For composers to have songs that are more recognized than their own names is a rare phenomenon — yet, at the same time, a definition of success. But to have a slate of recognizable hits over 50 years while staying comparatively under the radar involves rare air breathed by few other than 68-year-old vocalist, pianist and Oklahoma native Jimmy Webb. At his forthcoming solo … [Read more...]
New World’s bracing concert at Boca Fest deserved bigger audience
By Donald Waxman On the next-to-the-last evening of the 2013 Festival of the Arts Boca, Peter Oundjian, the Canadian conductor and violinist, led the New World Symphony of Miami in three early 20th-century works. The guest soloist was the Russian-American pianist Valentina Lisitsa, whose career in recent years has flourished in an unprecedented way. The program promised to be … [Read more...]
With just voice and guitar, Cornell mesmerizes Fillmore crowd
Seattle-born vocalist and guitarist Chris Cornell delivered a tidy 90-minute solo set at the Fillmore Miami Beach on Wednesday, blending acoustic intimacy, grunge guitar tunings and a church revival fervor. Attired in the post-grunge formal wear of jeans and a white T-shirt and surrounded by seven different guitars, the frontman for Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog and … [Read more...]
Violinist Hou branches out into show creation
Crossover is something that Yi-Jia Susanne Hou believes in, and not just in music. The Shanghai-born Canadian violinist, who played a solo recital in the Flagler Museum’s music series in 2009, is perhaps best-known for her work as a featured member of Bowfire, a multimedia fiddle extravaganza founded in 2000 that’s sometimes referred to as “Riverdance with violins.” Hou … [Read more...]
O’Connor dazzles in solo Wellington show
Forty-eight-year-old violinist Mark O'Connor already has a 35-year recording career covering almost every style of music. And he drew upon all of his experience -- starting out as a guitarist in legendary French violinist Stephane Grappelli's swing band, working with iconic bluegrass mandolinist David Grisman, doubling on violin and electric guitar with jazz/fusion … [Read more...]