jazz guitar prodigy Julian Lage on Friday, January 27 at 8pm. Mehldau will give a solo performance of the astonishing improvisations with which he has taken the music world by storm and seamlessly incorporate riffs from Cole Porter, Radiohead, the Beatles and Debussy with complex jazz harmonies. Burton and Lage will combine genres for a blend of jazz and rock that the International Herald Tribune calls, “…a unique bridge between the mainstream of jazz…and jazz-rock.”
Brad Mehldau and Gary Burton Generations are part of the Mellon Jazz Fridays series of concerts at the Kimmel Center. Upcoming performances in the series include: Marcus Roberts Trio and the San Francisco Jazz Collective on March 24, 2006; and the Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Star Band on April 21, 2006.
Tickets for Brad Mehldau and Gary Burton Generations and are priced at $71, $64, $59, $46 and $30. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online Kimmel Center box office, open daily from 10am to 6pm and later on performance evenings (additional fees may apply). For group sales call 215-893-5883.
Gary Burton’s innovations in jazz, especially his approach to the vibraphone and his mastery of simultaneous four-mallet playing have been the hallmark of a career that has spanned four decades. His five Grammy Awards and 13 Grammy nominations cross multiple categories and attest to the high regard his music has achieved among his peers. His pioneering efforts in creating “fusion” jazz have been well-documented; his 1967 fusion band predated Miles Davis’ seminal “Bitches Brew” recording. Burton’s mentoring as the professor, Dean of Curriculum and Vice President of the Berklee College of Music in Boston, has in addition churned out multiple guitarists who became stars in their own right, further proving Burton’s commitment not only to his music but to the next generation as well.
Brad Mehldau has been a world-class level jazz pianist for over a decade, known for his “intense” style and narrative structure of his music. His unique spontaneity and use of improvisation has distinguished him in the jazz world, and his express desire to communicate the story behind his music to his audience has begat a sincere following throughout the world. Since 1994 he has recorded 10 albums including Largo and the acclaimed Live at Tokyo. He has toured in a variety of venues internationally and performed with artists spanning several genres including Joshua Redman, Wayne Shorter, John Scofield, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Willie Nelson, Joe Henry’s scar and Renee Flemming. His music has appeared in several movies including Wim Wender’s Million Dollar Hotel and more notably Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut.
From an early age, Julian Lage has been gathering a great deal of professional attention for his extraordinary guitar work. He was the subject of Mark Becker’s Academy Award® -nominated documentary, "Jules at Eight," and has already, at the age of 16, toured with Gary Burton and Martin Taylor and performed with Herbie Hancock, Carlos Santana, Bobby Hutcherson, Charles Lloyd, and Joe Lovano, among others. He began playing at five years old, and at age 12 was introduced to Gary Burton while performing with a youth ensemble during the 2000 GRAMMY® Awards telecast. A subsequent concert with Herbie Hancock and Lage confirmed Burton's first impression of Lage’s impressive talent: the two went on to record “Generations” with Burton’s Generations in 2004.
A limited number of $10 tickets are available for every Kimmel Center Presents performance at the Kimmel Center. Tickets go on sale the day of the event and can be purchased 2.5 hours prior to evening performances and 11:30am for matinees.
Kimmel Center Presents’ 2005/2006 season is supported by: Mellon Financial Corporation, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Sovereign Bank, The American Express Company, Verizon Foundation, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the National Endowment for the Arts, and The William Penn Foundation. Special Student Matinees at the Kimmel Center are generously supported by Merck & Co., Inc. American Airlines is the Official Airline of Kimmel Center Presents. Toyota is the Official Vehicle of Kimmel Center Presents Jazz and World Pop programming. In-kind support is generously provided by Deloitte and Southern Wine and Spirit. NBC-10 is a Media Partner for Kimmel Center Presents.
KIMMEL CENTER PRESENTS
Mellon Jazz Fridays
Friday, January 27 | 8pm
Verizon Hall
Brad Mehldau, piano
Gary Burton Generations
Gary Burton, Vibraphone
Julian Lage, Guitar
Vadim Neselovskyi, Piano
Luques Curtis, Bass
James Williams, Drums
FREE IN THE PLAZA
Commonwealth Plaza
6pm
Bro. Joe Baione Trio
Keep an eye on this emerging jazz vibraphonist who is moving up the jazz ranks quickly! Joe Baione, was named an emerging artist by Philadelphia Weekly and jazz club Zanzibar Blue in 2005.
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