2016 Savannah Music Festival Brochure

in fo & t ickets savannahmusic fest iva l .org | box of f ice 912.525.5050S ava n n a h M u S i c F e S t i va l March 24–april 9, 20162

René MaRiePerforms alongside Freddy Cole in the world premiere of He Said, She Said.

ThuRsday, MaRCh 24 & FRiday, MaRCh 25, 2016

⊲ see page 7

in fo & t ickets savannahmusic fest iva l .org | box of f ice 912.525.5050S ava n n a h M u S i c F e S t i va l March 24–april 9, 2016 3

Welcome to the 27th Savannah Music Festival, our annual extravaganza showcasing the depth, beauty and diversity of the musical arts.

We invite you to join us in discovering the impact of live music through this collection of extraordinary productions. Whether you come to engage with enduring international musical traditions or those indigenous to the south, sMF always strives to deliver preeminent artists in first-class productions that run from morning until late night across 17 days.

Our festival utilizes savannah’s unparalleled downtown historic district as a backdrop for the many thousands of festival attendees who travel here to experience Georgia’s largest musical arts event. each of our programs is a standalone concert and patrons can easily get there by walking, bicycling or via pedicab while savoring the springtime weather.

The growing international stature of our port city is reflected throughout this year’s program, which features artists from england, serbia, Mali, France, hungary, Germany, Portugal, sweden, Canada, Bulgaria, ireland, spain, indonesia, Trinidad, austria, denmark, Brazil, Zimbabwe and

Romania, performing a vast range of styles and genres. Mixed alongside bluegrass, blues, country, Cajun, Zydeco, new Orleans music or the ever-evolving blend of americana styles, the abundance of amazing talent in sMF’s 2016 season is unmatched in our organization’s history.

Our classical and jazz programs always consist of specially curated events and one-time-only productions. The 2016 season includes a wealth of chamber music concerts, recitals and orchestral programs on the classical side. Of special note is the u.s. premiere of Pericles: Recomposed, a collaboration featuring the acclaimed British shakespeare ensemble, Passion in Practice, and the German orchestra, l’arte del mondo (page 39). This season’s numerous original jazz productions include: the world premiere of He Said, She Said with Freddy Cole and René Marie (page 7); and the 1920 Oscar Micheaux silent film, Within Our Gates, with an original score for 19-piece jazz orchestra by Wycliffe Gordon (page 28), who will conduct it live. The classical and jazz

traditions will merge in the world premiere of The Art of the Piano Trio, a program featuring two of our associate artistic directors, daniel hope and Marcus Roberts (page 30).

Please make plans to attend sMF 2016, and experience the many reasons that we live for live music. We guarantee that you will feel exhilarated, and our star-studded cast of artists will sing and play their hearts out for you!

Rob Gibsonexecutive & artistic director


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THU 3/24

12:30 PM Randy Napoleon Trio 60 CMC $25 (gen. admission) 6

5 & 7 PM He Said, She Said: Freddy Cole & René Marie 75 CMC $50 (gen. admission) 7

5:30 & 8:30 PM Bayou Blues and Southern Soul: Marc Broussard/ Paul Thorn Band

120 SOS $40 (gen. admission) 8

6 PM CHAMBER MUSIC I Viennese Masterpieces 110 SPGO $52 (gen. admission) 6

8 PM Irish Supergroup: The Gloaming 90 LT $27, 37, 47, 57, 70 (GOLD) 9

FRI 3/25

12:30 PM Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill 60 CMC $25 (gen. admission) 9

5 & 7 PM He Said, She Said: Freddy Cole & René Marie 75 CMC $50 (gen. admission) 7

5 & 8 PM Cajun & Zydeco Dance Party: Steve Riley & Mamou Playboys/ Jeffery Broussard & Creole Cowboys


6 PM RECITALS I Cameron Carpenter feat. the International Touring Organ

100 LT $27, 37, 47, 57, 70 (GOLD) 10

8 PM Flamenco Mastery: Vicente Amigo 100 TT $27, 37, 47, 57 12

SAT 3/26

12:30 & 7:30 PM Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver/Blue Highway 120 SOS $40 (gen. admission) 13

2 PM RECITALS I I Alexandre Tharaud, piano 110 SPGO $52 (gen. admission) 13

6 PM African Superstar: Rokia Traoré 100 TT $27, 37, 47, 57 14

8:15 PM A Spring Fling: Pink Martini feat. China Forbes 100 LT $32, 45, 55, 67, 80 (GOLD) 15

8:30 & 10:30 PM Caribbean Dance Party: Creole Soul with Etienne Charles 75 CMC $40 (gen. admission) 16

SUN 3/27

4 & 7 PM Swing that Music: Catherine Russell/The Hot Sardines 120 CMC $40 (gen. admission) 17

6 PM CHAMBER MUSIC I I Mozart & Dvořák 120 SPGO $52 (gen. admission) 16

MON 3/28

12:30 PM Matt Munisteri, guitar 60 CMC $25 (gen. admission) 18


6 PM RECITALS I I I Arnaldo Cohen, piano 100 TUMC $52 (gen. admission) 18

TUE 3/29

12:30 PM Aaron Diehl, piano 60 CMC $25 (gen. admission) 19


6 PM CHAMBER MUSIC I I I Musical Friendships 110 TUMC $52 (gen. admission) 19

WED 3/30

12:30 PM Aaron Diehl Trio 60 CMC $25 (gen. admission) 20

6 & 9 PM Cécile McLorin Salvant/Monty Alexander Trio 120 CMC $45 (gen. admission) 20

6 PM CHAMBER MUSIC IV The Complete Beethoven Trios, Part I 110 TUMC $57 (gen. admission) 21

7:30 PM Ry Cooder, Sharon White, Ricky Skaggs 110 LT $40, 50, 60, 70, 80 (GOLD) 22

THU 3/31

12:30 PM Harold Mabern, piano 60 CMC $25 (gen. admission) 23

4–7 PM Swing Central Jazz: Jazz on the River 180 Rousakis Plaza

FREE

6 & 9 PM Tenor Titans: Stephen Riley Quartet feat. Marcus Roberts/ Eric Alexander Quartet feat. Harold Mabern

120 CMC $40 (gen. admission) 23

6 PM CHAMBER MUSIC V The Complete Beethoven Trios, Part II 130 TUMC $57 (gen. admission) 21

6 PM VOICE I Arias & Encores 90 CC $55 (gen. admission)/ $225 patron package*

24

7:30 PM Dwight Yoakam 100 JM $37, 47, 57, 67, 80 (GOLD) 25

FRI 4/1

9 AM–3 PM Swing Central Jazz: The Competition 360 LT FREE

11 AM CHAMBER MUSIC VI World of the Mandolin in Four Centuries: Mike Marshall & Caterina Lichtenberg

70 UU $35 (gen. admission) 26

12:30 PM Brianna Thomas Quartet 60 CMC $25 (gen. admission) 26

5 & 8 PM The Suffers/Langhorne Slim 120 SOS $35 (gen. admission) 29

6 PM VOICE I I The Tallis Scholars 100 TUMC $52 (gen. admission) 27

7 PM Film: Within Our Gates, Original Score Composed & Conducted by Wycliffe Gordon/Swing Central Jazz Finale

150 LT $27, 37, 47, 57 28

10 PM Late Night Jam with the Wycliffe Gordon Quintet 120 CMC $40 (gen. admission) 28

sChedule & index


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SAT 4/2

12:30 PM Ballaké Sissoko, kora 60 CMC $25 (gen. admission) 29

3 PM The Art of the Piano Trio feat. Marcus Roberts & Daniel Hope 120 LT $32, 45, 55, 67, 80 (GOLD) 30

5 & 8 PM Blues in the Garden: North Mississippi Allstars/ Charlie Musselwhite


6 & 9 PM Big World of Music: Kassé Mady Diabaté/ Robert Sadin's "Night Songs"

120 CMC $35 (gen. admission) 33

7 PM VOICE I I I Mozart in Prague: An Operatic Journey 90 TUMC $65 (gen. admission)/ $225 patron package*

32

SUN 4/3

3 PM Del & Dawg: Del McCoury and David Grisman 90 LT $27, 37, 47, 57, 70 (GOLD) 34

5 PM ORCHESTRA I Great Concertos 100 TUMC $52 (gen. admission) 35

MON 4/4

12:30 PM Haas Kowert Tice 60 CMC $25 (gen. admission) 36

5 & 8 PM Bryan Sutton Band/Haas Kowert Tice 120 CMC $35 (gen. admission) 36

6 PM RECITALS IV Jeremy Denk, piano 120 TUMC $52 (gen. admission) 37

TUE 4/5

11 AM ORCHESTRA I I All Mozart 70 TUMC $35 (gen. admission) 38

12:30 & 8 PM Joey Alexander Trio 70 CMC $40 (gen. admission) 40

6 PM Pericles: Recomposed 110 LT $45 (gen. admission) 39

WED 4/6

12:30 PM Söndörgő 60 CMC $25 (gen. admission) 41

6 & 9 PM Julian Lage Trio/Söndörgő 120 CMC $35 (gen. admission) 41

6 PM CHAMBER MUSIC VI I Daniel Hope & Friends with the Danish String Quartet

90 TMI $52 (gen. admission) 42

8 PM The Time Jumpers feat. Vince Gill, Kenny Sears and Ranger Doug Green

100 LT $32, 45, 55, 67, 80 (GOLD) 43

THU 4/7

12:30 PM Väsen 60 CMC $25 (gen. admission) 44

6 & 9 PM When the Danes Met the Swedes: Väsen/Danish String Quartet 120 CMC $35 (gen. admission) 44

8 PM Dr. John & the Nite Trippers 100 LT $32, 45, 55, 67, 80 (GOLD) 45

FRI 4/8

11 AM CHAMBER MUSIC VI I I Danish String Quartet 70 TUMC $35 (gen. admission) 46

12:30 PM Darrell Scott 60 CMC $25 (gen. admission) 46

5 & 8 PM Rhiannon Giddens/Mokoomba! 120 SOS $40 (gen. admission) 47

6 PM Stringband Spectacular 2016 130 LT $15, 25, 35, 45, 50 (GOLD) 46

SAT 4/9

5 & 8 PM Balkan Brass Band Blowout: Fanfare Ciocărlia/ Boban & Marko Markovic Orchestra


7 PM Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Pre-concert talk with Ken Meltzer 30 LT FREE 48

8 PM ORCHESTRA I I I Atlanta Symphony Orchestra with Louis Lortie

100 LT $40, 50, 60, 70 48

CONCERT VENUE KEy

CC Christ Church episcopal CMC Charles h. Morris Center JM Johnny Mercer Theater lT lucas Theatre for the arts sPGO st. Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church sOs ships of the sea north Garden TMi Temple Mickve israel TuMC Trinity united Methodist Church TT Trustees Theater uu unitarian universalist Church

⊲ see page 57 for venue locations and descriptions

CORPORaTe and GOVeRnMenT suPPORTeRs ..............................................................................page 50

COnCeRT CiRCle COnTRiBuTORs & Media sPOnsORs ........................................................ page 51

MusiC FOR OuR sChOOls .............................................................................................................................page 52

sWinG CenTRal JaZZ .........................................................................................................................................page 53

aCOusTiC MusiC seMinaR ............................................................................................................................page 53

suPPORT us ................................................................................................................................................................page 54

TiCkeT inFO & POliCies ...................................................................................................................................page 55

aRea MaP ......................................................................................................................................................................page 56

FesTiVal Venues ...................................................................................................................................................page 57

WheRe TO sTay ........................................................................................................................................................page 58

* Patron Package includes pre-festival house concert event, premium seating at VOICE I and VOICE III concerts and a chance to meet the cast after the April 2 performance of Mozart in Prague.


C H A M b E R M U S I C I

Viennese Masterpiecesdaniel hope & Friends

BeeThOVen String Trio No. 3 in C minor, Opus 9

MOZaRT Piano Quartet No. 2 in E-flat Major, K. 493

sChuBeRT Piano Quintet in A Major, D. 667 (“Trout”)

In his thirteenth year as the Mr. & Mrs. Curtis G. Anderson Associate Artistic Director Chair, world-renowned violinist Daniel Hope was recently awarded the 2015 European Cultural Prize for Music. Hope brings together his friends and colleagues from across Europe and North America for the SMF chamber

music series each season, joined this year by violist Paul Neubauer of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. This opening concert features three great works from composers of the first Viennese School, including the sonorous Trout Quintet, written in 1819 when Schubert was just 22 years of age.

Benny Kim, violinPaul Neubauer, violaCarlaMaria Rodrigues, violaEric Kim, celloKeith Robinson, celloJoseph Conyers, double bassSimon Crawford-Phillips, piano

ThuRsday, MaRCh 24, 2016

6 PM

sT. Paul’s GReek ORThOdOx ChuRCh

$52

Randy napoleon TrioA forward-thinking musician with a passion for the jazz tradition, guitarist Randy Napoleon (top left) leads his own groups in addition to touring and recording with Freddy Cole. He teaches jazz guitar at Michigan State University, and is a composer and arranger for singers, big bands and small combos. Prior to joining Freddy Cole, Napoleon toured with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, and also toured extensively with Benny Green and crooner Michael Bublé. In this opening concert, Randy Napoleon is joined by bassist Elias Bailey and drummer Quentin E. Baxter.

...a gentle, purring tone that makes you lean in close to hear its range of color and articulation.

Detroit Free Press


12:30 PM

ChaRles h. MORRis CenTeR

$25


WORLD PREMIERE!

he said, she said: Freddy Cole & René MarieElla Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, Betty Carter and Ray Charles, and Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney are some of the best known signature vocal duos of all time. Now Grammy nominated vocalists Freddy Cole (top) and René Marie (right) premiere this new collaboration at SMF called He Said, She Said in a two-day run. Performing their exciting renditions of originals and hidden gems, these two celebrated performers promise a thoughtful and diverse repertoire that will add to the music of those great and historic duets.

The youngest brother of Nat King Cole, Freddy Cole grew up in a Chicago home where visitors included Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Lionel Hampton. His suave, elegant and articulate vocals are among the most respected in jazz. Marie’s trademark vocal style incorporates elements of jazz, blues, gospel and soul. Whether she is singing songs from Motown or Tin Pan Alley, her interpretations are always fresh and unique. With a career that began at age 42, René Marie has made up for lost time and then some, gathering numerous awards and accolades for her performances and recordings.

2 DAyS - 4 SHOWS!

ThuRsday, MaRCh 24 & FRiday, MaRCh 25, 2016

5 & 7 PM


$50


Bayou Blues and southern soul: Marc Broussard/ Paul Thorn BandA double bill of acclaimed Mississippi and

Louisiana roots rock artists kicks off SMF at

the Ships of the Sea North Garden.

Following rave reviews of his 2015 acoustic performance with Joe Ely and Ruthie Foster, professional boxer turned singer-songwriter Paul Thorn (right) returns with his full band. Throughout their two decades of touring in club, theater and festival settings, his quintet has garnered a reputation for shows and material that ricochet from comedic underpinnings to straightforward truth telling to knock-out rock ‘n’ roll. Sharing this one-time-only double bill is Louisiana’s Marc broussard (top), whose “Bayou Soul” sound has put him on major stages and blues festivals across the globe over the past decade. Broussard’s SMF debut was with the Southern Soul Assembly during our 25th anniversary season, which also featured J.J. Grey, Luther Dickinson (see page 31) and Anders Osborne. In this appearance, he fronts his full band with a distinctively bayou-born sound that is rooted in the blues.


5:30 & 8:30 PM

shiPs OF The sea nORTh GaRden

$40


irish supergroup: The Gloaming ...of an entirely different hue: neither slavishly traditional nor willfully contemporary.

– the irish times

With fiddlers Martin Hayes and Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, Dennis Cahill on guitar, Iarla Ó Lionáird on vocals and Thomas Bartlett on piano, the Irish supergroup The Gloaming (right) has burst onto the music scene with a rare combination of Irish tunes, ancient sean-nos song, exhilarating explorations and explosive medleys, forging a distinctive new sound. While traditional music anchors the repertoire of The Gloaming, Cahill’s minimalism and Bartlett’s sparse, subtle piano clear the way for fascinating variations and passionate forays into brave new interpretations of Irish music.


8 PM

luCas TheaTRe FOR The aRTs

TiCkeTs sTaRT aT $27

Martin hayes & dennis CahillThis lunchtime concert spotlights two members of the Irish supergroup The Gloaming and one of the most innovative duos in Irish traditional music. Dennis Cahill’s sparsely ornamented and percussive guitar style complements the lilting and inimitable fiddle playing of Martin Hayes. Winning six All-Ireland fiddle championships before he turned nineteen, Hayes has gone on to help shape and define Irish traditional music in our time.

hayes and Cahill have distinguished themselves by bringing chamber music’s intensity and dynamic control to folk tunes.

– seattle times

FRiday, MaRCh 25, 2016

12:30 PM


$25


R E C I TA L S I

Cameron Carpenter feat. the international Touring Organa virtuoso composer-performer who is unique among keyboardists, Cameron Carpenter’s approach to the organ is smashing stereotypes while generating a level of acclaim and exposure that is unprecedented for his instrument. his return appearance after his 2013 sMF debut at Christ Church features his international Touring Organ, a portable, digital instrument that he conceived of and designed with organ builders Marshall and Ogletree and that he debuted in a concert at lincoln Center last year. despite what organ purists might call his sacrilegious embrace of the unorthodox, Carpenter insists that he is a traditionalist, even though he’s the first organist ever nominated for a Grammy award. With his ambition, visual flair, technological savvy, inclusive tastes and bold, boundary-breaking musicianship, Carpenter is bringing the organ, along with those who would resist changing it, into the 21st century.

One of the rare musicians who changes the game of his instrument… He is a smasher of cultural and classical music taboos. He is technically the most accomplished organist I have ever witnessed… And most important of all, the most musical.

– LOS ANGELES TIMES


6 PM




Cajun & Zydeco dance Party: steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys/ Jeffery Broussard & the Creole CowboysThis special double bill of dance music from Acadiana brings together two of the area’s

most acclaimed touring bands for a rare evening pairing two of America’s great musical

traditions–Cajun and Zydeco.

Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys (top) last performed at SMF in their explosive dance party in 2008. Widely known as a master of Cajun accordion, Grammy winner Steve Riley and his band’s instrumental prowess, vocal harmonies and prolific musicianship have taken the traditional sound of southwest Louisiana and combined it with new Cajun dynamism that is always fresh and danceable.

Jeffery broussard (right) began performing at an early age as the drummer for his father’s

band, The Lawtell Playboys. His own Creole Cowboys are rooted in a tradition that retains the precious melodies and songs he heard at home, at social gatherings and on the bandstand, and now places him at the center of a renaissance in traditional Zydeco.

Combining our Cajun and Zydeco Dance Parties for the first time this year, this promises to be a jam-packed night of Louisiana boogie!


5 & 8 PM


$40


Flamenco Mastery: Vicente amigo Vicente Amigo has been called “the natural continuation of Paco de lucia,” and indeed it was a television performance by the legendary flamenco master that inspired him as a child to visualize a career playing flamenco guitar. amigo’s playing style combines the solea rhythm of puro flamenco with elements of buleria, bolero, rumba, tango and alegria. among his awards are a latin Grammy and Best Flamenco Guitarist by Guitar Player Magazine, as well as the adoration of flamenco fans worldwide. in his savannah debut, Vicente amigo brings a powerhouse five-piece band with a singer and dancer that promises emotional peaks akin to those from past sMF flamenco shows by Tomatito, estrella Morente, noche Flamenca and Paco de lucia.


8 PM

TRusTees TheaTeR



doyle lawson & Quicksilver/ Blue highwayThis double bill pairs two leading bluegrass bands for afternoon and evening shows.

Bluegrass elder statesman and National Heritage Fellow Doyle Lawson (right) takes pride in a career at the center of the bluegrass world for more than 40 years. His band has always been jokingly referred to as a “farm team” for bluegrass. This ensemble is no exception, consisting of prolific pickers with a clear vocal sound inspired by Lawson’s love of the classic southern gospel quartet. Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver appeared previously at SMF 2009 and 2011.

The highly-revered bluegrass band blue Highway (top left), performing in their SMF debut, has earned a collective 24 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Awards and two Grammy nominations. Tim Stafford recently received honors as 2015 Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA) Guitar Player of the Year and 2014 IBMA Songwriter of the Year. Dobro player Rob Ickes is a technical master, and is the most awarded instrumentalist in IBMA history with 15 Dobro Player of the Year Awards.

saTuRday, MaRCh 26, 2016

12:30 & 7:30 PM


$40

R E C I TA L S I I

alexandre Tharaud, pianoBaChGoldberg Variations, BWV 988

An artist of unique vision and originality, French pianist Alexandre Tharaud (top right) is heralded for his brilliantly-conceived programs and best-selling recordings that range from Bach, Chopin, Rameau and Ravel to music inspired by Paris cabaret of the 1920s. Last season he returned to Carnegie Hall after a successful debut in the 2012–13 season where he played Scarlatti and Liszt, the night after a mixed program of jazz and classical at New York’s famous nightclub, Le Poisson Rouge. This season, Tharaud makes his Chicago Symphony recital debut and will release a disc of the Goldberg Variations, opening a tour with a concert in the new hall of the Paris Philharmonie. This recital marks his Savannah debut, where he will also play in a chamber concert with Daniel Hope & Friends (see page 16). His playing has been praised in The New York Times as “exquisite, crisp and beautifully textured” and noted for its combination of “refinement and daring.”


2 PM


$52


african superstar: Rokia TraoréMali’s biggest international star, singer-songwriter Rokia Traoré effortlessly blends the traditional sounds of Mali with blues, rock, jazz and folk. One of the most inventive artists in africa today, Traoré is remarkable not just for the range of her powerful and emotional voice but also for her stunning live performances, which range from up tempo guitar-heavy pop to haunting ballads. studying with ali Farka Touré in the 1990s, her breakthrough came when she was hailed as the “african discovery” of 1997 by Radio France Internationale after playing at the angouleme Festival in France. since then she has continued to experiment and explore new ideas while selling out concert halls in Paris, london and new york. This is her long awaited savannah debut.

Traoré’s a singer-songwriter in the modern sense who embraces but also stretches centuries-old traditions.

CHICAGO TRIBUNE


6 PM

TRusTees TheaTeR



a spring Fling: Pink Martini feat. China Forbes Pink Martini is a 12-piece band from Portland, Oregon who captivated a sold-out crowd at SMF 2012, causing the first conga line inside the Lucas Theatre in SMF history. They have performed with orchestras around the world, selling out such storied venues as Carnegie Hall and the Hollywood Bowl with what the Washington Post calls “rich, hugely

approachable music, utterly cosmopolitan yet utterly unpretentious.” Led by music director Thomas Lauderdale and featuring singer China Forbes, Pink Martini performs an engaging fusion of Brazilian samba, 30s Cuban dance and Parisian cafe music. Don’t miss this long-anticipated return!

one of the world’s most elegant live bands.

– the times (U.K.)


8:15 PM




Caribbean dance Party: Creole soul with etienne CharlesTrumpeter Etienne Charles leads this dance

party, presenting a night of Afro-Caribbean

music that is sure to keep the dance floor

rockin’.

Over the years, jazz music has been expanded and revitalized through the cultivation of new influences within the tradition, from the Afro-Cuban movement of the 40s to today’s many artists embracing their individual heritage. One of the most exciting young jazz artists ushering the genre into groundbreaking new territory is Trinidadian trumpeter/bandleader Etienne Charles (top left). With this ensemble, Charles taps into the musical depths of the Caribbean, from calypso to Haitian voodoo music. Also in the mix are rock steady, reggae, belair, kongo and rock, as well as the influence of the Motown and R&B music that Charles listened to on his parents’ record player when he was growing up. Beloved by fans worldwide, Creole Soul is sure to make your body move and groove.


8:30 & 10:30 PM


$40

C H A M b E R M U S I C I I

Mozart & dvořákdaniel hope & Friends

MOZaRTSonata for Piano Duet in C Major, K. 521

dVOřákString Sextet in A Major, Opus 48

sTRaVinsky“L’Histoire du soldat” Suite for Violin, Clarinet and Piano

MOZaRTClarinet Quintet in A Major, K. 581

Mozart’s glorious Clarinet Quintet and Dvořák’s masterful A Major String Sextet anchor this exciting program featuring two of the finest French classical musicians in our time, clarinetist Patrick Messina (top right) and pianist Alexandre Tharaud (see page 13), alongside Daniel Hope & Friends.

Patrick Messina, clarinetDaniel Hope, violinBenny Kim, violinPaul Neubauer, violaCarlaMaria Rodrigues, violaEric Kim, celloKeith Robinson, celloSebastian Knauer, pianoAlexandre Tharaud, piano

sunday, MaRCh 27, 2016

6 PM


$52


swing that Music:Catherine Russell/ The hot sardinesA three-day run of this swinging double bill kicks off a week of jazz at the Morris Center.

Jazz vocalist Catherine Russell (right) made her Savannah debut as part of Ladies Sing the Blues in 2014, and returns this year with an original program that takes extra inspiration and depth from her mother, pioneering jazz guitarist and vocalist Carline Ray. Russell’s father was a big band leader and arranger who served as Louis Armstrong’s music director in the 1940s. Drawing from the realms of jazz, swing and R&B, Catherine Russell has come into her own, and “with a voice that wails like a horn and whispers like the snake in the Garden of Eden, she’s finally claiming her place in the pantheon of 21st-century jazz divas.” (NPR)

Take a blustery brass lineup, layer it over a rhythm section led by a stride-piano virtuoso, and tie the whole thing together with a

“one-of-the-boys” frontwoman, and you have the Hot Sardines (top). Bandleader Evan “Bibs” Palazzo and lead singer Miz Elizabeth combine with the Sardine ensemble of powerhouse musicians—and their very own tap dancer—to play “hot jazz” as it was in the era when live music was king…with a little glamour, a little grit, and a lot of passion. Even while giving voice to the history-defining jazz of the 1920s, 30s and 40s, the Hot Sardines’ vibrant performances bridge generations and captivate audiences. Forbes Magazine calls them “one of the best jazz bands in NYC today.”

3 DAyS - 6 SHOWS!

sunday, MaRCh 27, MOnday, MaRCh 28 & Tuesday, MaRCh 29, 2016

sunday: 4 & 7 PM, MOnday & Tuesday: 5 & 8 PM


$40


Matt Munisteri, guitarCurrently serving as Catherine Russell’s music director, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Matt Munisteri (top left) is an extraordinary jazz guitarist who also started playing bluegrass banjo at an early age. A native of Brooklyn, he has credits on more than 70 recordings across the jazz and American roots music spectrum, having performed or recorded with artists as varied as Mark O’Connor’s Hot Swing Trio, Loudon Wainwright, Madeleine Peyroux, Henry Butler, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Bernie Worrell and Vernon Reid. In this special solo concert, Munisteri plays a mix of jazz standards and originals.

MOnday, MaRCh 28, 2016

12:30 PM


$25

R E C I TA L S I I I

arnaldo Cohen, pianoBaCh-BusOniPartita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004: Chaconne

BRahMsVariations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel, Opus 24

ChOPinScherzo No. 1 in B minor, Opus 20

ChOPinScherzo No. 2 in B-flat minor, Opus 31

ChOPinScherzo No. 3 in C-sharp minor, Opus 39

ChOPinScherzo No. 4 in E Major, Opus 54

Brazilian-born pianist Arnaldo Cohen (top right) has a reputation for displaying musical authority and blistering virtuosity in his performances. Cohen came to prominence after winning First Prize at the 1972 Busoni International Piano Competition and making his debut at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. For five years, he was a member of the acclaimed Amadeus Trio. He has performed with the Cleveland Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra, the London Philharmonic and many others. He is the Artistic Director for the Portland International Piano Series, a professor of piano at the Royal Academy of Music in London and a professor at the Jacobs School of Music at the University of Indiana. This is his SMF debut .

MOnday, MaRCh 28, 2016

6 PM

TRiniTy uniTed MeThOdisT ChuRCh

$52


aaron diehl, piano...music that invites you back to discover new wonders.

– KCrW

Pianist Aaron Diehl (top left) is one of the most sought after jazz virtuosos, playing with what The New York Times describes as “melodic precision, harmonic erudition and elegant restraint.” Diehl’s meticulously thought-out performances, collaborations and compositions make him a leading force in today’s generation of jazz artists, spearheading a distinct union of traditional and fresh artistry. This special lunchtime performance is the first of five different appearances that Aaron Diehl will make at SMF 2016.

Tuesday, MaRCh 29, 2016

12:30 PM


$25

C H A M b E R M U S I C I I I

Musical Friendshipsdaniel hope & Friends

dVOřákTerzetto in C Major, Opus 74

BRahMsPiano Quintet in F minor, Opus 34

MendelssOhnSong Without Words in D Major for Cello and Piano, Opus 109

sChuMannPiano Quintet in E-flat Major, Opus 44

Daniel hope is a great artist, whose serious and refreshing approach to classical music creates generations of new listeners.

– tilo BraUne, PresiDent oF the eUroPean CUltUral FoUnDation

Mendelssohn and Schumann enjoyed mutual admiration and companionship during their years in Leipzig, while Brahms’ friendship with Dvořák is a relationship nearly unparalleled in music history. This concert celebrates the remarkable relationships between great composers, reminding us of the generosity and mentorships that take place between dynamic visionary musical forces.

Daniel Hope, violinBenny Kim, violinCarlaMaria Rodrigues, violaEric Kim, celloKeith Robinson, celloSimon Crawford-Phillips, pianoSebastian Knauer, piano

Tuesday, MaRCh 29, 2016

6 PM


$52


aaron diehl TrioJazz pianist Aaron Diehl is joined by trio mates Paul Sikivie (bass) and Lawrence Leathers (drums) for a fresh and powerful program displaying the essence of jazz, and swinging the blues. Whether he’s playing 4/4 swing or holding down his position as pianist for the Holy Family Church in Harlem, Aaron Diehl’s approach to the piano deals with feelings and emotions, things that will move people mentally and physically, and make their heads bob and their feet tap.

Wednesday, MaRCh 30, 2016

12:30 PM


$25

Cécile Mclorin salvant/ Monty alexander TrioHaving been called “the finest jazz singer to emerge in the last decade,” 26-year-old Cécile McLorin Salvant (top left) possesses a depth of expression and innate ability that is utterly enthralling. Winner of the 2010 Thelonious Monk Competition at age 20, she performs unique interpretations of unknown and scarcely recorded jazz and blues compositions, and focuses on a theatrical portrayal of the jazz standard. The irresistible jazz-historical comparison is to Sarah Vaughan, who wielded a similar authority over her instrument, as witnessed by audiences at McLorin Salvant’s sold-out SMF 2014 appearances. She continues to work throughout Europe and the United States with her crisply ironed trio led by pianist Aaron Diehl, and this special SMF double bill with the Monty Alexander Trio is guaranteed to be memorable.

In a career spanning five decades, pianist Monty Alexander (top right) has built a reputation exploring and bridging the worlds of American jazz, popular song, and the music of his native Jamaica, finding in each a sincere spirit of musical expression. In the process, he has performed and recorded with artists including Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Ray Brown, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Clark Terry and Quincy Jones, among others. Having recorded over 70 albums as a leader, Alexander continues to be a tour de force of jazz piano and a favorite of many musicians across the jazz spectrum. This is Monty Alexander’s SMF debut, and he’s joined by Hassan Shakur on bass and Obed Calvaire on drums.


6 & 9 PM


$45


C H A M b E R M U S I C I V & V

The Complete Beethoven TriosFour years since their gripping performances of Mendelssohn’s virtuosic piano trios, Co-artistic directors of the Chamber Music society of lincoln Center and sMF regulars Wu Han and David Finckel are joined by violinist Philip Setzer for a two-night program consisting of the complete Beethoven piano trios.

Philip setzer, violindavid Finckel, celloWu han, piano

C H A M b E R M U S I C I V

Part iBeeThOVen Piano Trio in e-flat Major, Opus 1, no. 1

BeeThOVen Piano Trio in C minor, Opus 1, no. 3

BeeThOVen Piano Trio in d Major, Opus 70, no. 1 (“Ghost”)


6 PM


$57

C H A M b E R M U S I C V

Part iiBeeThOVen Piano Trio in G Major, Opus 1, no. 2

BeeThOVen Piano Trio in e-flat Major, Opus 70, no. 2

BeeThOVen Piano Trio in B-flat Major, Opus 97 (“archduke”)

ThuRsday, MaRCh 31 , 2016

6 PM


$57


Ry Cooder, sharon White, Ricky skaggsMaster instrumentalists Ry Cooder (guitar) and Ricky Skaggs (mandolin) along with one of country music’s purest singing voices in Sharon White, unite for an evening of blues, gospel and bluegrass. With a wide-ranging body of work, Ry Cooder has performed with and/or produced the Cuban supergroup the Buena Vista social Club, Malian guitarist/singer ali Farka Touré, Tex-Mex accordionist Flaco Jiménez and others, and this tour marks his return to the live performance

stage for the first time in decades. Ricky skaggs is a leading torchbearer for traditional bluegrass and country music with 12 #1 hit singles and 14 Grammy awards, and sharon White has been a key member of the Grammy-winning country-gospel band The Whites for over 40 years. in what is guaranteed to be a powerful evening of americana, they are joined by Joachim Cooder on drums, Mark Fain on bass and Buck White and Cheryl White of The Whites.


7 :30 PM




harold Mabern, pianoJazz pianist Harold Mabern (top left) was born in Memphis, a city that produced jazz greats including his mentor, Phineas Newborn, Jr. After moving to New York, Mabern began working with Cannonball Adderley and Harry “Sweets” Edison. Building a reputation as a sideman, he worked with Lionel Hampton, Betty Carter, Grant Green, Miles Davis, J.J. Johnson, Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, Jackie McLean, Wes Montgomery, Sarah Vaughan and Joe Williams. For the past 25 years, Mabern has remained ensconced in the NYC jazz scene, while also performing at clubs and in concert halls across the U.S. and Europe. This is Harold Mabern’s SMF debut.


12:30 PM


$25

Tenor Titans: stephen Riley Quartet feat. Marcus Roberts/ eric alexander Quartet feat. harold MabernThis concert pairs two of the finest forty-something tenor saxophonists in jazz today. Possessing a truly individual sound that has been compared to the late Paul Gonsalves of Duke Ellington Orchestra fame, Stephen Riley’s (top center) dark, breathy, and subtly expressive playing is markedly different than any saxophonist in jazz. He will be backed by the Marcus Roberts Trio including bassist Rodney Jordan and drummer Jason Marsalis.

Eric Alexander (top right) has developed into one of the finest bebop saxophonists in the world, and his quartet features elder statesman Harold Mabern at the piano along with bassist John Webber and drummer Joe Farnsworth. This long-running quartet has toured extensively across the globe, meaning that audiences can anticipate a night of incendiary swing with this only-in-Savannah double bill!


6 & 9 PM


$40


V O I C E I

arias & encoresa co-production with savannah VOiCe Festival

Following the much lauded 2015 production of Puccini’s Suor Angelica & Gianni Schicchi, SMF and SVF join forces again for the first of two extraordinary programs with some of America’s most talented opera singers. The second annual Arias & Encores showcases a wealth of celebrated artists performing renowned selections from great American, French and Italian composers, plus musical theatre and song gems, all unplugged and up close. Enjoy an exciting intimacy under the baton of Andrew Bisantz (from SVF’s summer production of Carmen), with the powerful piano skills of opera and Broadway’s Dan Gettinger, all narrated by famed American opera singer Sherrill Milnes.

Micaëla Oeste (top), sopranoAmy Shoremount-Obra, sopranoElizabeth de Trejo, sopranoJessica Ann Best, mezzo-sopranoChad Johnson (middle left), tenorMarco Nisticò, baritoneEdward Parks (top left), baritone

Dan Gettinger, pianoAndrew Bisantz (bottom left), conductorMaria Zouves, directorSherrill Milnes, narrator


6 PM

ChRisT ChuRCh ePisCOPal

$55 | PaTROn PaCkaGe: $225 (Patron Package includes pre-festival house concert event, premium seating at this event and Mozart in Prague (see page 32), and champagne toast with cast after Mozart in Prague on April 2)

savannahvoicefestival.org


dwight yoakamFor more than 30 years, Dwight yoakam has been at the forefront of honky-tonk–or as he calls it “hillbilly”–country music. He moved to Los Angeles early in his career after finding the Nashville industry too focused on “urban cowboy” country, and started performing in rock clubs alongside such unlikely acts as The Blasters, X, Los Lobos and even Hüsker Dü. Yoakam’s authentic and groundbreaking style is regularly credited with rock audiences accepting country music. Johnny Cash once cited Yoakam as his favorite country singer. Time dubbed him “A Renaissance Man” and Vanity Fair declared that “Yoakam strides the divide between rock’s lust and country’s lament.” Even after selling more than 25 million albums, winning Grammy awards, starring in blockbuster films and writing and producing soundtracks, Yoakam’s distinctive Kentucky crooning vocals remain as powerful today as they were at the onset of his career. Don’t miss the SMF debut of this pioneering country music star.


7 :30 PM

JOhnny MeRCeR TheaTeR



C H A M b E R M U S I C V I

World of the Mandolin in Four Centuries: Mike Marshall & Caterina lichtenbergdO BandOliMDiabinho Maluco

ViValdiTrio Sonata for 2 Violins and Continuo in G Major, RV 71

MaRshallThe Cat Got the Mouse

MaRshallBig Man From Syracuse

BaChOrgan Duetto No. 3 in G Major, BWV 804Organ Duetto No. 2 in F Major, BWV 803

aMeRiCan TRadiTiOnalElzic’s Farewell

leOneAir No. 4, Theme with Variations

MandOlin in The aMeRiCasSolo Medley

BaChTwo-Part Inventions (Selections)

husCheRT Bokeh

liChTenBeRGMara’s Sleeping Song

MaRshallBorealis

Caterina Lichtenberg and Mike Marshall (top left) are two of the most remarkable mandolinists of our time. Through their life and work together, they have built a beautiful duo that captures their lively spirit across several musical styles. This project includes original compositions, the music of J.S. Bach and Venezuelan music for mandolin and Brazilian choro. Bulgarian-born Lichtenberg is Europe’s only collegiate Professor of Mandolin, teaching at the Music Conservatory in Cologne, Germany. SMF Associate Artistic Director Mike Marshall is one of the most sought after mandolinists anywhere, and he has performed in a variety of settings at SMF nearly every year since 2004. He has also led SMF’s Acoustic Music Seminar since 2012. The duo has performed across North America and Europe, captivating crowds in San Francisco, New York, London, Berlin and a wealth of other places and festivals.

Caterina Lichtenberg, mandolinMike Marshall, mandolin

FRiday, aPRil 1 , 2016

11 aM

uniTaRian uniVeRsalisT ChuRCh

$35

Brianna Thomas QuartetVocalist brianna Thomas (top right) “may well be the best young straight-ahead jazz singer of her generation” (The Wall Street Journal). A performer since the age of six, Thomas sings an array of ballads, standards and blues along with her original compositions. She has collaborated with a variety of distinguished artists including Dianne Reeves, Wynton Marsalis and Wycliffe Gordon, and has performed regularly for Jazz at Lincoln Center, as well as the Montreux, Umbria and Sochi jazz festivals. In her SMF debut, Thomas is joined by pianist Aaron Diehl, bassist Yasushi Nakamura and drummer Marion Felder.


12:30 PM


$25


V O I C E I I

The Tallis scholarsByRdlaetentur caeli

TaVeRneRMissa Western Wynde

daVysalve regina

ByRdsalve regina

Tallislamentations i

FeRRaBOsCOlamentations

ByRdVigilate

Over four decades of performance and a catalog of award-winning recordings, Peter Phillips and The Tallis Scholars have done more than any other group to establish sacred vocal music of the Renaissance as one of the great repertoires of Western music. a dozen years after their 2004 sMF debut, the 2016 Tallis scholars program is designed to showcase some of the most extraordinary english polyphony by masters from throughout the Renaissance period. davy’s Salve regina is the earliest work to be included, originally contained in the eton Choirbook, and typically virtuosic. Taverner’s influential Western Wynde mass, also famously virtuosic, comes next, followed by Tallis’ Lamentations. alfonso Ferrabosco is a

curiosity in this context, being a naturalized englishman, though italian by birth. his Lamentations are obviously indebted to Tallis. The concert is topped and tailed by three famous motets by the latest master in the collection: William Byrd. some of the greatest english repertoire, performed by one of the great english groups.

One of the U.K.’s greatest cultural exports.

– BBC RADIO 3


6 PM


$52


late night Jam with the Wycliffe Gordon Quintet Capping off jazz week at the Morris Center is the annual late night jam, one of the most sought-after tickets at sMF. This year will be no exception, with the bandstand occupied by the Wycliffe Gordon Quintet featuring Terell stafford. Join us as Gordon invites a variety of musicians to the stage for collaborations and cutting contests over an evening featuring a vast repertoire of jazz and blues standards.


10 PM


$40

Film: Within Our Gates, Original score Composed & Conducted by Wycliffe Gordon/ swing Central Jazz FinaleTrombonist, educator and composer Wycliffe Gordon will conduct a 19-piece jazz orchestra in only the second performance of his original score accompanying the 1920 Oscar Micheaux silent film, Within Our Gates. a pioneering race film, and the oldest known film by an african american director, Within Our Gates was created by Micheaux to educate audiences about contemporary racism in the early twentieth century.

Gordon’s bluesy, folkloric compositional style is a fitting accompaniment to Micheaux’s directorial debut, and an all-star ensemble is sure to deliver this score with precision and vivacity in the pit of the lucas Theatre.

The first half of this program features performances from the top three finalists from sMF’s swing Central Jazz (see page 53).


7 PM




The suffers/ langhorne slimThe Suffers (top left) is an exuberant ten-piece Gulf Coast R&B ensemble from Houston, Texas that intertwines elements of classic soul music and rock 'n’ roll. Driven by a powerful rhythm section and close-knit horn playing, the band is fronted by the massive voice of Kam Franklin. Their music is a reflection of diverse backgrounds coming together to create a musical gumbo, featuring a Latin percussionist, gospel singer, classically-trained saxophonist and jazz drummer. The buzz surrounding The Suffers’ near sweep of the Houston Press Music Awards in 2014 led them to take their show on the road, performing nearly 150 concerts in 2015. The Suffers are well-positioned for a meteoric rise when they independently

release their upcoming debut album, and make their SMF debut in 2016.

Langhorne Slim is a dynamic singer-songwriter with a rapidly growing following. Taking his stage name from that of his hometown in Pennsylvania, Langhorne (a.k.a. Sean Scolnick) he started out as a member of the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players, who took inspiration for their songwriting from old photographs. Rolling Stone calls Langhorne Slim’s live performances “a mix of soul-shout revival, Americana introspection and the Fifties-evoking jams.” His tightly-knit band, The Law, consists of David Moore on keyboards and banjo, Jeff Ratner on bass and Malachi DeLorenazo on drums.


5 & 8 PM


$35

Ballaké sissoko, koraHailing from a long tradition of Malian kora players, ballaké Sissoko (top right) has worked with renowned musicians such as Toumani Diabaté and Taj Mahal, and is widely known as one of the greatest kora players in our time. He first appeared at SMF in 2011 with French cellist Vincent Segal as part of an original production called African Interplay. That captivating instrumental duo returned to Savannah in 2013. Open to every new adventure and encounter, Ballaké Sissoko is wholly inspired by tradition but has also been able to forge a personal style. A visionary player with undeniable technical prowess and a distinct voice, he is also an inventive accompanist. This special solo performance is the only one of his 2016 tour in the U.S., where he performs as part of Kassé Mady Diabaté’s (see page 33) ensemble in another SMF original production.

saTuRday, aPRil 2, 2016

12:30 PM


$25


ORIGINAL PRODUCTION

The art of the Piano Triofeat. Marcus Roberts & daniel hopeThis original production brings together SMF Associate Artistic Directors Daniel Hope (left) and Marcus Roberts (top) in a program that weaves together the influence of the piano trio across three centuries of music, juxtaposing the varied musical demands of form, style, composition and improvisation. Never before staged, this extraordinary concert will put the piano trio on full display as one of the most compelling formats in both jazz and classical music. A common format found in classical chamber music, the piano trio usually includes a violin and a cello, as it was first developed within the sonata tradition by Haydn and Mozart. The piano trio was further developed by Beethoven, who expanded its conception before later composers such as Dvořák deviated strongly from the sonata form. In jazz, the trio has always represented the essence of the music in its most condensed form. Throughout the history of the jazz piano trio, composers

and bandleaders such as Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans and Ahmad Jamal developed distinctive stylistic conceptions for their trios. In their 20 year existence, the Marcus Roberts Trio has developed an almost telepathic communication, offering up the opportunity for the music to take them into uncharted territory while exploring new approaches to rhythm and playing chord changes. With Daniel Hope’s trio placed alongside the Marcus Roberts Trio on the stage of the Lucas Theatre, this is a rare opportunity to engage with a broad swath of musical history and creativity.

Daniel Hope, violinKeith Robinson, celloSimon Crawford-Phillips, piano

Rodney Jordan, double bassJason Marsalis, drumsMarcus Roberts, piano


3 PM




Blues in the Garden: north Mississippi allstars/ Charlie MusselwhiteThe North Mississippi Allstars (top) formed in 1996, are the product of a special time for modern Mississippi country blues. Brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson soaked up the music of their father, Jim Dickinson. After receiving three Grammy nominations for Best Contemporary Blues Album, the North Mississippi Allstars earned the reputation as one of the most intriguing acts to emerge from the loam of Southern blues and roots rock. In 2008, after five studio albums and more than a decade touring together, the Dickinsons decided to branch out and pursue other projects. As Rolling Stone aptly notes, “The Allstars may be children of tradition, but they’re digging deep in undiscovered country.” This is their SMF debut as a band, though Luther Dickinson performed at SMF 2014 as part of the Southern Soul Assembly.

Mississippi born Charlie Musselwhite (right) is one of the most revered blues musicians performing today. A harmonica master, Musselwhite is also a respected singer and

songwriter. He has won countless awards throughout his career, including induction into the Blues Hall of Fame. Musselwhite has collaborated with innumerable musical giants of the past 50 years, including Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Big Joe Williams, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, Tom Waits, Eddie Vedder and John Lee Hooker. This is his SMF debut.

harmonica virtuoso musselwhite raises the level of emotional expression on his instrument beyond even the masters he learned from…the grizzled veteran richly decorates his music with telling nuance and chiseled detail.

– san FranCisCo ChroniCle


5 & 8 PM


$40


V O I C E I I I

Mozart in Prague: an Operatic Journeya co-production with savannah VOiCe Festival

“My Praguers understand me,” wrote Mozart, whose amazing connection with the city of Prague (above) will be explored in the second of two co-productions this season between SMF and SVF. This one-time only multimedia infused concert will be an operatic tour of composer Wolfgang A. Mozart and librettist Lorenzo da Ponte’s world in the city where his most successful operas—Don Giovanni and The Marriage of Figaro—were premiered. This program features outstanding voices in scenes and arias from the masterpieces that made a significant and lasting impact on Prague. Narrated by celebrated opera star Sherrill Milnes (top left), the first American to sing the role of Giovanni on Prague’s premier stage at the Estates Theatre, this production features images of the magical city as a backdrop to stellar singing under the baton of Andrew Bisantz.

Micaëla Oeste, sopranoAmy Shoremount-Obra, sopranoElizabeth de Trejo, sopranoJessica Ann Best (bottom left), mezzo-sopranoChad Johnson, tenorMarco Nisticò, baritoneEdward Parks, baritone

Caren Levine, pianoAndrew Bisantz, conductor, harpsichordMaria Zouves, directorSherrill Milnes, narrator


7 PM


$65 | PaTROn PaCkaGe: $225 (Patron Package includes pre-festival house concert event, premium seating at this event and Arias & Encores (see page 24), and post-event champagne toast with cast)

savannahvoicefestival.org


Big World of Music: kassé Mady diabaté/Robert sadin’s “night songs”Only-in-Savannah double bill

Kassé Mady Diabaté comes from the most famous family of griots in the land of the Manding: the diabatés of kéla. since the mid-1960s, diabaté’s voice has been prized by all the cutting-edge orchestras that came into being in the wake of Malian independence. Whether it was with Orchestre Régional super Mandé de kangaba or las Maravillas de Mali (later known as Badema national) or with the national instrumental ensemble of Mali and the world music fusions that came later, diabaté has played a key role in the most innovative moments in Malian

music. Many of his recordings have become landmarks. in recent years, he has returned to a more traditional sound, enlisting the extensive talents of kora master Ballaké sissoko, ngoni player Makan Tounkara, and balaphon great lansiné kouyaté, who will be featured in these concerts.

Robert Sadin thrilled audiences in his two previous projects at sMF, both of which received standing ovations. his 2011 collaboration with lionel loueke was a stirring program built around the many talents of the Benin-born guitarist-singer-

composer. in the 2013 concerts showcasing clarinet virtuoso Patrick Messina, sadin threaded sicilian and Moroccan folk music traditions with brilliant arrangements for his seven piece ensemble. his 2016 creation promises to be another original suite of works showcasing a collection of musicians from around the globe including trumpeter etienne Charles (Trinidad), percussion wizard Rhani krija (Morocco), violinist Mark Feldman and cellist erik Friedlander (nyC), bassist ira Coleman (sweden) and clarinetist Patrick Messina (France).


6 & 9 PM


$35


del & dawg: del McCoury and david Grismaninternational Bluegrass Music hall of Famer and 2014 Grammy Winner for Best Bluegrass album, Del McCoury is a living link to the days when bluegrass was made in honky- tonks and schoolhouse shows. he returns to sMF in this special duo setting with mandolinist/composer David Grisman, who has been a guiding force in acoustic music for half a century. having embraced jazz and bluegrass with many international flavors to create his own distinctive idiom called “dawg Music,” Grisman joins McCoury to celebrate a 50-year musical friendship in this special concert.

sunday, aPRil 3, 2016

3 PM




O R C H E S T R A I

Great Concertosl’arte del mondo with daniel hope & Friends

BaChBrandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major, BWV 1048

ViValdiL’Inverno (“Winter”) No. 4 in F minor, Opus 8

ViValdiL’Estate (“Summer”) No. 2 in G minor, Opus 8

ViValdiConcerto for 2 Mandolins in G Major, RV 532

BaChConcerto for Violin and Oboe in C minor, BWV 1060R

haydnCello Concerto No. 2 in D Major, Opus 101, Hob. VIIB:2

In their first SMF concert in 2016, l’arte del mondo will join Daniel Hope & Friends in performing some of the greatest concertos of the baroque era by Bach and Vivaldi, along with the 2nd cello concerto by Haydn. Featured soloists include two of SMF’s Associate Artistic Directors, Daniel Hope and Mike Marshall, as well as mandolinist Caterina Lichtenberg and cellist Eric Kim. Founded by Werner Ehrhardt in 2004, l’arte del mondo is a German ensemble that performs early, baroque and classical period repertoire on period instruments, in addition to selected works on modern instruments. They have played in a variety of settings with Daniel Hope, in addition to major festivals and concert series across Europe including

Bonn’s Beethoven Festival, the Konzerthaus in Berlin and the Cité de la Musique in Paris, among others.

l’arte del mondo, chamber orchestra Daniel Hope, violinEric Kim, celloCaterina Lichtenberg, mandolinMike Marshall, mandolin

sunday, aPRil 3, 2016

5 PM


$52

The 2016 North American tour of l’arte del mondo is funded in part by


haas kowert TiceHaas Kowert Tice (top left) is a virtuosic acoustic trio consisting of three alumni of SMF’s 2012 Acoustic Music Seminar: Brittany Haas on fiddle, Paul Kowert on bass and Jordan Tice on guitar. The ability to reverently yet comfortably expand on tradition is what powers this trio: Brittany Haas’ exploration of fiddle traditions with Bruce Molsky, Darol Anger and Alasdair Fraser; Paul Kowert’s groundbreaking work with the Punch Brothers, the Dave Rawlings Machine and his studies with Edgar Meyer; Jordan Tice’s ensembles and recordings with like-minded artists Noam Pikelny and Casey Driessen. The thread that ties this all together is a driving passion to share great music with friends.

MOnday, aPRil 4, 2016

12:30 PM


$25

Bryan sutton Band/ haas kowert TiceThis only-in-Savannah double bill turns the Morris Center into a picker’s paradise.

bryan Sutton (top right) is widely regarded as one of the top flatpickers in acoustic music, having won the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Guitarist of the Year Award seven times (including this year). A native of Asheville, NC, Sutton began his foray into the bluegrass world as a member of Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder in the mid-90s. Since 2002, he’s been the guitarist for Hot Rize (SMF 2015), while also working with numerous other artists such as the Tim O’Brien Band (SMF 2011), Keith Urban, Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift and Harry Connick, Jr. Always striving to

keep his bluegrass roots strong, Sutton has released four solo projects, toured with artists like Béla Fleck and Chris Thile, and even won a Grammy for Best Instrumental Country Performance for his duet recording with Doc Watson. In this SMF appearance, Sutton fronts his own band, including Sam Grisman on bass, Mike Barnett on fiddle and Casey Campbell on mandolin.


5 & 8 PM


$35


R E C I TA L S I V

Jeremy denk, pianoBaChEnglish Suite No. 3 in G minor, BWV 808

ByRdThe Passinge Mesures: the Nynthe Pavian from My Ladye Nevelles Booke

BOlCOMGraceful Ghost Rag

hayden/sCOTT“Sunflower Slow Drag”

TaTuM“Tea for Two”

hindeMiTh“Ragtime” from Suite “1922,” Opus 26

sTRaVinskyPiano-Rag-Music

iVesRagtime Dance No. 3 from Four Ragtime Dances

iVesRagtime Dance No. 4 from Four Ragtime Dances

nanCaRROW3 Canons for Ursula, No. 1

laMBeRT“Pilgrim’s Chorus” from Tannhäuser (after Wagner)

haydnFantasia (Capriccio) in C Major, Hob. XVII:4

BeeThOVenPiano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Opus 27, No. 2 (“Moonlight”)

sChuBeRT Fantasie in C Major, Opus 15, D. 760 (“Wandererfantasie”)

Jeremy Denk is one of America’s foremost classical pianists. Winner of a 2013 MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship (following his SMF debut), the 2014 Avery Fisher Prize, and Musical America’s 2014 Instrumentalist of the Year award, he has recently appeared as soloist with the Cleveland Orchestra, New

York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra and the symphony orchestras of Boston, Chicago, San Francisco and London. Denk’s 2015–16 season includes an extensive recital tour, finishing at Carnegie Hall following this Savannah recital.


6 PM


$52

mr. Denk, clearly, is a pianist you want to hear no matter what he performs, in whatever combination—both for his penetrating intellectual engagement with the music and for the generosity of his playing.

–the neW YorK times


O R C H E S T R A I I

all Mozartl’arte del mondo with daniel hope & Friends

MOZaRTSymphony in B-flat Major, K. 45b

MOZaRTViolin Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Major, K. 207

MOZaRTSinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra in E-flat Major, K. 364

In their second SMF concert, l’arte del mondo will be joined by Daniel Hope & Friends in this all-Mozart extravaganza showcasing the superb German orchestra with violinists Daniel Hope and Lorenza borrani (top left) as well as violist CarlaMaria Rodrigues. l’arte del mondo works under the baton of founder and conductor Werner Ehrhardt, a native of Cologne who focuses on distinct, unmistakably historically schooled interpretation of orchestral works. Having recorded more than 50 recordings in the

fields of opera, oratorio and concertante-symphonic music, Ehrhardt has captivated his musicians, the audience, and the press. This one-time only production features works never before performed at SMF—an event not to be missed by lovers of classical repertoire.

l’arte del mondo, chamber orchestraLorenza Borrani, violinDaniel Hope, violinCarlaMaria Rodrigues, viola

Tuesday, aPRil 5, 2016

11 aM


$35




U.S. PREMIERE

Pericles: Recomposedfeat. Ben Crystal’s shakespeare ensemble and l’arte del mondo with daniel hope

In the 400th anniversary year of William Shakespeare’s death, SMF hosts a re-staging of the tragedy of Pericles, Prince of Tyre, featuring the acclaimed British Shakespeare Ensemble called Passion in Practice. This cue-script rehearsed performance of Shakespeare’s Pericles will be in Original Pronunciation (OP), the accent Shakespeare’s actors spoke in, based on research by renowned linguist and scholar, Professor David Crystal. Considered by modern audiences to be easier to understand than Shakespeare spoken in a modern English accent, the Tragedy of Pericles was a collaboration with a young colleague of Shakespeare’s in 1608, and an exploration

with his actors of voyage, self-discovery, romance and reunion. Underscoring the play with Max Richter’s reworking of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons: Recomposed, featuring the German orchestra l’arte del mondo led by Daniel Hope, this Shakespeare Ensemble recreates a modern incarnation of Shakespeare’s company of actors, who worked together full-time for two decades. The Passion in Practice Ensemble aims to mimic the working relationship Shakespeare’s actor would have had, and this production of Pericles will not be set on the moon, on a cruise-ship or in the 1920s: the setting will be the Savannah Music Festival, with a chamber orchestra nestled on stage. The performance will explore those

exciting moments when the musicians follow the actors, the actors follow the musicians and the magical times when both are led by something else. This is a not-to-be-missed program of music, theater and spoken word.

Ben Crystal, actorNathan Markiewicz, dramaturgDavid Crystal, linguistActors from the Passion in Practice Shakespeare Ensemble

l’arte del mondo, chamber orchestraDaniel Hope, violin


6 PM


$45



Joey alexander Trio A must-see for jazz piano fans!

Wynton Marsalis calls Joey Alexander “my hero” and at age 12, this young indonesian piano genius is fearless at the keyboard. Following the release of his debut album with a highly anticipated performance at the newport Jazz Festival, alexander won the admiration of audiences by doing anything but playing it safe. The technique, feeling and authority that comes naturally to alexander puts him in a prodigy class all his own. Joey alexander performs a range of classic songs by Rodgers & hammerstein, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane and Billy strayhorn with a deft touch, adventurous spirit and improvisatory verve.

A thoughtful musician as well as a natural one, with a sophisticated harmonic palette and a dynamic sensitivity.

–THE NEW YORK TIMES


12:30 & 8 PM


$40


söndörgőSöndörgő (top left) is one of the leading exponents of tamburitza music from Hungary. Unlike the fiddle driven village music and brass band traditions often associated with eastern European folk music, tamburitza is propelled by the tambura, an instrument akin to the mandolin that is often accompanied by wind instruments and accordions. Founded by the Eredics brothers in the mid-90s, this exciting ensemble is committed to performing and promoting the southern slavic folk music collected by Béla Bartók and Tihamer Vujicsis and celebrated by communities along the Danube River.

söndörgő are proving themselves to be one of europe’s most versatile and exciting bands.

–songlines (U.K.)

Wednesday, aPRil 6, 2016

12:30 PM


$25

Julian lage Trio/söndörgőOnly-in-Savannah double bill!

Guitarist Julian Lage (bottom left) is a composer, educator and performer who has been a favorite at SMF in the past five years, serving as Lead Clinician for our annual Acoustic Music Seminar (see page 53). He has performed in an array of settings including house concerts with bassist Jorge Roeder, as a member of Mark O’Connor’s Hot Swing Trio, with guitarist Martin Taylor, in duo with Chris Eldridge of the Punch Brothers and alongside Mike Marshall and Casey Driessen during the annual Stringband Spectacular. Often categorized as a jazz guitarist, Lage’s music is rooted in both traditional and acoustic forms. He has performed and/or recorded with such varied artists as Fred Hersch, David Grisman, Nels Cline, Joshua Bell, Yoko Ono and Jim Hall. In this appearance, Lage brings his trio to the festival featuring bassist Scott Colley and drummer Kenny Wollesen.


6 & 9 PM


$35


C H A M b E R M U S I C V I I

daniel hope & Friends with the danish string QuartetnøRGåRd String Quartet No. 1

MOZaRTString Quintet No. 2 in C minor, K. 406

sTRauss Sextet from Capriccio, Opus 85

sTRauss Metamorphosen for string septet

The Danish String Quartet has been taking America by storm since beginning their three-year residency in NYC at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in 2014, where their concerts continue to sell out. This young group from Copenhagen is equally adept at the string quartet repertoire as they are in Nordic folk idioms, and this is the first of three distinct programs they will perform at SMF 2016. In this exciting offering with Daniel Hope & Friends, the Danes will anchor

Mozart’s great C minor Quintet as well as two masterpieces by Strauss.

Daniel Hope, violinFrederik Øland, violinRune Tonsgaard Sørensen, violinAsbjørn Nørgaard, violaCarlaMaria Rodrigues, violaDaniel Geiss, celloFredrik Schøyen Sjölin, cello


6 PM

TeMPle MiCkVe isRael

$52


The Time Jumpers feat. Vince Gill, kenny sears and Ranger doug GreenA rare appearance outside of Music City!

The Time Jumpers were established in Nashville in 1998 by an assemblage of high-dollar studio musicians who wanted to spend some spare time jamming with their sonically gifted buddies. The notion of building a rabidly devoted following was the last thing on their minds, but it eventually happened on Monday evenings at the Station Inn bluegrass club, where the superpickers settled in and set up shop. As word spread

along Music Row that something special was happening at Station Inn, big stars began dropping by, some to sit in with the band, others just to enjoy the vast array of country, swing, jazz and pop standards that The Time Jumpers rejoiced in playing. Vince Gill, the 20-time Grammy winner and member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, sings and plays guitar, and writes many of the songs for the

group’s ten other members, each a master of his or her instrument. Alphabetically, they are: Brad Albin (upright bass), Larry Franklin (fiddle), Paul Franklin (steel guitar), “Ranger Doug” Green (vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar), Andy Reiss (electric guitar), Dawn Sears (vocals), Kenny Sears (vocals, fiddle), Joe Spivey (fiddle, vocals), Jeff Taylor (accordion, piano) and Billy Thomas (drums, vocals).


8 PM




VäsenThis lunchtime concert with Swedish trio Väsen (top) marks their second appearance since SMF 2009, when they performed with Mike Marshall and Darol Anger. Made up of Roger Tallroth on guitar, Mikael Marin on viola and Olov Johansson on nyckelharpa, the trio formed in the early 90s as an extension of the traditional music duo of Marin and Johansson. They have released 16 albums, and have toured every year outside of Europe, performing expansive instrumental music that is strongly rooted in Swedish traditional song forms.

ThuRsday, aPRil 7, 2016

12:30 PM


$25

When the danes Met the swedes: Väsen/danish string QuartetThis extraordinary double bill brings together two leading Nordic ensembles, one Swedish and one Danish, that will include a 400 year range of folk music traditions. Swedish trio Väsen’s primary influence is the folk music and traditional instruments of their homeland, namely the nyckelharpa, and their music stretches boundaries to incorporate fluid improvisation and compositional additives. The Danish String Quartet’s love of traditional Scandinavian folk music is becoming as well known as the quartet’s

masterly approach to the classical repertoire. The four strings present their favorite melodies from Nordic folk music—including selections from their recent release, Wood Works, a critically acclaimed, sonically lustrous and cohesively conceived collection of music that is rooted in their ancient melodies from Nordic folk music.


6 & 9 PM


$35


dr. John & the nite TrippersReturning to sMF after a sold-out show in 2013, new Orleans giant Dr. John (a.k.a. Mac Rebennack) continues to write, arrange, produce and interpret with a passion that has yet to wane. he was inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll hall of Fame in 2011 for his lifetime contribution to the artform. his continuation of the new Orleans musical tradition, from early writing and performance credits on classic recordings by Professor longhair, art neville, Joe Tex and Frankie Ford, cemented his reputation as a key influence on the modern Crescent City sound. in 2013, dr. John was awarded an honorary doctorate from Tulane university alongside his holiness the dalai lama. after a half century of creating music for others and himself, dr. John approaches every project and performance with a renewed conception and energy. audiences can expect an evening filled with voodoo mysticism, rhythm & blues, psychedelic rock and Creole roots.


8 PM




C H A M b E R M U S I C V I I I

danish string Quartet haydnString Quartet No. 42 in C Major, Opus 54, Hob. III:57

sChniTTkeString Quartet No. 3

MendelssOhn String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Opus 13

Embodying the quintessential elements of a chamber music ensemble, the Danish String Quartet (top left) has established a reputation for their integrated sound, impeccable intonation and judicious balance. These qualities have led the quartet to success everywhere. The four young musicians have performed all over Europe, returning repeatedly in particular to Germany and the U.K., where Wigmore Hall is a regular tour stop. According to the Washington Post, “this is one of the best quartets before the public today.” This is the final performance in their three-concert debut at SMF.

Frederik Øland, violinRune Tonsgaard Sørensen, violinAsbjørn Nørgaard, violaFredrik Schøyen Sjölin, cello

FRiday, aPRil 8, 2016

11 aM


$35

darrell scottA gifted multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter, Darrell Scott (top right) first performed at SMF in 2014 in collaboration with Tim O’Brien. He has played with hundreds of country and bluegrass music’s brightest stars, ranging from Randy Travis to Sam Bush and Martina McBride. In 2010, when Robert Plant took his award-winning Band of Joy on the road in 2010, which also featured Buddy Miller and Patty Griffin, he called on Darrell Scott to play guitar, dobro, pedal steel, banjo and bass. Scott’s songs have been recorded by a variety of artists, including the Dixie Chicks, Keb Mo, John Cowan and Alan Jackson, among others. Also a talented vocalist, this is Darrell Scott’s solo debut at SMF.


12:30 PM


$25

stringband spectacular 2016As the culminating concert of each year’s week-long Acoustic Music Seminar (see page 53), a group of sixteen virtuoso string players showcase the fruits of their labor in front of an enthusiastic audience at the Lucas Theatre. This year’s concert features these young players in musical settings with Associate Artistic Director Mike Marshall and clinicians Julian Lage, bryan Sutton and Darrell Scott, in an evening that is guaranteed to be special. The annual Stringband Spectacular makes the case that American acoustic music is alive and well in our time.

Bill Dawers of Hissing Lawns and the Savannah Morning News writes: “Stringband Spectacular really is one of the highlights of the festival. Many SMF programs appropriately feature established artists who are closer to the end than to the beginning of their careers, but the AMS finale fills the stage with 16 stellar musicians aged 22 and younger.”


6 PM




Rhiannon Giddens/ Mokoomba!A one-time only double bill!

Singer and multi-instrumentalist Rhiannon Giddens (top right) first performed at SMF in 2008 with the Grammy-winning Carolina Chocolate Drops. Five years later she stole the show at a 2013 NYC concert produced by T-Bone Burnett with a knock-out interpretation of Odetta’s “Work Song,” prompting The New York Times to write, “with the fervor of a spiritual, the yips of a folk holler, and the sultry insinuation of the blues, Giddens brought the star-studded audience to its feet.” As her star continues to rise, she never forgets her musical journey that began in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, an area with a rich legacy of old-time music, both black and white. With her early repertoire informed by the tutelage of early African-American fiddler Joe Thompson, Rhiannon Giddens has combined her formal vocal training from the Oberlin Conservatory with folk music roots to become a unique and formidable talent.

mokoomba is quite simply the most impressive band Zimbabwe has produced in recent memory.

– aFroPoP WorlDWiDe

Joining Giddens on this bill is Mokoomba (bottom right), an acclaimed Afro-pop ensemble that performs with an eminently danceable groove. Straight out of Zimbabwe, the award-winning band delivers an electrifying blend of Afro-fusion with tantalizing traditional Tonga rhythms. Formed in 2001, Mokoomba won several competitions, bringing them to international attention with a debut European tour in 2009. They toured Europe again in 2010 and 2011, performing at several well-known festivals, and a 2012 showcase at WOMEX prompted one journalist in attendance to write: “I’ve seen the future of Afrosound and it is called Mokoomba!”


5 & 8 PM


$40


O R C H E S T R A I I I

atlanta symphony Orchestra Robert spano, conductor louis lortie, piano

siBeliusFinlandia, Opus 26

GRieG Piano Concerto in A minor, Opus 16

siBeliusSymphony No. 2 in D Major, Opus 43

In their eleventh consecutive SMF performance, the world-renowned Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (top) returns to the Lucas stage under maestro Robert Spano. Joining them is Canadian pianist Louis Lortie (left), who first performed a recital at SMF 2011. This program of Scandinavian masterworks features Grieg’s romantic and much heralded Piano Concerto, which opens up with one of the most famous and dramatic

moments in concert music. After a roll of the timpani and a stunning orchestral chord, the soloist plays a series of descending octaves and passages. The brilliant finale is based upon the halling, a lively Norwegian folk dance. Widely recognized as his country’s national composer, Jean Sibelius’ most popular and most recorded work is his Symphony No. 2, an absolute masterpiece and one of the few symphonic creations of our time that point in the same direction as the symphonies of Beethoven. Despite Sibelius’ insistence that the Symphony conveyed no specific message, the Finnish people saw it as a forceful expression of patriotism.


7 PM PRe-COnCeRT Talk WiTh ken MelTZeR | 8 PM COnCeRT




Balkan Brass Band Blowout: Fanfare Ciocărlia/Boban & Marko Markovic OrchestraA double bill of explosive balkan brass

bands closes out this year’s festival!

Widely considered the foremost trumpet player to hail from the Balkans, Serbian musician boban Markovic (left) brings his thirteen-piece ensemble, alongside his son Marko, for their SMF debut. Praised recently in The Wall Street Journal, the Boban & Marko Markovic Orchestra was described as “Middle Eastern pentatonics, Yiddishkeit minor key moaning and wailing, Cubano-style clave and even New Orleans funk backbeats.” Hailing from the Romanian village of Zece Prajini, Fanfare Ciocărlia (top) is a twelve-piece group made up of trumpets, tuba, clarinets, saxophones and percussion. Noting their range of influences, from Duke Ellington to Balkan wedding music, The Guardian raves, “They were faster and more frantic than any other brass ensemble I can think of, but never lost control, and constantly and ingeniously varied the repertoire.”


5 & 8 PM


$35


CORPORaTe and GOVeRnMenT suPPORTeRs

FOundeR

diaMOnd

PlaTinuM

GOld

silVeR

BROnZe

Major funding for the Savannah Music Festival is provided by the City of Savannah’s Department of Cultural Affairs

†This program is supported in part by the Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. GCA also receives support from its partner agency—the National Endowment for the Arts.

‡The Savannah Music Festival is funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and Georgia Council for the Arts

†

‡


diaMOndMr. & Mrs. Curtis G. AndersonDr. Bill Dickinson & Dr. Joe Ann BrandtBob & Jean FairclothCharles & Rosalie MorrisRon & Susan Whitaker

PlaTinuMDavid & Linda BushCharles A. Frueauff FoundationNancy & Larry FullerMarla & Morris GeffenDayle & Aaron LevyWilson & Linda Fisk MorrisDave & Sylvaine NeisesAnne P. West

GOldAnonymousCourtney Knight Gaines FoundationThe CMA FoundationMr. & Mrs. Timothy E. CoyTom & Ruth McMullinJackie & Stephen RabinowitzThomas V. & Susan G. ReillyShelby G. SchavoirPamela & Peter Voss

silVeRByck-Rothschild Foundation, Inc.The Chatham FoundationJulius & Danyse EdelDon & Kay GardnerThe Robert L. Harrison FamilyGeorge & Ann HubbsJoan & Jim HunterMr. & Mrs. Robert S. Jepson, Jr.Kole Family FoundationSuzan & Ron KrannichRobert M. & Diane v.S. LevyDick Miller in memory of Ann MillerBarbara RuddyThe Solomons FamilyMr. & Mrs. John L. TuckerGail & Paul WickesSusan Willetts & Alan PritzHarold & Peggy Yellin

BROnZeDr. & Mrs. Stephen Allen

Bob & Jane Anspach

Leslie & Henry Berghoef

Joan & Gary Capen

Karin & Richard Counts

William J. Donahue

Friends of the Savannah Music Festival

Mr. Robert Hochstetler & Ms. Jill Kammermeyer

Willard & Jean Holland

Mrs. Toby W. Hollenberg

The Hunter Foundation

Bill & Becky Keightley

Dr. David Lake & Dr. Linda Wright

Richard K. Lane

Kenneth & Nancy Larsen

Mrs. Robert O. Levitt

The Marjorie E. & B.H. Levy, Jr. Charitable Fund

Jim & Sandy Murphy

Roger & Rachel Page

Elizabeth C. Peeples

Don & Phyllis Powell

Don & Karen Ringsby

Dr. & Mrs. Andrew T. Sheils, Jr.

Marti & Austin Sullivan

The Sussman Family in memory of Seymour Sussman

The Albert Tenenbaum Family Fund

Paul & Adrienne Tietz

Drew & Julie Wade

Doug & Lamar Webb

COnCeRT CiRCle COnTRiBuTORs Media sPOnsORs

www.savannahnow.com

lanGhORne sliMPerforms on a double bill with The suffers


⊲ see page 29


Media sPOnsORs eduCaTiOn PROGRaMs

MUSIC FOR OUR SCHOOLS SPONSORED BY GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE CORP.

Musical explorersThe second year of SMF’s popular Musical Explorers program is underway in more than 50 local schools. In 2015-16, almost 10,000 students and more than 300 teachers throughout greater Savannah embark on a musical journey throughout the southeastern United States.

musical explorers is an incredible opportunity for our students, who will enjoy the benefits of increased arts integration and music instruction from day one.

– Dr. thomas loCKamY, sUPerintenDent, savannah-Chatham Co. PUBliC sChools

musical explorers is changing lives for these children!

– erin shelDon, teaCher, savannah, ga

Musical Explorers builds basic music skills inside every classroom and enhances curricula in literacy, social studies, physical education, visual arts and other core subject areas. Through year-round lessons, professional development workshops and an interactive classroom-friendly website, Musical Explorers provides the framework for school-wide arts-integrated education in Savannah and the Lowcountry. SMF is creating a new generation of musicians and music lovers all across the region!

Musical Explorers is produced in partnership with Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute.

Nearly 10,000 students will see Musical Explorers come to life in culminating semester-end concerts at Savannah theaters, where they will experience live musical performances by local and regional musicians.

In 2015-16, students learn about musical genres including soul, country, Irish traditional music, Cajun music, musical theatre and Malian traditional music.

2015-16 MUSICAL ExPLORERS ARTISTSLaiken Williams (Soul Music)

T’Monde (Cajun Music)

J.J. Collins (Musical Theatre)

Shannon Whitworth (Country Music)

Harry O’Donoghue (Irish Music)

yacouba Sissoko (Music of Mali)

For more information about SMF Education Programs, visit

savannahmusicfestival.org

the concerts were amazing; seeing the actual musicians and singers made the program come to life.

– lUCille mCaBee, teaCher, savannah, ga


eduCaTiOn PROGRaMs

swing Central Jazz Wednesday, March 30–Friday, april 1, 2016

acoustic Music seminar sunday, april 3–Friday, april 8, 2016

In this unique workshop and competition, twelve high school jazz bands from across the country spend three days immersed in the world of swing and big band jazz. More than 300 high school students learn about improvisation, instrumental techniques and big band repertoire from some of the world’s finest jazz performers and educators. Led by pianist/composer/educator and SMF

Associate Artistic Director Marcus Roberts, this year’s clinicians include Wycliffe Gordon, Terell Stafford, Jason Marsalis and Stephen Riley, among others.

Prizes are awarded to the top three finalists at the Swing Central Jazz Finale on Friday, April 1 at the Lucas Theatre for the Arts (see page 28).

The future of acoustic music is alive and well at SMF, as sixteen of the world’s most talented young string players travel to Savannah for a week of hands-on instruction and performances during this groundbreaking mentorship program, led by acclaimed multi-instrumentalist and SMF Associate Artistic Director Mike Marshall. Selected from a competitive pool of pre-professional young musicians, this year’s Acoustic Music Seminar (AMS) students will learn from a team of diverse faculty including lead clinicians Julian Lage, Bryan Sutton and Darrell Scott and master clinicians David Grisman, Caterina

Lichtenberg, Paul Kowert, Brittney Haas and the Danish String Quartet.

The program concludes with AMS students performing their own compositions and arrangements alongside Mike Marshall, Julian Lage, Bryan Sutton and Darrell Scott at Stringband Spectacular on April 8 (see page 46).

i wish every festival was like this one.... our students left swing Central Jazz eXtremelY motivated and ready to go to an even higher level of playing.

– lee hiCKs, FontaineBleaU high sChool, manDeville, la

...truly life changing. having the chance to be guided and critiqued by professional players i have admired for years and hearing my musical ideas come to fruition was an extraordinary privilege. i have forged relationships at ams that are just the start of my lifelong musical journey.

– CaleB Dostal, 21, missoUla, mt


suPPORT us

Your tax-deductible gift to the Savannah Music Festival ensures world-class artistic presentations for audiences of all ages and innovative year-round music education programming for local schoolchildren.

Ways TO suPPORT sMF:

• Become a Festival Friend

• Gain access as a Festival Insider

• Join the Concert Circle

• Sponsor the festival through your business

• Support music education in local schools

Join us in Presenting a World of Music

Savannah Music Festival’s commitment to the highest standard of musical arts is made possible by sponsorships and the generosity of charitable individuals and organizations.

sMF suPPORTeR BeneFiTs inClude:

• Personalized ticketing service assistance

• Access to preferred theater seating

• Early entry to select venues

• Entry to donor lounge

• Exclusive donor receptions

For more information, contact the Development Department at 912.234.3378.

S AVA N N A H M U S I C F E S T I VA L





REBECCAFLAHERTYArtist

YOURNAME

Festival Friend

JAREDHALLArtist

HUXSIESCOTTArtist

PATRICKFARACEStaff

ERICCULBERSONArtist


TiCkeT inFO & POliCies

NO CANCELLATIONS OR REFUNDS Savannah Music Festival does not refund tickets. Tickets can be exchanged or donated to the festival for resale. Tickets for donation must be received by the SMF office at least 24 hours before the scheduled performance. Exchanges are subject to availability and exchange fees. In the case of a ticket donation, you will receive written acknowledgment for tax deduction purposes.

HOUSE RULES The photographing, videotaping or sound recording of any performance or the possession of any device for such use inside any venue, without the permission of SMF management, is prohibited by law. Food and smoking are not permitted inside venues. Cell phones and all other mobile devices must be turned off.

LATE SEATING Patrons arriving late to a performance and those who exit the theater during a performance will be seated only at the house manager’s discretion and at an appropriate interval. In certain circumstances, late admission will not be permitted.

All programs, artists and venues are subject to change.

Festival samplers & Ticket BundlesGive yourself flexibility and a taste of the SMF experience with a festival sampler, which allows you to create an individualized series that suits your own particular interests and schedule, or choose from a selection of unique ticket bundles and save.

To take advantage of festival samplers and ticket bundles, visit savannahmusicfestival.org/2016deals.php or call the box office at 912.525.5050.

PICk 5 SAMPLER

Purchase five or more 2016 performances and receive a 10% discount. Offer expires December 31, 2015.

PICk 10 SAMPLER

Purchase ten or more 2016 performances and receive a 15% discount. Offer expires December 31, 2015.

FESTIVAL ExPLORER BUNDLES

Choose from a variety of unique ticket bundles and save. Limited availability.

senior, student & Military discountsSenior citizens 65 and over, students and military may receive a 10% discount on single ticket purchases with valid ID. To receive these discounts, ticket purchases must be made in person at the box office. Limited to one ticket per person per performance.

Group salesDiscounted rates are available at select performances for groups of 15 or more. For more information, please call SMF Patron Services at 912.234.3378 ext. 111.

ConnectGet the latest on SMF artists, performances, ticket deals and giveaways. #SMF2016 gives you the opportunity to go behind the scenes and share your SMF experience with us.

facebook.com/SavannahMusicFestival

twitter.com/SavMusicFest

instagram.com/savannahmusicfestival

Please call the box office at 912.525.5050 to request handicap accessible seating.

how to get your tickets:

ONLINE savannahmusicfestival.orgChoose performances and seats 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Print-at-home option available.

by PHONE912.525.5050Monday to Friday, 10 aM – 5 PM

IN PERSONSavannah box Office 216 East broughton StreetMonday to Friday, 10 aM – 5 PM

ONE HOUR PRIOR TO SHOWTIME AT THE PERFORMANCE VENUEsubject to availability.


River Street

Gaston

Colonial Park

Cemetery

ForsythPark

Mother Matilda Beasley

Park

EllisSquare

TelfairSquare

WrightSquare

OrleansSquare

PulaskiSquare

ChathamSquare

MontereySquare

CalhounSquare

WhitefieldSquare

MadisonSquare

LafayetteSquare

TroupSquare

ChippewaSquare

CrawfordSquare

OglethorpeSquare

ColumbiaSquare

GreeneSquare

FranklinSquare

JohnsonSquare

ReynoldsSquare

WarrenSquare

Emmet Park

Savannah River

WashingtonSquare

TO AIRPORT

TO I-16 AND I-95

TO I-95

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CiTy PaRkinG GaRaGes

BRyan sTReeT GaRaGe912.651.647724 hours a day, 7 days a week

liBeRTy sTReeT GaRaGe912.644.5934Mon–Fri 5 AM–9 PM; closed Sat & Sun

ROBinsOn GaRaGe912.651.6478 Mon–Thur 5 AM–1 AMFri 5 AM–Sun 1 AM

sTaTe sTReeT GaRaGe912.651.6473Sun–Fri 5 AM–1 AM; Sat 24 hours

WhiTakeR sTReeT GaRaGe912.525.282024 hours a day, 7 days a week

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FesTiVal Venues

ChaRles h. MORRis CenTeR 10 east Broad street

The Charles H. Morris Center is SMF’s premier club-style venue. Flexible seating accommodates dance parties, concerts and cabaret performances. Craft beer, wine and beverage service is available. On-site parking is limited.

ROusakis PlaZa On RiVeR sTReeT

Savannah’s breezy, cobblestone-lined River Street is home to Swing Central Jazz’s Jazz on the River, featuring free open-air performances by the twelve high school big bands participating in the Swing Central Jazz competition. Parking is very limited.

TRiniTy uniTed MeThOdisT ChuRCh 127 Barnard street

Located on Telfair Square, the Trinity United Methodist Church is SMF’s primary classical music venue. The sanctuary provides wonderful acoustics, plentiful sight lines and a simple, elegant interior. Parking is limited to city-operated garages and on-street spaces.

ChRisT ChuRCh ePisCOPal 28 Bull street

On the east side of Johnson Square is Christ Church Episcopal, often referred to as the Mother Church of Georgia. It was the first church in historic Savannah, and boasts exceptional acoustics for vocal, organ and chamber music. Parking is limited to city-operated garages and on-street spaces.

shiPs OF The sea nORTh GaRden 41 Martin luther king, Jr. Blvd.

This outdoor covered space is home to concerts on weekends during SMF. Wear layers to prepare for Savannah’s spring weather. Craft beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages are available at this venue. On-site parking is very limited.

TRusTees TheaTeR 216 east Broughton street

Recently renovated, SCAD’s Trustees Theater is one of SMF’s primary performance halls, seating over 1,100 patrons. Non-alcoholic beverages and snacks are available in the lobby. Parking is limited to city-operated garages and on-street spaces.

JOhnny MeRCeR TheaTeR 301 West Oglethorpe avenue

Located at the Savannah Civic Center, the Johnny Mercer Theater holds just over 2,500 patrons, making it SMF’s largest venue. Beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages are available in the lobby. On-site parking is available.

sT. Paul’s GReek ORThOdOx ChuRCh 14 West anderson street

Constructed in 1897 as a cultural, educational and civic space, St. Paul’s has been home to Savannah’s Greek Orthodox congregation since 1941. The colorful sanctuary seats 200 people and hosts the opening weekend of SMF’s chamber series. On-site parking is available.

uniTaRian uniVeRsalisT ChuRCh 311 east harris street

Located on beautiful Troup Square, the historic Unitarian Universalist Church was home to Asif Ali Khan in 2014 and Daniel Hope & Friends in 2015. The sanctuary creates an intimate concert setting for 175 people. Parking is limited to on-street spaces.

luCas TheaTRe FOR The aRTs 32 abercorn street

The Lucas Theatre is one of SMF’s primary performance halls with seating for over 1,200 patrons. Beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages are available in the lobby. Parking is limited to city-operated garages and on-street spaces.

TeMPle MiCkVe isRael 20 east Gordon street

Located on Monterey Square, Temple Mickve Israel opened in 1878 and is Georgia’s oldest Jewish congregation. The Gothic Revival building seats 300 people and hosts the 2016 performance of the Danish String Quartet. Parking is limited to on-street spaces.

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SAVANNAH bOX OFFICE216 East broughton StreetPhone: 912.525.5050

The savannah Box Office located outside of the Trustees Theater acts as the primary box office for sMF ticket purchases and is open for in-person and phone purchases Monday–Friday from 10 aM–5 PM.

Tickets may be purchased 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at savannahmusicfestival.org.


andaZ saVannah

14 Barnard street912.233.2116 or 866.644.2842savannah.andaz.com

With its artful decor, warm hospitality and prime downtown location, Andaz delights with new south sophistication. Sample sensational farm to table dining or sip a signature cocktail at Andaz’s 22 Square Restaurant and Lounge. An easy walk to SMF events.

The BRiCe601 east Bay street912.238.1200 or 877.482.7423bricehotel.com

Outside, you’re surrounded by antebellum Southern beauty. Inside, we’re mixing it up with modern flair. You and your pets will love The Brice’s classic-meets-cutting-edge rooms. Located just across the street from the Charles H. Morris Center, enjoy a meal at Pacci before your SMF show.

The haMPTOn inn hisTORiC disTRiCT

201 east Bay street912.231.9700 or 800.576.4945savannahlodging.com

The Hampton Inn Historic District features traditional Savannah style and an unmatched location, just steps away from all SMF venues. Ask about specials offered exclusively to SMF patrons. Packages include your stay in a deluxe guestroom, hot breakfast, complimentary drinks and discounts from local businesses.

The hOliday inn exPRess hisTORiC disTRiCT

199 east Bay street912.231.9000 or 888.231.9006savannahlodging.com

The Holiday Inn Express is an award winning contemporary hotel located just steps away from all SMF venues. Exclusive specials and packages for SMF patrons are available, and include your stay in a deluxe guestroom, hot breakfast, complimentary drinks and discounts from local businesses.

hOliday inn saVannah hisTORiC disTRiCT

520 West Bryan street912.790.1000 or 888.465.4329www.holidayinn.com/savannahga

Adjacent to the Ships of the Sea Museum, the Holiday Inn team is proud to offer a full-service experience for guests with amenities such as an on-site restaurant and bar, business center, free WiFi, fitness center, seasonal outdoor swimming pool and friendly concierge to help plan your visit while in Savannah.

PlanTeRs inn29 abercorn street912.232.5678 or 800.554.1187plantersinnsavannah.com

The Planters Inn on Reynolds Square, in the heart of Savannah’s Historic District, is a 200-year-old boutique hotel offering a thoroughly modern hotel experience. Planters Inn is the perfect choice for your Savannah Music Festival lodging needs. Use discount code SAVMUSIC16 when booking.

sPRinGhill suiTes saVannah hisTORiC disTRiCT

150 Montgomery street912.629.5300springhillsavannah.com

SpringHill Suites by Marriott is an all suites hotel and is centrally located within walking distance to everything the Historic District has to offer. Offering free hot breakfast buffet and welcoming service, it is the perfect place to rest your head while creating lasting memories in Savannah.

sTayBRidGe suiTes301 east Bay street912.721.9000bit.do/staybridge

Located in the heart of historic downtown Savannah, Staybridge Suites offers amenities including: full hot breakfast, wireless internet, kitchens in all guest rooms, complimentary guest laundry, 24 hour fitness & business center and evening receptions.

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saVannah MusiC FesTiVal

BOaRd OF diReCTORs

Chairman: Ron WhitakerSecretary: Dave NeisesTreasurer: Stephen Rabinowitz

Christopher CayScott CenterTim CoyBill DickinsonBob Faircloth (Chairman Emeritus)

Don Gardner Marla GeffenSuzan KrannichDayle LevyJoe Marinelli (Ex-Officio)

Ruth McMullinDick MillerHenry MonseesMark MooreDavid Paddison Thomas ReillyBarbara RuddyShelby SchavoirTrip Tollison (Ex-Officio)

Andrew WadeAnne P. WestGail WickesHarold Yellin (Immediate Past Chairman)

MORe Than 300 dediCaTed VOlunTeeRs COnTRiBuTe TO The suCCess OF eaCh annual FesTiVal.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please email [email protected] or call the SMF office at 912.234.3378. Thank you!

aRTisTiC & adMinisTRaTiVe TeaM

Rob Gibson Executive & Artistic Director

Daniel Hope Mr. & Mrs. Curtis G. Anderson Associate Artistic Director Chair

Marcus Roberts Associate Artistic Director

Mike Marshall Associate Artistic Director

Erin Tatum Director of Artist Relations

MaRkeTinG & PROduCTiOn

Ryan McMaken Marketing & Managing Director

Larissa Thut Davidson Marketing & Graphic Design Manager

Megan Harris Marketing & Patron Services Associate

FinanCe & huMan ResOuRCes

Sharon Peake-Jones Chief Financial Officer

deVelOPMenT

Christine Beddia Development Director

Joshua Hildebrandt Development & Grants Associate

Patrick Farace Development Associate

eduCaTiOn

Jenny Woodruff Education Director

Katie Griffith Education Assistant

PhOTO CRediTsPg. 2-3: René Marie by Joe Boggess, Pg. 6: Randy Napoleon courtesy of artist | Benny Kim, Simon Crawford-Phillips, Keith Robinson & CarlaMaria Rodrigues by Frank Stewart, Pg. 7: Freddy Cole by Clay Walker | René Marie courtesy of artist, Pg. 8: Marc Broussard by Rick Olivier | Paul Thorn courtesy of artist, Pg. 9: The Gloaming courtesy of artist, Pg. 10: Cameron Carpenter courtesy of artist, Pg. 11: Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys by Seth Jacobson | Jeffery Broussard courtesy of artist, Pg. 12: Vicente Amigo by Gloria Rodriguez, Pg. 13: Blue Highway courtesy of artist | Doyle Lawson by Frank Stewart, Pg. 13: Alexandre Tharaud by Marco Borggreve, Pg. 14: Rokia Traoré by Franck Socha, Pg. 15: Pink Martini courtesy of artist, Pg. 16: Etienne Charles by Ayano Hisa | Patrick Messina & Sebastian Knauer by Frank Stewart, Pg. 17: Hot Sardines by Leann Mueller | Catherine Russell by Frank Stewart, Pg. 18: Matt Munisteri courtesy of artist | Arnaldo Cohen courtesy of artist, Pg. 19: Aaron Diehl by Ayano Hisa | Daniel Hope by Frank Stewart, Pg. 20: Cécile McLorin Salvant by Frank Stewart | Monty Alexander by Pascal Bouclier, Pg. 21: David Finckel, Wu Han & Phil Setzer by Daniel Ashworth, Pg. 22: Cooder, White & Skaggs courtesy of artist, Pg. 23: Harold Mabern courtesy of artist | Stephen Riley by Frank Stewart | Eric Alexander by Gene Martin, Pg. 24: Micaëla Oeste by Dario Acosta | Ed Parks courtesy of artist | Chad Johnson courtesy of artist | Andrew Bisantz courtesy of artist, Pg. 25: Dwight Yoakam courtesy of artist, Pg. 26: Mike Marshall & Caterina Lichtenberg by Claudia Kempf | Brianna Thomas courtesy of artist, Pg. 27: The Tallis Scholars by Frank Stewart, Pg. 28: Wycliffe Gordon by Frank Stewart, Pg. 29: The Suffers by courtesy of artist | Ballaké Sissoko by Ayano Hisa, Pg. 30: Marcus Roberts courtesy of artist | Daniel

Hope & Simon Crawford-Phillips by Frank Stewart, Pg. 31: North Mississippi Allstars courtesy of artist | Charlie Musselwhite courtesy of artist, Pg. 32: Sherill Milnes courtesy of artist | Jessica Ann Best by Frank Stewart | Old Town Square, Prague from iStock photo, Pg. 33: Kassé Mady Diabaté courtesy of artist, Pg. 34: Del McCoury and David Grisman by Jason Charme, Pg. 35: Daniel Hope & l’arte del mondo by Frank Stewart, Pg. 36: Haas Kowert Tice courtesy of artist | Bryan Sutton Band courtesy of artist, Pg. 37: Jeremy Denk by Michael Wilson, Pg. 38: Lorenza Borrani by Frank Stewart, Pg. 38-39: Pericles image courtesy of Johan Lindqvist and The Berwaldhallen, Pg. 40: Joey Alexander by Signe Roderik, Pg. 41: Söndörgő courtesy of artist | Julian Lage Trio courtesy of artist, Pg. 42: Danish String Quartet by Caroline Bittencourt, Pg. 43: Vince Gill & the Time Jumpers courtesy of artist, Pg. 44: Väsen by Maria Camillo, Pg. 45: Dr. John by Michael Wilson, Pg. 46: Danish String Quartet by Caroline Bittencourt | Stringband Spectacular by Ayano Hisa, Pg. 47: Rhiannon Giddens courtesy of artist | Mokoomba courtesy of artist, Pg. 48: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra by Frank Stewart | Louis Lortie by Frank Stewart, Pg. 49: Fanfare Ciocărlia by Arne Reinhardt | Boban & Marco Markovic by Michael Mann, Pg. 51: Langhorne Slim courtesy of artist, Pg. 52: Musical Explorers concert photos by Bailey Davidson, Pg. 53: Swing Central Jazz and Acoustic Music Seminar photos by Frank Stewart and Elizabeth Leitzell, Pg. 54: Morris Center photo by Elizabeth Leitzell | special event photos by Frank Stewart and Bailey Davidson, Pg. 55: Trustees Theater marquee photo by Larissa Davidson, Pg. 59: Jazz on the River photo by Frank Stewart, Back Cover: Mike Marshall & Caterina Lichtenberg by Claudia Kempf

FREE SWING CENTRAL JAZZ PERFORMANCES

JAZZ ON THE RIVER

ThuRsday, MaRCh 31 , 2016 4 –7 PM ROusakis PlaZa

SWING CENTRAL JAZZ COMPETITION

FRiday, aPRil 1 , 2016 9 aM –3 PM luCas TheaTRe FOR The aRTs

⊲ see page 53 for more information about Swing Central Jazz

200 East Saint Julian Street, Suite 601Savannah, Georgia 31401

savannahmusicfestival.org

NoN-profit org.U.S. poStage

PAIDSavaNNah, gapermit No. 301

Do you need to update or change your address?Contact [email protected]

Mike MaRshall & CaTeRina liChTenBeRG

FRiday, aPRil 1 and sunday, aPRil 3, 2016

⊲ see pages 26 and 35

Documents

2016 Savannah Music Festival Brochure