Downtown Tucsonan - September 2008 - (Page 15)

Downtown Performing Arts Season Preview Rhythm and Roots www.rhythmandroots.org 520.297.9133 MUSIC & VARIETY Tucson Symphony Orchestra www.TucsonSymphony.org 520.882.8585 s its name implies, this concert promotion company specializes in music that is “down home”, unpretentious, and close to the source, be it blues, folk, r&b or roots rock. It has a creative reach that may also expand out into some unique derivatives such as flamenco, bluegrass, cajun/zydeco or Hawaiian music. a labor of love for local promoter Jonathan Holden, R&R’s signature event for many years has been its outdoor spring courtyard concert series. For the last several years this has been housed and hosted by downtown’s old town artisans courtyard. while this spring’s series has yet to be unveiled, R&R will still utilize old town for at least two shows this fall. one will feature Bearfoot (september 4), a bluegrass band from alaska and winner of the telluride Bluegrass Festival’s new band competition, while another will feature Phoenix blues legend Big Pete Pearson and the Rhythm Room all-stars (september 19) rhythm and roots presents eric for a night of chicago Blues. Much of R&R’s lineup is bibb, november 15. driven by Holden’s own love of the music and the rich traditions these artists represent. R&R will also often make use of the acoustically rich Berger Performing arts center where Greg Brown (with Bo Ramsey) will make his umpteenth tucson appearance on Friday, september 26. R&R often partners with KXcI-FM, possibly the only place you are likely to hear most of these great independent artists that R&R champions through these shows. - Jim Lipson A UA Presents www.uapresents.org 520.621.3341 / 520.621.3364 f arts organizations were like hotels, ua Presents (uaP) would be getting a five-star rating. It’s not that their shows are necessarily better than anyone else’s, but there is an air of sophistication and style that distinguishes their season as a whole. this year’s 36 performances are also a multicultural potpourri that very much defines their stated goal “to bring the world’s finest performing arts, stemming from all genres, to tucson and southern arizona.” unlike other promoters or venues which often book anywhere from 2-6 months in advance, uaP unveils its full season months before its first show, and must look at artists and touring companies one to three years in advance. somehow this complex scheduling nightmare unfolds in a way that offers an amazing range of dance, music (classical, jazz and blues) and Broadway to the new and improved centennial Hall. some of this year’s highlights include Mary wilson of the supremes, the Jerusalem symphony orchestra, the alvin ailey dance theater, the afro cuban all stars, Etta James, Gilbert and sullivan and ua presents alvin ailey® american dance the list goes on and on. t h e a t e r , f e b r u a r y 2 7, 2 0 0 9 . what’s perhaps most exciting, is how uaP will find outstanding shows that might not be so easily recognizable. Richard Loring’s African Footprint is one such example. Its 30-member cast presents an explosive and emotional performance that tells the vibrant and diverse history of south africa with incomparable energy and hope. discounts on ticket packages are available along with many K-12 student matinees. he tucson symphony orchestra is a continuing aural narrative of the old Pueblo’s artists’ commitment to their craft, with this season marking its 80th anniversary. the orchestra’s humble beginnings date back to January 13, 1929 with the initial performance taking place at tucson High school. the inaugural season had two concerts; the next year had three and performances moved from the high school to the temple of Music art. nowadays, tso hosts the classic and Pops series and its specials at tucson Music Hall, 260 s. church ave. the Masterworks series takes place at catalina Foothills High school and the recital series and the Just for Kids concerts happen at the symphony center at 2175 n. 6th ave. other performances also occur in Green Valley and oro Valley. Highlights for the classis series includes Mahler’s symphony no. 2, “the Resurrection,” stravinsky’s Firebird and tchaikovsky’s symphony no. 5 along with globally renowned pianist cecile Licad returning for a single concert on saturday, February 7. tso Pops specials will showcase the smothers Brothers on saturday, January 10 and Bugs Bunny on Broadway saturday, March 28. the season’s schedule also presents ¡Fiesta! a four-program series promising to be “Latin passion at its symphonic best,” punctuated by the the Romeros Guitar Quartet performing March 5-8. the opening night programs are september 25 and 26 with Beethoven’s Violin concerto and shostakovich’s symphony no. 10. tso’s first commercial recording will be on sale at those shows before its september 30 release. - Jamie Manser T I tucson symphony orchestra presents the smothers brothers; j a n u a r y 1 0 ; 2 0 0 9. cecile licad, t c h a i k o v s k y ’s piano concerto No. 1, tucson symphony orchestra, f e b r u a r y 7, 2 0 0 9 . - Jim Lipson september.08. downtown tucsonan 15 http://www.rhythmandroots.org http://www.TucsonSymphony.org http://www.uapresents.org

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Downtown Tucsonan - September 2008 Contents Downtown Lowdown Vital Signs 2008-09 Performing Arts Season Preview Galleries Downtown Live Museums Billboard Classifieds

Downtown Tucsonan - September 2008

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