The Arts Council’s “Evenings of Intimate Jazz” celebrates its 13th year

GAINESVILLE - On Saturday, November 14th the Arts Council ushers in its 13th Season of Evenings of Intimate Jazz. The 2009-2010 season will open with Pruett/Davis and Friends. Rick Pruett first played at Evenings of Intimate Jazz in the 1999-2000 season; a mere ten years back.

Rick Pruett and Mark Davis will once again grace the Evenings of Intimate Jazz stage on Saturday, November 14, 2009. Born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1956, Rick's love affair with the guitar began in 1963, in of all places, Akron, Ohio. A few years later, his family moved back to Memphis where his affinity for the instrument grew even stronger as his mother, Joy, convinced him to begin studying Classical Guitar. In 1971, he auditioned for and landed the guitar position in The Norsemen, one of the most successful high school jazz bands in the country. Playing six, twelve, electric and classical-nylon string guitars, Rick became a studio and concert guitarist. During a college summer break, a turning point in Rick's life occurred the summer of ‘77 when he toured Europe as a student with legendary jazz guitarist, John McLaughlin. As a result, Rick performed a solo concert at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. During the 90's, Rick returned to the Montreux Jazz Festival and subsequently, the duo released 3 more critically acclaimed albums as The Pruett Davis Group before consolidating their name into PdQ. This group amassed a long list of live performance credits performing with the likes of Herbie Hancock, Chicago, Spyro Gyra, Fourplay, Styx, George Duke, Acoustic Alchemy and even Rick's mentor, John McLaughlin. In 2004, Rick along with his wife, Karen, spent a week in Monaco interviewing John McLaughlin for a cover story in the Italian magazine, GuitArt International. Currently, Rick continues to compose, arrange and record new music. He and his partner, Mark Davis, plan to continue playing as a duo and with their group, PdQ.

Born in Lansing, Michigan, 1962, Mark Davis began playing guitar at the age of 7, and teaching guitar while still in high school. As a guitar instructor at the Grinnell Brothers Music Store in The Lansing Mall, Mark met Rick Pruett, who also worked there while attending Michigan State University. As both guitarists had a love and appreciation for similar styles of music, their collaboration was quite natural. Mark’s highly distinctive approach to six string acoustic, electric guitar and musical composition stem from his interest in both Baroque and 20th century composers, and includes modern day artists such as Pat Metheny, the late Frank Zappa and Sting. Mark has written many of the originals for the Pruett & Davis Group / PdQ. His musical imagery has evolved as a result of his own work as an ordained Dharma Teacher in the Zen tradition and as a published writer of fiction and poetry. Recently, Mark began developing his voice while gigging in and around the Cincinnati area, where he, his wife Deb and their 3 sons reside. He has a long list of covers and originals that he not only plays on but sings as well.

Rick and Mark will be joined on stage at various times during the evening’s performance with “friends” vocalist Maria Howell, David Ragsdale - violin, Chip Lunsford - percussion, Jerry Peek - guitar, Randy Hoexter - piano and Larry Barker – piano.

A newcomer to the Evenings of Intimate Jazz will be Gainesville’s own Larry Barker and the Larry Barker Jazz Ensemble on Saturday, January 9, 2010. Barker is a jazz pianist with an eclectic musical background. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Barker has performed and/or recorded with Charles Glenn, the U. S. Army Band, the Glenn Miller Band, Tom Kennedy, Theo Peoples, Peter Mayer, The Drifters, and numerous others. He prefers not to play "outside" in the manner of many jazz musicians, but rather Barker finds ways to explore his way "inside" the music. His approach keeps audiences engaged with each song. Joining Barker will be bassist Neal Starkey and trumpeter Ken Watters.

Another newcomer The Sandy Kastel Trio, from Las Vegas, will perform on Saturday, February 13th. A well-known and highly acclaimed performer on the local entertainment scene in her beloved hometown of Las Vegas, Sandy Kastel has spent an exhilarating lifetime singing, both literally and figuratively, the praises of the city and its incredible legacy of music. Now, with the upcoming release of her debut album on Silk & Satin Records, the former Miss Nevada becomes a true cultural ambassador for the city, bringing this magic to the rest of the world for the very first time.

A long time audience favorite at Evenings on Intimate Jazz, Lynne Arriale, returns to Gainesville on Saturday, March 20th. This will be Lynne’s third performance at Evenings on Intimate Jazz. Pianist/composer, Lynne Arriale, earned a master's degree in piano performance before turning to jazz. Her trio now performs internationally and celebrates its tenth anniversary and ninth CD release with Come Together. Their previous CD, Arise, hit #17 on Billboard, #1 - UPI's Best Jazz CD's of 2003, and along with its predecessor, Inspiration, reached #1 on national jazz radio and #1 in New Yorker Magazine's Best CDs of 2003. Appearances in national media include PBS-TV's Profile of a Performing Artist, CNN/FN's Biz, NPR's Piano Jazz with Marion McPartland, Weekend Edition, Jazz Set and NPR's Jazz Piano Christmas - Live from The Kennedy Center. Arriale won 1993's Great American Jazz Piano Competition and toured Japan with 100 Golden Fingers, which also included legends Hank Jones, Tommy Flanagan, Kenny Barron, Harold Mabern, Junior Mance, Monty Alexander, Roger Kellaway, Ray Bryant and Cedar Walton.

The Diane Marino Trio will make their Evenings of Intimate Jazz debut on Friday, April 16th. Singer/pianist Diane Marino was born in Manhattan, NYC. She received her early piano training of classical studies and improvisation from the age of 10. Diane was accepted on NYC'S 'Famed' High School for the Performing Arts as a classical piano major. Diane performed solo gigs for several years in the NYC area before teaming up with bassist Frank Marino. The duo formed the nine member Brazilian group, 'Som Brasileiro' (Sounds of Brazil) in 1993 and have performed at numerous jazz festivals, venues and concerts in the Southeast sharing the bill with artists such as Tania Maria, Pete Escovedo, Joe Henderson and Dr. John, to name a few. Diane's debut jazz quartet CD 'A Sleepin' Bee' was released in 2003 and has received national acclaim charting on the national charts as well as receiving extensive radio airplay and rave reviews. This CD offers a wide array of vocal and instrumental traditional jazz standards, Latin jazz, and Brazilian jazz (sung in Portuguese).

The 2009-2010 Season will close on Saturday, May 8th with the Sam Skelton All Star Quartet. Sam is no stranger to Gainesville audiences having performed numerous times at Evenings of Intimate Jazz. As a woodwind doubler, Skelton's playing defies categorization, except that he is well versed in any genre of music. His classical influence results in one of the richest and cleanest tones on the local music scene, readily recognizable in recording and live performance. Sam has performed and/or soloed with the London Symphony Orchestra, The Atlanta Symphony, The Atlanta Ballet Orchestra as well as numerous local ensembles. Joining Sam is Justin Varnes-Drums; Tyrone Jackson-Piano and Ramon Pooser- Bass. Weather permitting this concert will be presented out of doors on the front patio of the Smithgall Arts Center.

2009-2010 Evenings of Intimate Jazz Series tickets are $140 (an approximate 22% savings over individual ticket prices) for all six (6) performances and individual tickets are $30 per person. If you have a group of six or more the individual ticket price will be only $25 per person. Season tickets may be ordered online at www.theartscouncil.net and click on Evenings of Intimate Jazz or you can call us at 770-534-2787. As always complimentary glasses, ice, set-ups, coffee and light snacks are included in the indoor events.