Classical Jazz Point Richmond Press Release

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POINT RICHMOND CONCERT FEATURES CLASSICAL JAZZ: THE JEWISH AMERICAN EXPERIENCE

CONTACT: Kit Eakle (415)480-2080

Point Richmond landmark, Point Richmond United Methodist Church, will be the scene of a unique concert at 7 pm on Sunday, June 22. Kit Eakle and Jeb Gist will be presenting "Classical Jazz/Jazzy Classics," a concert exploring the relationship between Jazz, Classical music and Jewish-American composers in the 20th century. This concert will feature local musicians, Kit Eakle on violin, Jeb Gist on piano, and David Grisman Quintet flute player, Matt Eakle. Joining them on bass will be a young phenom, from Tiburon, Zachary Ostroff and drummer Rory Judge.

At the beginning of the 20th century the music world was in a state of ferment. The beginnings of jazz and ragtime music among African Americans was set to rock the world. In the rise of America as a world power, all cultures in the American melting pot were intrigued and inspired by the beat of the new possibilities. It is hard for us to imagine today how new and earth shattering the new music was. The Classical Jazz series is an attempt to recreate the excitement of those times and to show how the music of all cultures was influenced and in the end added their own elements to the excitement.

This year's Classical Jazz concert presented by this diverse group of musicians will show how jazz music was assimilated and then augmented by the music of Jewish-American composers. The concert will begin with several classical pieces showing the Jewish contribution to jazz and the influence of jazz on classical music. These include "Baal Shem" by Ernest Bloch, violin great Jascha Heifitz's arrangement of the Gershwin classic "Three Preludes," and Aaron Copland's bluesy "Ukulele Serenade." They will be joined by young Zachary Ostroff on bass and Rory Judge on drums for French jazz pianist, Claude Bolling's "Hora" from his "Suite for Violin and Jazz Trio.

The second half of the concert will feature add Matt Eakle, of the David Grisman Quintet fame, on flute for a jazz session featuring compositions by Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Kurt Weill, and Leonard Bernstein

This will be a marvelous opportunity to enjoy a wonderfully entertaining mix of jazz and classical musi, and learn about the fertile relationship between Jewish culture, jazz, and classical music in the 20th century.

Tickets are $15 and $10 for students and seniors. Get tickets at the the door at Point Richmond's United Methodist Church at 201 Martina St. in Point Richmond, 94801, beginning at 6 pm for the 7pm concert