Music for Peace and Justice Concert Series

2008 SEASON

Rob Levit

October 25, 2008
7:30 PM
Location: Church Santuary
Contact: Tatiana Johanning 410-897-7588 tjohanning@gmail.com

Guitarist/Composer/Educator Rob Levit is a multi-directional artist whose work has been distinguished by the depth of its originality and the breadth of its interest. Levit lives on the cutting-edge of artistic inspiration and innovation and is a gifted speaker and facilitator on leadership, team building, and the creative process.

Currently, he serves as an Artist-In-Residence at the Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, the first musician selected to that position. www.roblevit.com

Artist-In-Residence,Maryland Hall For The Creative Arts

"... one of the finest young guitarists on today's jazz scene."
Ottawa International Jazz Festival

"... face to face with musical greatness."
Eric Brace, The Washington Post

Bio

Guitarist, composer and educator Rob Levit has been described by the Ottawa International Jazz Festival as "...one of the finest young guitarists on today's jazz scene." He is the recipient of numerous grants and awards including the 2000 Chamber Music America New Works: Creation and Presentation (Doris Duke Jazz Ensembles Project) Award, the Jazz Composers Alliance/Julius Hemphill Prize, and four consecutive Maryland State Arts Council Individual Arts Awards. Inspired by great composers as diverse as Charles Mingus, Ornette Coleman, Sam Rivers and Pat Metheny, Levit's music integrates world, rock, jazz and classical sources with improvisation to create an exciting fusion of sounds. His band, the Rob Levit Group, has performed at the Kennedy Center, Montreal Jazz Festival, the Knitting Factory, and the Ottawa International Jazz Festival. Levit Produces, records, and releases his own music on the Symbol System label -- a label devoted to fostering collaboration, creativity, and economic self-sufficiency. He also gives workshops on all aspects of jazz and improvisation.

Guitarist, composer, educator, and band leader Rob Levit, a native of Richmond, Virginia, resides in Annapolis, Maryland. He received his master's degree in Jazz Studies from the New England Conservatory in Boston. While there, his group, a quintet comprised of trumpet, flute, guitar, bass, and drums, was signed to Brownstone Recordings and recorded the compact disc, Singularity . Released in October 1994, the disc received acclaim in New England and nationally. In his year end column, jazz critic Bob Blumenthal of the Boston Globe recognized him as a rising jazz star. The Rob Levit Group was nominated "Best Jazz Act" by the Boston Phoenix . Subsequently, it was chosen as the opening act for Arturo Sandoval in the Boston Globe Jazz Festival , one of the most prestigious American jazz festivals. The group's performance received positive reviews in the area's two primary newspapers, the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald . Singularity was featured on Chronicle, a popular television newsmagazine, as a recommended compact disc. In addition, one cut from the CD was selected by the Massachusetts Governor's Alliance Against Drugs for a public service announcement.

In 1995, Levit moved to New York City where he formed a new group featuring saxophonist Chris Cheek, percussionist John Mettam, and bassist Stephan Crump. Together they recorded two CD's of Levit's original compositions, Afterimage and East River View . In 1996, the Rob Levit Group was Artist-In-Residence at the University of Virginia and Collegiate School as part of an east coast tour. In July 1997, the group performed at the Ottawa International Jazz Festival where Levit was described as " ... one of the finest young guitarists on today's jazz scene ." In July 1998, the group played on the mainstage of the Montreal International Jazz Festival .

Levit was recently awarded the Julius Hemphill Composition Award by the Jazz Composers Alliance, an Individual Artist Award by the Maryland State Arts Council as well as an ASCAP Special Award for his original compositions. He performs regionally at venues like the Knitting Factory (New York), the Texaco Jazz Festival, and Blues Alley (Washington) and currently teaches guitar privately and at Loyola College in Baltimore. He is signed to Whirlybird Records , a national label, founded by electronic music pioneer Simeon of Silver Apples.

Over the past several years, he has established himself as a composer whose band performs original works that draw from a myriad of influences including twentieth century classical music, rock, world traditions, and modern jazz. His musical and compositional approach, called Symbol System, seeks to unify these diverse musical traditions into a personal style.

Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for Students. Tickets are on sale at the church office during the week. Cash, check, Visa or Master Card accepted.
Click Here to purchase online with Visa/MasterCard.

 

 

The Michael Thomas Quintet
Saturday, February 23 th 2008
7:30 PM
Location: Church Santuary
Contact: Tatiana Johanning 410-897-7588 tjohanning@gmail.com

The Michael Thomas Quintet is a powerful, energetic, and exciting group that is deeply rooted in the rich tradition of jazz but adds today's influences. The Quintet is the Hottest group in Washington , DC !!! The group has been together for nine years. Jazz is AUTHENTIC here!

The Michael Thomas Quartet, led by trumpeter Thomas, delights audiences with its swinging hard-bop style and soulful blues.

Michael A. Thomas - Trumpet/Flugelhorn

Zach Graddy - Tenor

Darius Scott - Piano

Kent Miller - Contrabass

Frank Williams IV – Drums

 

Musica Novantica Vienna

March 15, 2008
7:30 PM
Location: Church Santuary
Contact: Tatiana Johanning 410-897-7588 tjohanning@gmail.com

All four musicians studied at the Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts and have repeatedly performed with the Vienna Bach Soloists and other renowned ensembles and orchestras and have been prizewinners in international competitions.

Since 2002 musica novantica vienna has performed regularly in concert with great success and has been extensively praised by both the press and the public. Many engagements have followed since 2005 at their historic point of origin, Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam. On the occasion of the 250 th anniversary of the birth of W. A. Mozart, in January 2006 the ensemble participated in the worldwide television transmission of the three-day “Spirit of Mozart” festival in Vienna .