Upcoming Events: July 2010

Raised in Texas on a musical diet of Antonio Carlos Jobim, James Taylor, and '60s radio, 21-year-old Emily Elbert first picked up the guitar when she was 15. Her self-taught approach on the instrument grew to include singing and songwriting, and her passionate involvement in these three soon led to the creation of her debut CD of original material, Bright Side, in 2006. [details]

Deepak Gopinath presents an exploration of structures in sounds and silence, intended to inspire the listener, to question the very nature and purpose of one's own existence, and to experience a fragment of what could ultimately, in its fully developed form, be the key to our understanding of creation.

What can a group of musicians really do when they are moved by a global crisis such as people trafficking? This documentary follows the actions and hearts of musicians as they band together for a cause. [details]

Pianist and composer Mina Kitajima presents her original compositions.

A showcase of compositions by jazz composition major Pablo Vallejos, influenced by his Argentinian and European roots, in a small group formation and accompanied by high-level musicians.

Jazzy originals with Swedish folk influences. Guitar drums, bass, and tenor sax.

Since I came to Boston, I have worked to make my own style in jazz. I especially prefer to mix old-fashioned and modern music. This recital is going to be jazz trio with tenor saxophone on some pieces. Presented by Eunjeong Hwang.

Hao Wang and friends play original tunes.

Both an accomplished jazz singer and self-taught guitarist, Alicia Lemke began writing her own brand of folk music a little over a year ago, and has just released her first EP, entitled Shades of Motion. Musically speaking, Lemke is an amalgam of poetic and whimsical lyrics, lilting melody, finger-style guitar, and a graceful, strong voice. [details]

Andrea Belfiore and friends present "Music that I Love."

Kyu Yeon Park presents original and contemporary jazz.

Sonya Rae Perricone will perform a variety of music including funk, blues, and pop/rock for her senior guitar recital.

Old-school r&b played by universal students, presented by Hiromi Miura.

Shotaro Kaizuka will lead a string quartet—three violins and one guitar—and will perform his original compositions and arrangements of Japanese music.

8:15 - The Jordan Maley Quintet comes to the BPC for the first time. They will present a set in tribute to John Coltrane's album, Ballads. The quintet has been playing together for more than a year.
9:15 - Arturo Pena will present his senior recital with a big band, including his and his friends' compositions and arrangements. They will play different styles of music, from jazz to world music.

Paulo Stagnaro, a rising percussionist and composer, is quickly establishing both a national and international reputation. This concert is presented by Harvard Longwood Campus and takes place at Harvard Medical School. [details]

Fresh new sounds of contemporary jazz.

Gabriel Erkard performs classical music, including Beethoven, Bach, and Mozart, and select compositions of Erkard's very own.

Composer Kameron Christopher presents his senior concert at Berklee, titled "Invocation." This performance will feature an eclectic variety of musical instruments, and a voyage through the manifold dimensions of Sound and Being.

Violinist Jakub Trasak presents his instrument in a variety of music styles.

Aires de Argentina, I-Yun Chung, and friends are presenting their original compositions and new arrangements of Argentinean music from traditional to electronic.

Sierra Hull displays instrumental facility and musical maturity well beyond her age with Secrets, her national debut album. Hull began playing mandolin at age eight, and quickly became noted on the national festival scene for her fluid, inventive picking—winning several mandolin and guitar championships in the process. [details]

Pianist Yota Sakihara's senior recital includes jazz and Latin music in solo, duo, trio, and quartet format.

Sierra Hull displays instrumental facility and musical maturity well beyond her age with Secrets, her national debut album. Hull began playing mandolin at age eight, and quickly became noted on the national festival scene for her fluid, inventive picking—winning several mandolin and guitar championships in the process. [details]

Japanese vocalist Yuko Ishihara performs covers of pop, r&b, and acid jazz.

Guitarist EungMin Cho presents a set of jazz tunes.

La Timbistica is a contemporary all-star Latin band made up of some of the best young musicians on the East Coast, named 2008 Jazz Group of the Year in the collegiate category by Down Beat magazine. This event is part of the Tito Puente Latin Music Series. [details]

Presenting the queens of sultry sound, sisters of mercy, saints of scarred souls, society’s hangover, and Calamity Jane’s bachelorette party. The eminent, prominent, and decadent ladies of our time: Katzenjammer! [details]

Berklee's finest songwriters competed for a slot in this, the prestigious Songwriters Club Concert. Styles range from rap and pop to folk and musical theater. Have you ever seen so much awesome packed into little 1W?

Guitarist Felix Martin presents his recital.

Come and enjoy classically oriented music performed by Po-Nung Lin and his friends.

Terumi Kinoshita presents a set of jazz/Japanese pop.

Boyce Avenue, a Florida-based band popular for its strong acoustic roots and melodic rock sound, consists of the three Manzano brothers. The band's debut album will be released on Universal/Republic Records on June 15. [details]

Berklee students and faculty are joining forces with the Brooklyn Bodega to bring a didactic focus to the Bodega's 2010 Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival. The nine-piece ensemble will share the stage with De La Soul, Smif-N-Wessun, Black Moon, and other prominent artists for the festival's closing-day performances. Learn more about the event.

Nicky Egan is a soul singer who blends funk, r&b, and rock. She drives her performances with memorable songs, energy, and a positive message. [details]

The Chicken Thieves is one of the most talented gypsy jazz bands on the East Coast. The music is a combination of Django Reinhardt tunes and originals, full of an energy that will bring you in spirit to France and Europe. [details]

Comprised of Berklee's finest students, this 17-piece ensemble—one of the college's most prestigious—performs the funk and r&b music of Tower of Power. The group's instrumentation is five vocalists backed by seven horns and a five-piece rhythm section. The group has become famous for its high-powered performances and tight ensemble work.

This clinic is part of the Five-Week Summer Performance Program.

Eun A Park will be playing with bass, guitar, drums, and vibraphone.

Enrico de Trizio is an Italian pianist and composer who has performed at the Vannes Jazz Festival and the Billboard Latin Music Awards. This concert is part of Courtyard Series: Berklee at the Regattabar. [details]

Kris Tokarski will play a set of originals and classic bebop tunes.

Gisela Fulla Silvestre presents tunes for the summer.

Patrik Gochez is an American songwriter, musician, illustrator, and leader of the band WhiteShoeBrownShoe. Considered a "jukebox" writer, he covers an eclectic number of musical styles, from pre-war jazz to r&b to danceable pop/rock. [details]

Kilho Lee will present his senior recital.

Guitarist Tyler Herbst will perform a variety of rock, blues, and jazz tunes for his senior recital.

Drummer/Composer Tarun Balani, from New Delhi, India, brings together a collective of artists/musicians aspiring to create a sound palette beyond limitations. The music of the collective represents Balani's vision as a composer, drawing from a world of influences, finding it's expression in the modern jazz idiom.

Faculty members Bob Schlink and Bain Smith lead the weekly jam session for Berklee's Five-Week Summer Performance Program students.

Presented by Mirek Kocandrle, associate professor, Contemporary Writing and Production Department. A common and often debated topic among musicians: But really, what is it, what does it mean? In this clinic, designed for the students who are thinking about studying writing or a career in writing, we will begin to establish what it is, what the options are, and what steps can be taken towards becoming a writer.

Shin Iikura will present a concert in a sextet format. Selections will be his own compositions and arrangements.

Susie Kang and her band will present a set of music from all around the world.

Alto saxophone player Yoosun Nam will be playing jazz standards and originals with some great musicians.

Dongyeon Kim will perform a variety of music including gospel, bossa nova, and jazz for her senior vocal recital.

Contemporary original jazz compositions and the music of major jazz composers performed by a quartet led by Lance Van Lenten (saxes-flute), with Joe Mulholland (piano), David Clark (bass) and Casey Scheuerell (drums).

This summer's Jazz Revelation Records showcase features the Aditya Balani Group and Enrico de Trizio. [details]

Daryl Lowery (saxophone), Rick Peckham (guitar), Ben Zecker (Hammond B3), Jesse Williams (bass), and Louis Cato (drums) introduce brand-new music as well as selections from the from the CD Instant!Groove available on Amazon and iTunes. [details]

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 23-year-old songwriter, composer, actress, and singer Tais Alvarenga is a Berklee film scoring graduate. Her biggest influences are Elis Regina, Sara Tavares, Chico Buarque, and Lenine and Richard Bona. [details]

Guest artist Vinx presents a clinic as part of the Five-Week Summer Performance Program.

Rika Ikeda, who has been performing at local jazz clubs every week, is giving her second recital at Berk Recital Hall. She will feature grooving original music supported by international musicians.

Ji W. Na's guitar recital.

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 23-year-old songwriter, composer, actress, and singer Tais Alvarenga is a Berklee film scoring graduate. Her biggest influences are Elis Regina, Sara Tavares, Chico Buarque, and Lenine and Richard Bona. [details]

Come and enjoy an eclectic mix of some of my favorite blues tunes. We're also going to get pretty funky.

Son de Madre is a Latin band with an international flavor. The band's style is based on Cuban music (son, mambo, bolero, timba) infused with jazz, funk, and Brazilian influences. This event is part of the Tito Puente Latin Music Series. [details]

Pop/indie rock band Nature in the City has original melodies and a solid, driving back beat that create an ear-catching musical experience. The band's new EP comes out this summer. Seattle's Laura Jorgensen is releasing her debut folk album, Feathered Arms. With her vocals soaring like a bird to the backdrop of accordion and dulcimer, Jorgensen is charming and prophetic. She will be playing with a full band.

8:15 - Don Lappin: No Picks Allowed. A set of guitar-based instrumental rock.
9:15 - Scott Tarulli presents instrumental rock/fusion guitar.

Come for a chance to meet and jam with other Acoustic String Festival participants.

An open meeting for all Acoustic String Festival participants.

Faculty member Eugene Friesen leads a beginners' jam session for Acoustic String Festival participants.

Faculty member Rob Thomas leads a jam session for advanced Acoustic String Festival participants.

Join us for an evening of up-and-coming singer/songwriters led by Micah and Alex & Janel. They will be joined by several local special guests, including Ryan Schmidt. [details]

Goli is a duo of misfit classical musicians with an appetite for world music that has cut its teeth in rock bands, world folk ensembles, symphony orchestras, and the occasional free improv outlet. Also appearing: Sarah Rabdau and Nohow On. [details]

A jam session for intermediate and advanced Acoustic String Festival participants.

Italo Cunha, an 18-year-old jazz guitarist, composer, and arranger, was born and raised in Brasilia, Brazil. By the age of 12 he was performing at major venues and festivals in Brazil. [details]

The Acoustic String Festival wraps up with a flourish at its final concert.

This clinic is part of the Five-Week Summer Performance Program.

Italo Cunha, a jazz guitarist, composer, and arranger, was born and raised in Brasilia, Brazil. By the age of 12 he was performing at some of the major venues and festivals in Brazil. This concert is part of Courtyard Series: Berklee at the Regattabar. [details]

Jazz vocalist Dan Palmere presents this recital.

Jiri Nedoma's band will be playing original compositions as well as his arrangements of jazz and contemporary tunes.

The Mike Tucker Quintet will play a concert of new original music that they will be recording in the fall.

As part of the band Up Yonder with Shaun Fleming, Nicky Egan, John Ryan, Wayne Whittaker, and Josh Jones, Kelly Bartlett's music ranges from southern rock and folk to pop and soul. With a focus on four‐part vocal harmonies and a laid-back groove, Up Yonder has been performing around the Boston area and in the Bahamas. [details]

Faculty guitarist Mitch Seidman presents a clinic as part of the Five-Week Summer Performance Program.

Seonhee Yang will be singing and play piano on a variety of jazz tunes, along with drums, percussion, bass, and saxophone.

Alexander Trampas presents original compositions and original arrangements of standard tunes, performed by great musicians.

Genres include rock, metal, and pop. Faces will be melted and bodies will be rocked!

Faculty members Bob Schlink and Bain Smith lead the weekly jam session for Berklee's Five-Week Summer Performance Program students.

8:15 - Ekah Hyunjoong Kim and friends will be playing an exciting set of original compositions in the styles of Brazilian/Afro-Cuban and contemporary jazz.
9:15 - Yasser Tejeda and Untapped Come and check out this incredible band. Untapped, led by Yasser Tejeda, doing his original compositions in a mixture of rock, jazz, r&b, funk, drum and bass, and punk. This will be an unforgettable experience, featuring the best musicians around Boston: Coran Henley (drums), Kyle Miles (bass), Chad Selph (keys & piano), Mario Castro (tenor sax), and Emile Martinez (trumpet). This will be a 45-minute set of emotional fire and pure energy.

The lead voice for many of New England's eclectic world, jazz, and funk groups, Rajdulari hails from Boston and is a 10-year veteran of the local performance scene. This concert is presented by Harvard Longwood Campus and takes place at Harvard Medical School. [details]

Guitarist Wei-ting Hsu presents his first recital at Berklee. Jazz standards and originals will be performed.

Trombonist/composer Ryan Dragon will be presenting his jazz composition senior recital. The concert will feature all original compositions for large ensemble in the jazz style. The band consists of some Berklee and NEC students along with some special guest musicians.

Antonio James plays originals and covers of jazz fusion and neo-soul songs for his senior recital.

An all-star group of all Berklee faculty, student, and staff orchestra will perform original modern jazz orchestra compositions by Winnie Dahlgren, Jason Camelio, Scott Free, Manuel Kaufmann, Jeff Perry, and John Sauer.

Pinchback Blues plays old-school urban blues in the styles of Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Leroy Carr, and Tampa Red. Have a listen and you'll say "Yas, Yas, Yas"! [details]

The Heck Room Music Series is a monthly concert series featuring Berklee's top acoustic performers. Jazz drummer Aaron Gottlieb spent his formative years growing up in Michigan City, Indiana. Frequently, he would go into the city with his father to the blues clubs and was allowed to sit in, developing his ears under the guidance of older musicians. [details]

Faculty guitarist Berke McKelvey presents a clinic as part of the Five-Week Summer Performance Program.

Chiwei Ho presents this recital featuring jazz tunes.

A variety of music from classical to psych folk/rock. Special guests include members of Dr. Unclefish.

Pinchback Blues plays old-school urban blues in the styles of Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Leroy Carr, and Tampa Red. Have a listen and you'll say "Yas, Yas, Yas"! [details]

Fausto Cuevas is a native of Brownsville, Texas, where he began playing drums at the age of 11. He has recorded and performed with Julio Iglesias, Al Jarreau, Tito Nieves, Roy Hargrove, and Britney Spears, among other. He comes to this show directly from touring with Stevie Wonder in Norway. This event is part of the Tito Puente Latin Music Series. [details]

Joseph Van Buskirk-Lofaro's jazz composition portfolio recital will feature original compositions and arrangements performed by a five-horn band.

At 54, performing live is more important to Tommy Emmanuel than ever, and he tours constantly, playing over 300 concerts a year for the last five years. Guitar players of all levels come to his shows to watch the magic hands of the "guitar Wizard of Oz," but his appeal goes far beyond musicians. His live shows are known for their humor, passion, and infectious joy. The power of his charismatic showmanship will be an enduring part of Emmanuel's legacy. Tommy Emmanuel's message is pure love for the music and his delight in sharing it with the world, one audience at a time. [details]

Van Battle presents his senior recital featuring Latin jazz.

Pianist Mun Hee Yun presents his senior recital featuring jazz tunes.

Armed with drop-dead catchy melodies, boyish good looks, and a charm equal to or greater than Paris Hilton, Jer Coons is poised for national recognition. His debut LP, Speak drops September 29, and you can hear his song "Legs" playing in all Hollister stores. [details]

Two sixteen year olds were en route to a birthday party and realized they didn't have a gift. "Let's write him a song," they thought. Unbeknownst to them, that afternoon sparked a partnership between two songwriters who would fall in love with each other and the gypsy lifestyle they were bound to lead. [details]

Women of the World is an ensemble of exceptional women from every continent of the world. Hailing from the U.S., Pakistan, Japan, Zimbabwe, Italy, Greece, and Brazil, these seven singers and bandmates create rich tapestries of culture and sound as they perform both original and traditional songs. [details]

MGB is known for a soothing sound and catchy melodies, brings a new twist to the traditional pop style, with inspirations ranging from rock and folk to jazz and bossa nova. [details]

New Orleans native Ledisi is a young R&B singer in old tradition. Her 2007 album, Loud and Found gave way to two hit singles, "Alright" and "In the Morning," and earned two Grammy nominations. [details]

On July 24, the Red Room @ Cafe 939 hosts Same Mistake Twice for a night of female-led pop-punk. SMT will be joined by Jaci and Those Guys, the winners of the recent Red Room Battle of the Bands. Be sure to catch this free show! [details]

Jazz pianist and vocalist Carmen Spada is very active in Boston and in his native Canada. In honor of his Italian roots, Spada also performs on the accordion. [details]

Saxophonist Hailey Niswanger has shared the stage with jazz greats Dee Dee Bridgewater, George Duke, Christian McBride, McCoy Tyner, and Wynton Marsalis, among others. Niswanger's appearance is presented in collaboration with the Berklee Global Jazz Institute. [details]

The Five-Week Summer Performance Program presents a performance perspectives clinic with Terri Lyne Carrington and Gary Thomas.

The Chicken Thieves is probably the most talented gypsy jazz band on the East Coast. Their music is a combination of Django Reinhardt tunes and originals, full of an energy that will bring you in spirit to France and Europe. This event is part of Courtyard Series: Berklee at the Regattabar. [details]

Saxophone player Leonardo Radicchi presents his recital.

A recital led by Wei Jing Saw featuring a variety of flute music through the ages, from J.S. Bach to 19th-20th-century French composer Georges Hue; to a selection of Brazilian choros for flute, guitar, and hand percussion; to contemporary classical flute music by Edgar Varese.

Randy Felts and visiting vocalist/composer Ron McPhatter will present an evening of classic and modern r&b music featuring new songs written by Felts and McPhatter, a selection of new original songs by McPhatter, and a couple of classics as recorded by the Drifters (featuring McPhatter's father, Clyde McPhatter, a member of the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame). A 12-piece ensemble blending faculty and Boston-area professionals will assist. [details]

Russell Lacy is a native Virginian fingerpicker who meshes old-time and bluegrass music with his own interpretations of Delta blues and songster traditions. [details]

Internationally renowned guitar virtuoso, German Schauss, will be presenting a clinic during Berklee's Five-Week Summer Program entitled Instant Shredding: Get More Notes Out of Your Guitar!, showcasing modern rock guitar techniques and improvisational concepts. [details]

Jetro da Silva presents a clinic for the Five-Week Summer Performance Program all about playing music, interacting with people, doing business, and getting the "call back." [details]

Come join Shira Bokov for an eclectic mix of her favorites.

Momoe Nakamura and her friends.

Using his original band, Chad Gray will present his jazz composition recital featuring new music influenced by electronic, rock, pop, jazz, and contemporary classical. Featuring prominent young musicians, this concert will be something special!

Stephanie Barker presents this senior recital featuring her catchy, genre-and-gender-bending dance/rock band.

Stan Strickland presents an interactive performance of cutting-edge computer-driven technology and improvisational music.

The Boston Boys emerged from the hotbed of talented young players in the hip Boston roots music scene. This concert is presented by Harvard Longwood Campus and takes place at the Harvard School of Public Health. [details]

En-Chieh Jacob Liang presents this recital.

Nikolaos Stamatakis presents his jazz composition portfolio recital: a mix of jazz and Mediterranean sounds to be performed by a large ensemble representing the rhythms and feelings of new and old.

Swingin' in Mothers Rest returns with Christiane Karam and ZilZALA, a band that draws from several musical cultures to reinterpret classical, traditional, and folk Arabic music. Vocalist Gian Aurelio and Berklee's Swingers Quartet will open the evening. [details]

Calvin Park will be sharing what he has done through Berklee for three years, sharing gospel with others and introducing Jesus Christ.

Seniors majoring in electronic production and design present their final projects.

Future Vince is a music group made up of players from around the world. Founded by Julian Forte and Vincenzo Marranca, the band has its roots in Boston where its members met at Berklee College. Also playing: Neara Diego. [details]

Guitar Department faculty member Craig Hlady leads his quartet of original blues influenced music.

Guitar Department faculty member Craig Hlady leads his quartet of original blues-influenced music. In the second half of the show, the Tomo Fujita Trio will perform tunes from Pure, Fujita's latest album with Steve Gadd, Bernard Purdie, Steve Jordan, and Will Lee featuring original compositions that mix blues and funk. [details]

Two sixteen year olds were en route to a birthday party and realized they didn't have a gift. "Let's write him a song," they thought. Unbeknownst to them, that afternoon sparked a partnership between two songwriters who would fall in love with each other and the gypsy lifestyle they were bound to lead. [details]

Guitar Department faculty member Don Lappin presents a clinic as part of the Five-Week Summer Performance Program.

Sax Plus will present a concert/clinic by woodwind faculty Peter Cokkinias, Harry Skoler, and Lance Van Lenten playing saxophones, clarinet, bass clarinet, flute, and other woodwind instruments accompanied by pianist Bain Smith. Special arrangements of standards and original compositions will feature aspects of woodwind performance such as stylistic interpretation, group improvisation, doubling, technique, and orchestration. [details]

Guitarists Tony Song and Jae-Young Jeong present an intimate guitar duo performance featuring special guest Susie Kang on vocals.

Boby Limijaya will present his compositions in this jazz composition portfolio recital.

Two sixteen year olds were en route to a birthday party and realized they didn't have a gift. "Let's write him a song," they thought. Unbeknownst to them, that afternoon sparked a partnership between two songwriters who would fall in love with each other and the gypsy lifestyle they were bound to lead. [details]

French bassist Louis de Mieulle presents compositions and improvisations influenced by Indian classical music, vintage electric jazz, and math-metal.

Accomplished on the trombone and a noted composer and arranger, William Cepeda comes from a well-known musical family in Puerto Rico. He developed a unique style that he calls "Afrorican Jazz"—a fusion of jazz with the folk music he grew up with. This event is part of the Tito Puente Latin Music Series. [details]

International recording artist and pianist Hey Rim Jeon will present a set of jazz standards and original compositions. [details]

The James Peipon Quartet plays contemporary, original, jazz-influenced compositions featuring vibes, piano, bass and drums. For the second half of the show, multi-instrumentalist Shota Ishikawa will play his original compositions for his performance senior recital, called the First and the Last. Some faculty members will join his band.

In 2006, the Hokkaido Groove Camp was established just outside of Sapporo. Berklee faculty member Tiger Okoshi is the director. This concert features the five Hokkaido alumni who are attending the Five-Week Summer Performance Program this year. [details]

Yuuri Yamada, pianist and singer/songwriter, performs her original songs. Come and join us.

Kentaro Sugiyama will lead a jazz ensemble playing some of his original compositions.

This recital will include an eclectic mix of vocal selections, ranging from r&b to jazz, as well as some classical pieces.

Gregory Barnum presents r&b, jazz, Latin, and original compositions.

Coming to the Red Room @ Cafe 939 on July 30 will be Alicia Lemke. At this show, she'll be releasing her new EP, Shades of Motion. She'll be joined by Russell Lacy and Nathan Reich, two other Berklee students. Don't miss this free event of great songwriters! [details]

Through a special collaboration with Mayor Thomas M. Menino's Office of Arts, Tourism and Special Events, City Hall Plaza will play host to a remarkable concert entitled Caliente, a Celebration of Latin Music and Culture. The internationally famous Jerry Rivera headlines the night. His third album was the most-sold salsa album in history. Berklee faculty member Eguie Castrillo is a high-demand percussionist and an authority on the rhythms of Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Trinidad and Tobago. [details]