Music Carolina SummerFest 2021

“Jazz With Words” - Diana Tuffin, vocalist

Sunday, August 7 – 7:30 p.m.
Piedmont Music Center
$26 General Admission

Jazz songs with poignant and evocative lyrics, including, “Lady Day and John Coltrane,” “Is That Jazz,” and “Pieces of A Man,” by Gil Scott-Heron, “Lush Life,” by Billy Strayhorn and more. Poet Spencer Aubrey will add more words as an interlude between songs. Great jazz with great words.

Lorena Guillén Tango Ensemble

Tuesday, August 9 - 7:30 p.m.
Reynolds Place Theatre - Milton Rhodes Center
$26 General Admission

The award-winning Lorena Guillén Tango Ensemble captivates audiences with soulful arrangements of Argentine tango standards and original compositions that create a dynamic pan-Latin fusion.

Lorena Guillén, voice and artistic director; Alejandro Rutty, piano and bass; Jacqui Carrasco, violin; Guy Capuzzo, guitar; Adam Ricci, piano; Erik Schmidt, percussion

Summer Dances

Thursday, August 11 – 7:30 p.m.
SECCA Auditorium
$26 General Admission

An Evening of Dance and music with choreographers Elizabeth Clendinning, Janice Lancaster, and Monet Beatty, return to SECCA for an evening of dance and music. Music for the performance features violinist Ruth Kelly, a jazz trio with Matt Kendrick on bass, Michael Kinchen on saxophone, and Kassem Williams on drums, and the music ensemble Gamelan Giri Murti, featuring traditional music for Balinese gamelan as well as a new composition by K.C. Pyle, directed by Elizabeth Clendinning. Produced by Christina Soriano.

Bossa Nova with Martha Bassett's Quarteto Brasil

Saturday, August 13 - 7:30 p.m.
Reynolds Place Theatre - Milton Rhodes Center
$26 General Admission

Martha Bassett, Russell Kelly and friends performing Brazilian bossa nova from the 1950s and 60s. The ensemble shares the histories and translations of songs sung in Portuguese accompanied by two guitars.
Martha Bassett, guitar/vocals; Russell Kelly, guitar; Brevan Hampden, percussion; Reagan Mitchell, saxophone/flute

The Piedmont Jazz Composers Collective

Sunday, August 14 - 7:30 p.m.
Piedmont Music Center
$26 General Admission

Featuring the original compositions of five local jazz musicians, arranged for jazz quintet.
Matt Kendrick, bass; Federico Pivetta, piano; Michael Kinchen, saxophone; Cameron MacManus, trombone; Kassem Williams, drums

Shall We Dance? - Larry Weng, piano

Wednesday, August 17 - 7:30 p.m.
Piedmont Music Center
$26 General Admission

Pianist Larry Weng performs works by Bach, Chopin, Schumann and Ravel.

The Warp Trio

Friday, August 19 - 7:30 p.m.
Reynolds Place Theatre - Milton Rhodes Center

The New York-based Warp Trio will present “Black Voices,” a multidisciplinary performance that integrates Classical, Jazz, Hip-Hop, and Spoken Word, presenting works all created by African-American artists.
Mikael Darmanie, piano; Josh Henderson, violin; Ju Young Lee, cello; Rick Martinez, percussion; Emily Haughton, dancer; Likwuid, spoken word/Emcee

Peter and the Wolf: A Free Family concert

Saturday, August 20 - 3:00 p.m.
SECCA
FREE Admission!

Enjoy the classic tale in its chamber music version and up-close to the musicians!
Jason McKinney, narrator; Peter Shanahan, flute; Matthew Covington, oboe; Ron Rudkin, clarinet; Joe Mount, horn; Carol Bernstorf, bassoon; Beverly Naiditch, percussion

Piedmont Opera

This performance has been cancelled.

Original Americana Music with “Our Band”

Tuesday, August 30 - 7:30 p.m.
Piedmont Music Center
$26 General Admission

Sasha Papernik and Justin Poindexter return to North Carolina for a special evening of adventurous interpretations and award-winning song-craft with very special guests Bennett Sullivan (banjo) and Pat Lawrence (bass). Everything from Johnny Cash to Burt Bacharach is fair game for this duo, all delivered with warmth, wit and dazzling instrumental virtuosity.

Schubert to Shaw

Thursday, September 1 - 7:30 p.m.
Piedmont Music Center
$26 General Admission

The Eno String Quartet and guests perform works by women composers Fanny Mendelssohn and Caroline Shaw, as well as Schubert’s “Trout” Quintet.

Caroline Shaw: En’tract
Fanny Mendelssohn: Quartet
Schubert: Piano Quintet in A major, D. 667, "Trout"

Nicholas DiEugenio violin; Nonoko Okada violin; Simon Ertz, viola; Nate Leyland, cello; Michael Ashton, bass; Mimi Solomon, piano