Sedona, AZ: Artists In Rhythm and the Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley continues its benefit Community Concert series with “Nuance,” one of the most diverse ensembles in the southwestern U.S.
“Nuance’s” style has been described as “straight-ahead jazz with gypsy moods and classical overtones, flavored with Spanish and East Indian influences – and it swings.” Major influences of this group include Stephane Grappelli, Django Reinhardt and Miles Davis.
“Not having drums allows us the ability to have more communication with each other and play with more intensity,” says Devon Bridgewater, the group’s leader. Bridgewater is a master on violin, trumpet and flugelhorn. His partner, Dick Curtis, is a virtuoso guitarist. Joining them on stage for this one evening is Artists in Rhythm's founder, Steve Douglas, on upright bass.
Bridgewater received his Bachelor of Arts from Harvard in 1981, and performed in clinics and master classes with Dizzy Gillespie, John Lewis and Yo-Yo Ma. Named “Jazz Artist of the Year” by Jazz in Arizona in 1993-94, "Best Trumpet Artist" by
AZ Jazz Magazine for 1999 and listed the same year in
Down Beat Magazine as a “Player to Catch,” he has also played with Bud Freedman, Johnny Frigo and Ted Carson. Since 1993, Bridgewater has been a part of Arizona’s Commission for the Arts Residency Program.
Curtis studied at Indiana University and worked with sax-great Sonny Stitt. Settling in Chicago, he regularly performed with Johnny Frigo and Roger Pemberton. Curtis also worked as a “first call” show player backing up national touring artists. He relocated to Phoenix in 1991 and has had an active performance schedule on the desert ever since, in addition to writing most of the arrangements for “Nuance.”
Douglas has played several engagements with “Nuance” in Phoenix, and is himself a very diverse player with a wide and eclectic taste. Douglas is very active in the local arts, currently serving as a commissioner for the Sedona Arts and Culture Commission, and is a Musician In Residence at Red Rock High School, working four days a week in the classroom. This is his fourth year providing benefit concerts in the Sedona community, having raised thousands of scholarship funds for young musicians all over the state. All of the proceeds from this series go to the JCSVV’s endowment program, with a portion earmarked again this year for music scholarships.
This concert series is performed at the JCSVV’s Community Center at 100 Meadowlark Drive, just off Hwy 179 in the Chapel area of Sedona. All tickets are $15, with free admission for kids 18 years and under. Tickets can be purchased at the door, or ordered in advance by either calling 204-1286 or emailing
jcsvv@sedona.net. Doors open at 6:30 and refreshments are available for purchase at intermission.
For more information about Artists in Ryhthm, visit: http://www.artistsinrhythm.com
Article contributed by Steve Douglas, Artists in Rhythm.
Posted May 6, 2008.
