South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center Presents Turtle Island Quartet: Bird’s Eye View, the Legend of Charlie Parker
Grammy® winning string musicians pay homage to jazz saxophonist Friday, February 16, 7:30 p.m.
Turtle Island. Photo by Jati Lindsay.
(South Milwaukee, WI)- South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center is proud to present Turtle Island Quartet: Bird’s Eye View, the Legend of Charlie Parker on Friday, February 16. In Bird’s Eye View, the two-time GRAMMY® winning Turtle Island Quartet pays homage to the visionary brilliance of the jazz saxophonist.
The genius of Parker’s improvisations almost single-handedly catapulted jazz from pop style into art music, indelibly altering the musical landscape of America. Iconic Charlie Parker classics such as Ornithology, KoKo and Dewey Square are juxtaposed with original responses by quartet members, and intertwined with other thematic pieces from the be-bop era and beyond such as Sonny Rollins’ Airegin, Bird Calls by Charlie Mingus and Too High by Stevie Wonder.
Turtle Island has been a singular force in the creation of bold, new trends in chamber music for strings since its inception in 1985. Turtle Island fuses the classical quartet esthetic with contemporary American musical styles devising a performance practice that honors both. Turtle Island Quartet musicians include David Balakrishnan (violin), Alex Hargreaves (violin), Malcolm Parson (cello), and Benjamin Von Gutzeit (viola).
The Quartet’s birth was the result of violinist David Balakrishnan’s brainstorming explorations and compositional vision while writing his master’s thesis at Antioch University West. The journey has taken Turtle Island through forays into folk, bluegrass, swing, be-bop, funk, R&B, new age, rock, hip-hop, as well as music of Latin America and India… a repertoire consisting of hundreds of ingenious arrangements and originals. It has included more than a dozen recordings. Turtle Island has been featured in People and Newsweek magazines. They have collaborated with famed artists such as clarinetist Paquito D’Rivera, vibraphonist Stefon Harris, guitar legends Leo Kottke and the Assad brothers, The Manhattan Transfer, pianists Billy Taylor, Kenny Barron, Cyrus Chestnut and Ramsey Lewis, singers Tierney Sutton and Nellie McKay, the Ying Quartet, and the Parsons and Luna Negra Dance Companies.
Ticketing Information
Ticket prices are $30-$45 for adults, $25-$40 for seniors (60+), and $10-$20 for students (4 thru college). For tickets, visit www.southmilwaukeepac.org or call (414) 766-5049.
About SMPAC
South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center (SMPAC) provides the greater Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin communities with creative, innovative and diverse performing arts. In addition to hosting an annual Performing Arts Series, SMPAC also serves the students of South Milwaukee and is a professionally-managed rental facility for presenters, organizations and groups. More than 500 performances, rehearsals, classes and other events take place at SMPAC annually. SMPAC was named the tri-city South Shore Chamber of Commerce “Business of the Year.” SMPAC was also voted one of the Top 5 Best Theatres in the Milwaukee A-List Contest in 2017 and 2016, with customer reviews such as “A great venue with fabulous events for all ages!” “Excellent and diverse touring artist performances showcased in a comfortable, friendly theatre away from the downtown crowds.” “There is not a bad seat in the house.”
The annual SMPAC Performing Arts Series is sponsored in part by the Avalon Theatre, Classic Cargo International Inc., Courtyard Marriott Milwaukee Airport, Sheridan House & Café, Skyline Catering & Express Deli, TASC Services LLC., and Ken Cook Co. Performances are supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of WI and the National Endowment for the Arts.
SMPAC is located inside of the South Milwaukee School District 6-12 campus, at 901 15th Avenue in South Milwaukee between College and Rawson Avenues. It is easily accessible from I-94 and 794. Free parking is located in the northwest parking lot. Patrons should enter door #9. For tickets or directions, call 414-766-5049. For more information, visit southmilwaukeepac.org.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
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