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Sweet, Suite Music In Café Concert Series

The Café Concert Series is on again in Latrobe City, with a package of four concerts presented throughout the calendar year celebrating music as an art form.

By Latrobe City - 15th February 2006 - Back to News

Latrobe City’s performing arts and venues coordinator, Kathleen Roberts, said this year’s series has an emphasis on quality musicianship and presents a diverse and inspiring selection of acoustic musical styles.

"This series acknowledges the achievements of the musicians in mastering their instruments and their ability to interpret and create music. It praises originality, honours traditions and values inventiveness," Ms Roberts said.

"Every year, considerable effort is made to create a program where each act is very different from the next. The acts are selected because they represent the highest standard in their field of music. The program this year offers a new African Jazz combo, a humorous French cabaret act, a female European gypsy/tango trio and the equivalent of a Cuban big band playing dance and party music. Each program offers the audience a hybrid of old and new, popular and unknown, and humorous and melancholy."

The year kicks off on 5 March with ‘Zebra Crossing’ who have been labelled as ‘African jazz that rocks’. They combine Afro-Cuban percussion from Ray Pereria with European jazz saxophone and flute supplied by Leo Dale and the sound of beautiful South African vocals, guitar and kalimba (thumb piano) masterly offered by Valanga Khoza. "The effect is very graceful and provides an uncommon and very impressive musical experience. Their music is beautiful to either listen or dance to," Ms Roberts said.

"On 7 May we ease into the world of ‘Stella and the Night Sky Band’; a classy five-piece band that provides music from every continent in a cabaret style show of great pathos, musicianship and tall tales. The show follows the adventures of ‘Stella du Stella’ a French chanteuse and her hapless love affairs with men around the globe."

"After an interlude over winter, the series springs into action again in September to present ‘The Stiletto Sisters’. This stunning female trio comprising Hope Csutoros, Judy Gunson (both from Cosmo Cosmolino) and Jo Jo on double bass create luscious, exciting, virtuosic gypsy melodies, seductive tango rhythms, popular and traditional continental favourites and love songs from Europe and Latin America; which are all performed and arranged with incredible finesse and delicacy.

"The series concludes in November in the usual festive manner with ‘Sally Ford and the Pachuco Playboys’. This eight-piece ensemble invites you to take up the Cuban challenge with classics from the Cuban repertoire with a shot of NuYoRican Latin soul from the swinging sixties. Led by the energizing lead vocals of Sally Ford, ably accompanied by Patrick Cronin on Trumpet, Chris Leser on piano, Lliam Freeman on guitar, Javier Fredes on congas, Leo Salve on bongos and Simon Starr on double bass this band provides the perfect recipe for an uplifting, charged party atmosphere. If you have never heard Cuban music played live, you haven’t lived!" Ms Roberts said.

"The type of cultural experience that the Café Concert Series offers could be easily taken for granted in Melbourne where the acts might often be seen in city and suburban venues such as local hotels, clubs and festivals. For those living in regional Victoria this kind of access to quality live music is very rare. To help balance this, Arts Victoria has provided financial support to allow these acts to tour parts of regional Victoria.

"Generously discounted seasons tickets are on sale now for the Café Concert Series 2006. So, what are you waiting for? Get yourself to the Box Office and treat yourself to four wonderful nights of great value for money entertainment," Ms Roberts added.

The Café Concert Series is proudly presented by the Latrobe Performing Arts in conjunction with Gippsland Acoustic Music Club. Tickets are on sale now at the Latrobe Performing Arts Box Office 5176 3559.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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