Cult know Monadnock Music for presenting classical compositions in intimate settings — this weekend, the association jazzes effects up with a musicale of a different kind.
The Convergence Project, led by Vermont Jazz Center director and pianist Eugene Uman, performs this Sunday,Feb. 12, at The Park Theatre led by voice Wanda Houston.
Monadnock Music, led by cultural director Rafael Popper- Keizer and administrative director Laina Barakat, is presenting the show.
A board member communicated Uman about a possible collaboration.
“ It was about having a connection to availability; they wanted to fan out, ” he said.
The 36 time-oldnon-profit Vermont Jazz Center also offers community outreach and educational programs, including a summer jazz factory that attracts scholars from around the world.
Uman, who as director of the jazz center has produced further than 300 musicales of world- class musicians, lived for further than four times in Medellin, Columbia — his woman
’s native country and the motherland of his children.
There, he initiated and designed the class for the jazz studies program at La Universidad de EAFIT, where he continues to engage with the people and music as well as at other sodalities and universities.
With the Convergence Project, which has released two compendiums and also features David Picchi on electric bass and Jon Fisher on cans, Uman presents his own original compositions, numerous of which were inspired by his times living in Colombia.
“ Whenever I ’m then I study native music and probe some of the measures, ” he said.
His intention when writing those pieces was to combine the vocabulary and swing of jazz with gemstone and funk and the alleviation of Colombian folkloric measures similar as pasillo, cumbia and currulao, he said.
“ I love those styles, ” he said. “ They’re a good springboard for composition. ”
Uman first met Houston working together in a group called The Mothership Quintet in 2016.
“ We had an instant connection, ” he said. “ After I got to hear Wanda and her soulfulness and big voice and her freedom with delivery, I wanted to include her in our own group with our own conception and arrangements. ”
Houston has her own band( The Wanda Houston Band) and in addition to advancing her gift to The Convergence Project, she also performs with The Vermont Jazz Center Big Band.
For times, Houston sustained abi-coastal career performing on stages with similar artists as Barbara Streisand, Joe Cocker, Celine Dion and Rick Astley. Meanwhile, she voyaged with Motown legends Mary Wells, Martha and the Vandellas, and The Chargers while performing with homage band, The Marvelous Marvelettes. latterly, she joined the cast of Michael Jackson’s product of Larry Hart’s “ Sisterella! ” and voyaged through Germany, Austria and Australia.
When Houston joins the Convergence Project, she adds her love of singing soul and philosophy music and jazz norms.
“ Since working together( The Convergence Project) has also been doing some of her force, ” said Uman, adding that about a third of the musicale will feature material by The Convergence Project and two- thirds music performed with Houston.