2 educational jazz performances, each in 2 parts, curated by GRAMMY winning drummer, composer, producer and educator Quentin Baxter:
Premier Dates: January 10 & 24: Mark Sterbank Group
Available on Demand: Jeremy Wolf Quartet
These events provide in-depth focus on different leaders and their instruments, and particularly appeal to those who love jazz yet yearn to appreciate it at a deeper level. Each segment features performances and interviews between Quentin and each bandleader.
On demand access to these performances will be available for 6 months from individual premier dates.
A Concert in 2 Parts
Part 2 Premier: JANUARY 24
4:00 – 5:00 PM
Part 1 Available On Demand
MARK STERBANK GROUP
“Hymns & Spirituals” Saxophonist/Composer/Bandleader Mark Sterbank attended the Eastman School of Music. He received a NEA Jazz Study Grant to study with Ellis Marsalis in New Orleans where he later earned his Master’s degree in performance at the University of New Orleans. Following a short stint on the road with the Harry Connick Jr Orchestra, Mark ended up in Charleston, South Carolina where he teaches at Charleston Southern University. He performs with the Quentin Baxter Ensemble, the Charlton Singleton Quintet and the Charleston Jazz Orchestra and has released three CDs with his own groups.
A Concert in 2 Parts
Available On Demand
JEREMY WOLF QUARTET
Bebop and hard-bop to modern jazz and beyond. Bassist/Composer/Band Leader Jeremy Wolf has been a staple in the southeast Jazz Community for the past 20 years, performing with the likes of Wycliffe Gordon, Diane Schuur, Rebecca Paris, and Darius Rucker. His album "Understanding" was released to wide acclaim in 2014 …something about his new release
SECOND TUESDAYS
January 12 - May 13
4:00 - 5:30 PM
DR. IGOR BEGELMAN
Join Avery Fisher Career Grant-winner Igor Begelman as he unpacks American culture and art through a series of five intimate and engaging virtual gatherings. Participants take a deep look at the artistic and creative energy that shaped the American cultural landscape. From the blossoming creative and spirited night life of the Harlem Renaissance, to the evolution of Yiddish theater and vaudeville, to legendary 20th century Hollywood composers and the scores of immigrant influences that pushed boundaries, participants will explore the artistic and creative energy that shaped the American cultural landscape. Each interactive session will run 45-50 minutes with additional time for an engaging conversation to follow with Mr. Begelman.
Clarinetist Igor Begelman has performed with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and throughout the world. Dr. Begelman has served on the faculty of University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Sarah Lawrence and Swarthmore Colleges, the Bowdoin International Music Festival, and has served as a guest lecturer at Yale, Juilliard, and the Manhattan School of Music.
We will take a closer look at the artistic and creative brilliance that made New York City’s Harlem community world-renowned. From the words of Langston Hughes to the tapping feet of the Nicholas Brothers, the explosion of performing and visual arts paired with a spirited nightlife made Harlem the nexus of African-American cultural identity. Dr. Begelman will give you a snapshot into the unrivaled artistic and intellectual development of the Harlem Renaissance, featuring artists such as Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, Nicholas Brothers, Ella Fitzgerald, and Bessie Smith.
JANUARY 12
HARLEM RENAISSANCE
I, too, sing America
FEBRUARY 9
JEWISH COMPOSERS
As American as Apple Pie
Did you know that many of the most popular American Christmas songs were written by Jewish composers? We will take a closer look at the immense body of work of many American songwriters with Jewish roots and the contributions they made to the great American tapestry of culture and art.
The “Great American Songbook” is the canon of the most important and influential American popular songs and jazz standards from the early 20th century that have stood the test of time in their life and legacy. Dr. Begelman will explore how the music within this collection offered hope for better days after the Great Depression and built bridges among racial divides that lasted for generations. We defended our country over, raised families, and built a nation while singing these songs.
MARCH 9
THE GREAT AMERICAN
SONGBOOK
APRIL 13
GOING DOWN
THE BAYOU
New Orleans’ fascinating music history is derived from a multicultural melting pot of unique rhythms and rhymes. No matter where you go, one can hear melodies emanating from shops, bars, concert halls and street corners as musicians play their hearts out. From jazz to blues to zydeco, the music from this unique region of our country has all of us booking a one way ticket to the next Mardi Gras celebration. The home of the first opera house in the United States, New Orleans is the also the birthplace of jazz and the great jazz musicians we admire today.
What do dinosaurs, spaceships, damsels in distress, and wizards have in common? They all need a theme song that we could sing along with. From the first talkie films to the blockbusters of modern cinema, theme songs in movies have found a treasured place in our hearts and memories. Some of the best film songs are written exclusively evoke our emotions and elevate a story through music.
MAY 11
LET'S GO TO
THE MOVIES
SECOND THURSDAYS
January 14 - May 13, 2021
10:00 - 11:30 AM
Engage on Zoom with noted and mostly local artists about their work and passion. Each conversation includes a presentation and a live Q&A. Purchase individual classes or the whole series of 5. Some classes focus on performing arts, some on visual arts. Visual arts below:
- January 14: Connie Regan-Blake - Storytelling from Mountain to Modern
- February 11: Connie Regan Blake - From Another Time: The Legacy of Ray Hicks
- April 8: Catherine Gillet & Annie Evans - A Couple of Women Playwrights Sitting Around Talking
JANUARY 14, 2021
CONNIE REGAN-BLAKE
Storytelling
From Mountain to Modern
All of humanity is linked through stories and storytelling. Stories entertain, educate, and create a bridge of intimacy. They inspire shared family time, bring listeners to original sources of literature, and pass on cultural traditions. From the old traditional stories that have been around for many generations to personal experiences that happened yesterday, the world of storytelling is open to each of us. And each time we tell a story or listen to one, we dip into this vast well of creativity. In this session, Connie takes us on a journey from those ancient traditional mountain stories to her experiences as a full-time professional storyteller, traveling the world. So join us if you are drawn to stories – both the telling and the listening
FEBRUARY 11, 2021
CONNIE REGAN-BLAKE
From Another Time
The Legacy of Ray Hicks
We have been looking up to him from the beginning . . . the lanky 6’ 7’’ man of the mountains, who came out into the world, bearing old-world gifts that have enriched modern lives beyond measure. Connie Regan-Blake first met Ray Hicks on October 7, 1973, in Jonesborough, Tennessee. It was an afternoon that changed her life . . . and the course of storytelling in the United States. The setting was the first National Storytelling Festival. Come listen to stories of how Ray became the face of traditional mountain storytelling along with Connie’s personal reflections on her long friendship with the Hicks family.
APRIL 8, 2021
CATHERINE GILLET &
ANNIE EVANS
A Couple of Women Playwrights
Sitting Around Talking.
Local playwright Catherine Gillet interviews NY playwright Annie Evans on her career, life and future goals. Annie is a playwright as well as a children's television writer, most notably for SESAME STREET where she won 13 Emmy awards for writing and several international awards for her live shows. She's written shows on Nickelodeon, PBS, Disney Channel, Discovery and taught children's writing for Sesame Street in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and Mexico. Her plays have been produced in venues worldwide. She's currently working on two middle grade fiction books. Several of her short plays were presented at Tryon Fine Arts Center last year.
THURSDAYS
January 14 - February 4
6:30 PM
Each week a different local performer or group will take the stage for a mini concert (approximate run time 20 minutes). Recorded in the amphitheater and TFAC's Veh Stage, these Short Takes offer a glimpse of some of the talented local artists who are getting through the Covid 19 experience.
JANUARY 14, 2021
SHORT TAKES
TJ Jeter
With his soulful vocals and infectious stage presence, TJ is a powerhouse in the music business. This South Carolina native is no stranger to stages or audiences both stateside and abroad. TJ is a multi-faceted musician with an ability to paint vivid pictures through words and vocal expression giving the listener a glimpse into the soul of a true artist.
JANUARY 21, 2021
SHORT TAKES
Lecretia Ann
Lecretia grew up as a preachers daughter, singing in church since she was 2, but fell in love with country music in her teens. The soulful sound of Lecretia Ann is a sound of pure country with a flair of southern rock. From Lecretia’s original compositions to covers she is sure to delight.
JANUARY 28, 2021
SHORT TAKES
Aaron Burdett
“The more I listen, the more I like this music." –Larry Stephens, The Lonesome Road Review
“Well-crafted original songwriting… a bit acoustic, a bit electric, and a bit early New Grass Revival.” –Casey Driessen (Béla Fleck, Tim O’Brien, Darrell Scott, Steve Earle)
“One of our favorite regional singer-songwriters.” -Martin Anderson, Program Director, WNCW, Spindale, NC
FEBRUARY 4, 2021
SHORT TAKES
Zendetta
We're a jazz trio from Tryon, NC. Chill jazz killers...Zendetta - Vincent Corda, Jim Peterman and Marco Noto
TFAC Talks +
Bi-weekly for 12 weeks starting
Early 2021 - Fridays at noon
Early in the pandemic, Renaissance man and TFAC Board member Andy Millard created TFAC Talks, interviewing local artists to see how they were faring at that time. After taking a hiatus, Andy is returning to the Zoom interview screen to create another round of videos to bring our community together. In this next series, TFAC Talks Plus (+), Andy will talk with talented local artists & performers including pianist Beth Child, Pam McNeil, and Jay Lichty.