International trio to appear in DWG
Skip Wilkins' Trio WUH will perform from 7 to 11 pm on Friday, April 24, at the Deer Head Inn, 5 Main St., Delaware Water Gap.
The trio consists of Wilkins, piano and composer. Frantisek Uhlir, bass and composer. and Jaromir Helesic, drums. Both Uhlir and Helesic are from the Czech Republic. The letters in “WUH” represent each member's last name.
Wilkins divides his time annually between Deer Head and Easton—where, as an adjunct professor, he teaches jazz and music theory courses at Lafayette College—and Central Europe, where he is based in Prague and the Czech Republic, and also tours frequently in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Greece.
Trio WUH has performed more than 130 shows in the last three years in Europe and now works at a pace where it plays around 50 times a year in Europe.
Wilkins plays monthly at the Deer Head Inn with Phil Woods and the Celebration of the Arts Festival Orchestra, as well as singers Kim Parker and Denny Carrig, among other local musicians. It also appears frequently on COTA.
This performance marks the first time Trio WUH has performed in the United States. The trio formed somewhat by accident during Wilkins' sabbatical from Lafayette College in Prague in 2011-2012. The trio has played Prague Castle, released a live CD recording and has future tours planned.
Uhlir and Helesic are in residence at Lafayette College through April 29, supported by a grant from the Mellon Foundation.
Admission is $7. For reservations, call 570-424-2000. For information, visit deerheadinn.com.
Tribute to Johnny Richards at DVHS
The Upper Valley Winds Jazz Orchestra will present a concert entitled “Cuban Fire! A Tribute to Johnny Richards” at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at the Delaware Valley High School Auditorium, 236 routes 6 and 209, Milford.
Latin/jazz composer Richards may be best known to audiences for standards such as “Young at Heart,” recorded by Frank Sinatra, and for his work with the Stan Kenton Orchestra. In 1956, he wrote and arranged a recording for the Stan Kenton Orchestra that was a big hit: “Cuban Fire!” Along with select students from DVHS, the 27-piece Upper Valley Winds will perform works from this album, as well as other Richards songs.
Upper Valley Winds director and conductor Patrick J. Marcinko Jr. is a veteran musician who has performed with Louis Armstrong, Tony Bennett and Sammy Davis, Jr. A native of northeastern Pennsylvania, he also composes liturgical music and directs the Eukmen Choir.
Tickets are $20 at the door, $15 if purchased online and free for all DVHS students and children 15 and under.
To purchase tickets, visit kindredspiritsarts.org. For information, call 570-409-1269, 570-296-5371 or 570-296-2181 or email kindredspir@yahoo.com or lokuta@wsklllawfirm.com.
ESU will host the Spring Jazz Concert
East Stroudsburg University will host its Spring Jazz Concert at 7 p.m. on Sunday, April 26, at ESU and the Performing Arts Center, Normal and Marguerite streets, East Stroudsburg.
The concert, to be held in the Cecilia S. Cohen Recital Hall, will include the farewell performance by the University Singers and a performance by the University Jazz Ensemble.
The University Singers are a select ensemble specializing in jazz and pop music. James Maroney, associate professor of music, directs the group. Selections by the University Singers will include: “Stompin' at the Savoy,” “Moon River,” “And So It Goes,” and “My Heart Stood Still.” The University Singers and the University Jazz Ensemble will join together to present “Choo Choo Ch'Boogie.”
Other University Jazz Ensemble selections will include John Coltrane's “Blue Train,” Herbie Hancock's “Cantaloupe Island” and Jerome Kern's “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.” Matt Vashlishan, who teaches music at ESU, conducts the ensemble.
The show is free and open to the public. For information, call 570-422-3483 or email esuarts@esu.edu.
