After the busy holiday season, January is a wonderful time to relax and enjoy the Westport Arts Center’s winter Chamber and Jazz concerts.
For Chamber music enthusiasts, the Horszowski Trio will perform at the Saugatuck Congregational Church (245 Post Road East) on Sunday, January 15 at 3 p.m. The members of the Horszowski Trio are considered to be up-and-coming “rock stars” in the chamber music world.
Hailed by The New Yorker as “destined for great things,” the Horszowski Trio – Jesse Mills, Raman Ramakrishnan, and Rieko Aizawa – will play a stellar program of Beethoven’s Trio in E-flat major, Op. 70, No. 2, Joan Tower’s For Daniel (2004), and Dvořák’s Trio No. 4 in E minor, Op. 90 “Dumky.”
Of the Trio, Westport Arts Center Chamber Music Co-Curator, Alexander Platt, explained, “The genre of the piano trio — violin, cello, and piano — is a unique treasure in classical music: a form which demands that three great artists play together, but simultaneously as soloists. The Horszowski Trio, with whom I’ve been developing a relationship over several years, is the finest of the younger American ensembles who’ve devoted themselves to this very special calling.”
After the concert, attendees will have the opportunity to attend a casual reception and meet the Trio and Chamber Co-Curator.
For Jazz fans, the Westport Arts Center will present the music of The Saxtet led by Darren Litzie on Thursday, January 19 at 6:30 p.m. The Saxtet has developed into one of the Northeast’s most exciting eight-piece jazz ensembles.
The Arts Center will be transformed into a one-night-only jazz lounge complete with high top tables and complimentary wine and appetizers as the Saxtet presents a tribute to jazz legends Benny Goodman and Stan Getz. They will perform their own arrangements of songs such as “Sing, Sing, Sing,” “Flyin’ Home,” and “The Girl from Ipanema.”
The Thursday night Jazz Lounge has become a popular addition to the Westport Arts Center’s Jazz line-up in 2016. Attendees will also have an opportunity to get a sneak peak at the Arts Center’s upcoming exhibition opening January 27, featuring unique portraits of community members, government officials, students, and artists.
Curator for the Westport Arts Center’s Jazz program, Brian Torff stated, “The talented pianist Darren Litzie has assembled a unique and versatile jazz ensemble. The Jewish contribution to American jazz has been considerable, and this concert will pay tribute to two legends – swing clarinetist Benny Goodman and the cool tenor saxophonist Stan Getz. They are both major voices of the Jewish-American jazz experience.”
Tickets for both music events can be purchased at http://www.westportartscenter.org or by calling the Westport Arts Center at 203/222-7070. Tickers are $30 for non-members, $25 for members and $10 for students. A limited number of discounted Senior tickets will be available for presale at the Westport Center for Senior Activities, 21 Imperial Avenue, Westport. Corporate sponsorship and group ticket opportunities are also available.
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