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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (May 22, 2003)
BY BRETT CAMPBELL Mark O’Connor performs at the Shedd on June 1. Hot Jazz O’Connor swings, UO ends year on high note. LES SCHWAB AMPHITHEATER MONQUI.COM BEND OREGON Lyle T T E L O V & His LARGE BAND BEST VIEW IN TOWN FOR AFTER SHOW FIREWORKS Featuring SUSAN TEDESCHI TAJ MAHAL AND HIS HULA BLUES BAND JACKIE GREENE 4 QUETZAL SUNDAY JUNE 29 EISLEY & DAMIEN RICE SUNDAY MAY 25 FRIDAY JULY 4 T! PRAIRIE HOME SOLD u O Or U ego n COMPANION Thank Yo AMERICAN LEGEND WILLIE NELSON of the Earth’s greatest music traditions, and this community is very lucky that the UO has both a full set of these gorgeous instruments (hand made of bronze, iron, brass, wood, and bamboo, including xylophones, metallo- phones, gongs, drums, and flutes) and, for the past year, one of the finest teachers of game- lan, Joko Purwanto, a Fulbright scholar in res- idence who’ll direct the ensemble. This is a valuable opportunity to get a taste of some of the most beguiling music ever created. The UO is also one of Oregon’s well- springs of contemporary music. On Saturday, May 31, the school’s computer music pro- gram, Future Music Oregon, brings com- poser Burton Beerman and dancer Celesta Haraszti to Room 198 of the music school in a concert featuring Body Synth, a device that converts a dancer’s movements into music. The program offers music by Beerman and UO student composers, including a video work by Elyzabeth Meade. On Sunday, June 1, the school’s student- run new music group, 100th Monkey Ensemble, plays a famous jolt of protest music, Frederic Rzewski’s “Attica,” two haunting works by the great Japanese com- poser Toru Takemitsu (“Rain Tree” and “Rain Tree Sketches”), another intensely evocative 20th century masterpiece, “Music for a Summer’s Evening” by George Crumb, and other adventurous contemporary music. On Monday, June 2, the Oregon Percussion Ensemble presents a concert of music by New York composer Meyer Kupferman, in- cluding “Sound Phantoms No. 5 for Percussion Orchestra,” featuring 130 percus- sion instruments drawn from cultures around the world; a solo marimba showcase; “Prometheus” for chamber orchestra, featur- ing Eugene Symphony percussionist Sean Wagoner as guest timpani soloist; and more. These OPE concerts are always some of the most exciting, fun shows of the year, even for listeners who don’t know percussion reper- toire. And if your jazz cravings are still unsa- tiated, on Friday, May 30, the UO Jazz Café presents music of Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, Dave Douglas, and student works, plus a jam session in the cabaret setting of the music building’s Room 178. ew T he music of the great French violinist Stephane Grappelli and his partner, guitar deity Django Reinhardt, was called “Le Jazz Hot.” As the weather warms, Eugene’s burgeoning jazz scene is heating up as well. On June 1, one of the world’s great fiddlers, Mark O’Connor brings his Hot Swing Trio to the Shedd. Sort of a tribute to Grappelli, one of his mentors, this high-pow- ered threesome (including guitarist Frank Vignola and bassist John Burr, who played with Grappelli for a decade) shows O’Connor in a folk-tinged swing setting that’s a depar- ture from his well-known virtuoso bluegrass, classical and studio work, yet at least as en- gaging, and certainly blazing hot. Thursday, June 12, one of the great jazz bassists, David Friesen, brings his trio to Luna. Featuring guitarist/composers Jerry Hahn (who’s also a well-known teacher) and Dan Balmer, this outstanding group brings decades of high-level improvisatory explo- ration together in surprisingly gentle, always fluent combinations. This is a don’t miss for jazz fans. The end of the academic year is the culmi- nation of music studies for students at one of the finest music schools in the West, the UO, and this spring’s lineup of concerts at Beall Concert Hall is especially tasty. Here are some highlights: On Tuesday, May 27, UO student chamber ensembles play a ter- rific program of mostly French — er, make that “Freedom” — music, including one of the most beautiful pieces of chamber music — any music — ever written: Maurice Ravel’s only string quartet. The concert also contains another masterpiece of chamber music, one of the three magnificent sonatas Claude Debussy wrote at the end of his life, this one for violin, and songs by Lili Boulanger. The sister of history’s most fa- mous music teacher, Lili was a precociously promising composer who died at age 24, leav- ing behind a small but lovely collection of songs and other music. The attractive pro- gram also includes music by Mozart, Canteloube and contemporary composers. On Wednesday, May 28 UO Javanese Gamelan gives its inaugural concert. The gamelan music of Indonesia is considered one AND FAMILY SATURDAY JUNE 14 Pink Martini and ¡Cubanismo! SATURDAY AUGUST 16 SATURDAY JULY 26 FULL SETS BY BOTH ARTISTS AUGUST 19 DOOBIE BROTHERS SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 7 Advance tickets available at all ticketmaster outlets including ticketmaster.com, GI Joes, and charge by phone at 503.224.4400 Subject to Service and/or User Fee Festival Seating • All Ages • Sand Chairs and blankets only (except 5/25 and 8/19 no chairs) • Free parking at Old Mill Shops and Mt. Bachelor lots MAY 22, 2003 25
