Brad Mehldau
JAZZ PLUS BLUEGRASS EQUALS NEW MUSIC at THE MAHAIWE
(GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.) – Two of the greatest innovators in contemporary American music – jazz pianist Brad Mehldau and bluegrass mandolinist and vocalist Chris Thile – have joined forces to create an inexplicable fusion of composed and improvised music. The two bring their duo tour, promising an evening of classical transcriptions, pop covers, and original songs, to the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center on Saturday, April 13, 2013, at 8pm.
Darlingside
DARLINGSIDE BRINGS HOMEGROWN CHAMBER-ROCK to MASS MoCA
(NORTH ADAMS, Mass.) – Darlingside, a band with roots in the Berkshires and the Pioneer Valley, brings its uniquely styled chamber-rock to MASS MoCA on Saturday, April 13, 2013, at 8pm. After an appearance at Pittsfield’s WordXWord Festival in August 2011, I wrote about Darlingside: “The group’s sound ranged from moody to bright, with violin and mandolin played by Auyon Mukharji and electric cello courtesy of Harris Paseltiner lending classical and world-beat touches to college-rock and Beatlesesque group harmonies filled out by guitarist Don Mitchell, guitarist/bassist David Senft, and drummer Sam Kapala, who could well be the group’s secret weapon.” Its most recent album, Pilot Machines, exhibits influences ranging from the Police to Vampire Weekend to Crosby, Stills and Nash.
Tim O’Brien
FLATLANDERS, TIM O’BRIEN BOOKEND ROOTSY WEEKEND at HELSINKI HUDSON
(HUDSON, N.Y.) – The legendary Texas trio the Flatlanders – featuring original members Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock – and famed roots-musician/songwriter Tim O’Brien bookend a weekend of country- and folk-music talent at Club Helsinki Hudson. O’Brien performs on Friday, April 12, 2013, at 9pm, and the Flatlanders perform on Sunday, April 14, at 8pm, with special guest Joe Pug.
So Percussion
CONTEMPORARY PERCUSSION MASTERWORKS at BARD
(ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y.) – The monthlong celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College continues on Friday, April 12, 2013, at 8p.m. in the Sosnoff Theater with a concert led by new-music ensemble S? Percussion featuring students from the Bard College Conservatory of Music Percussion Program. The program features a wide array of contemporary works written by living composers, including Steve Reich’s Music for Pieces of Wood and compositions by members of So Percussion.
Peter Primamore
KEYBOARDIST JOINED by FAMED ROCK DRUMMER at CASTLE STREET CAFÉ
(GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.) – Keyboardist/composer Peter Primamore will be joined by superstar rock drummer Jerry Marotta and the homegrown Tokarz Brothers for a rare, one-off gig at the Castle Street Café on Friday, April 12, 2013. Primamore’s eclectic performing and commercial career includes such diverse musical experiences as playing the Stone Pony & Mrs. Jay’s in Asbury Park, N.J.; membership in the bar band, HYTOP, named after a loaf of bread; house piano player at the Comic Strip in New York City; composing music for the Food Network; and winning several awards for themes to the TODAY Show. Jerry Marotta has played with a who’s who of rock royalty, including Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello and Peter Gabriel. But Marotta also swings with the best of them.