Berklee Performance Center Fall Season on Sale Now

The Berklee Performance Center is proud to announce a jam-packed fall season. Highlights include Black Lives Matter: Meaning of Freedom Concert Honoring Angela Davis; John Scofield’s Country for Old Men; Patti Smith in conversation with Michael Patrick MacDonald; Lampedusa: Concerts for Refugees with Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Patty Griffin, Buddy Miller, and the Milk Carton Kids; and much more.

September 12, 2016

The Berklee Performance Center (BPC) is proud to announce a jam-packed fall season. Highlights include Black Lives Matter: Meaning of Freedom Concert Honoring Angela Davis; John Scofield’s Country for Old Men; Patti Smith in conversation with Michael Patrick MacDonald; Lampedusa: Concerts for Refugees with Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Patty Griffin, Buddy Miller, and the Milk Carton Kids; and much more.

The BPC is located at 136 Massachusetts Avenue in Boston. For tickets and more information call 617-747-2261 or visit berklee.edu/bpc.

Upcoming Performances

The following is a list of select events for the upcoming fall season. To see all events that are currently selling tickets, view a full schedule of BPC events.

Salim-Sulaiman
Friday / September 16, 2016 / 8:00 p.m.
Admission: $35 / $45 / $55 / $64 / $75 / $122 / $175 / $250

Salim and Sulaiman Merchant are among India's most respected composers, having scored more than 100 films including Kurbaan, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Fashion, Band Baaja Baaraat, Aaja Nachle, and Heroine; and 20 TV shows. They have also composed several records incorporating cinematic, folk, electronica, and Sufi influences into their music.

Heart Strums
Sunday / September 18, 2016 / 7:00 p.m.
Admission: $30 / $40 / $55 / $70

Master lute (tar) player Hossein Alizadeh was voted Iran's most distinguished musician of the year in 2008 and nominated for a 2007 Grammy Award along with Armenian musician Djivan Gasparyan for their collaboration album, The Endless Vision. In this concert, he will be featured with master barbat player Hossein Behroozinia, a recipient of France’s high distinction in art, the Legion of Honor. These two master musicians will be accompanied by Behnam Samani on percussion and Saba Alizadeh on kamancheh.

Black Lives Matter: Meaning of Freedom Concert Honoring Angela Davis
Tuesday / September 20, 2016 / 8:00 p.m.
Admission: $8 in advance / $12 day of show

This concert will explore the iconic songs that provided the soundtrack to the civil rights movement and calls for democracy, as well as more contemporary work relevant to the day. It will feature exciting live performances by Berklee students in honor of Angela Y. Davis, who will be in attendance. Davis is known internationally for her ongoing work to combat all forms of oppression in the U.S. and abroad. Over the years she has been active as a student, teacher, writer, scholar, and activist/organizer. She is a living witness to the historical struggles of the contemporary era.

Watch a cover of Beyoncé's "Freedom," featuring Amber Kiner, from this event:

Lush Ballads
Wednesday / September 21, 2016 / 8:00 p.m.
Admission: $8 in advance / $12 day of show

Peter Eldridge (New York Voices) teams up with Berklee faculty members Kenny Werner (piano) and Eugene Friesen (cello) and Berklee World Strings for an evening of romantic, swinging jazz songs and ballads featuring new arrangements by Werner.

Berklee Beantown Jazz Festival and Signature Series at Berklee: John Scofield’s Country for Old Men
Friday / September 23, 2016 / 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $30 / $34 / $39

John Scofield brings his lifelong love of American country music out of his toolbox to share with jazz audiences in his Country for Old Men project. Scofield approaches classic country melodies, performing with several of his closest musical associates from the jazz community: Steve Swallow, Bill Stewart, and Larry Goldings. In Scofield’s words, “We’re going to turn ‘outlaw’ country tunes into jazz vehicles.”

Tributes Featuring the Manuel Kaufmann Jazz Orchestra
Monday / September 26, 2016 / 8:00 p.m.
Admission: $8 in advance / $12 day of show

The Manuel Kaufmann Jazz Orchestra, featuring Berklee faculty members Greg Hopkins, Rick DiMuzio, Shannon LeClaire, Doug Johnson, and many others, will perform Kaufmann's original compositions and some of his arrangements of the Great American Songbook.

Marko Djordjevic and Sveti: Luminescence
Wednesday / September 28, 2016 / 8:00 p.m.
Admission: $8 in advance / $12 day of show

According to Modern Drummer magazine, Marko Djordjevic is "a world-class drummer" and "a true innovator." All About Jazz calls his band, Sveti, "a group of absolutely monster musicians." As a composer, Djordjevic draws on his Serbian roots as well as on the American jazz tradition, creating a potent and unique musical blend. The band will feature Berklee faculty member Tim Miller on guitar and students Petar Krstajic on bass, Josh Shpak on trumpet, and Andrija Gavrilovic on trumpet. As eclectic, dynamic, intricate, and intense as their music is, this band's performances are also highly accessible, promising a great musical experience for the audience.

Who’s Next: A Tribute to the Who
Thursday / September 29, 2016 / 8:00 p.m.
Admission: $8 in advance / $12 day of show

Joe Musella, an assistant professor of guitar at Berklee, leads a performance of one of the all-time great classic rock albums, Who's Next, the fifth studio album by English band the Who. It developed from the aborted Lifehouse Project, a multimedia rock opera written by the group's Pete Townshend as a follow-up to the band's 1969 album, Tommy. Who's Next was an immediate success when it was released in 1971. It has since been viewed by critics as the Who's best record and one of the greatest rock albums of all time.

The Hot Sardines
Saturday / October 1, 2016 / 8:00 p.m.
Admission: $30 / $37 / $42 / $48

Fusing musical influences from New York, Paris, and New Orleans, Louisiana, the Hot Sardines transform songs from another era into pop music for this century. The band's sound is steeped in hot, foot-stomping jazz; salty stride piano; and the kind of music Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt, and Fats Waller used to make. Bandleader and pianist Evan “Bibs” Palazzo and lead singer Elizabeth Bougerol are joined by a blustery brass lineup, a powerhouse rhythm section led by a stride piano virtuoso, and their very own tap dancer.

Bury Me Standing
Monday / October 3, 2016 / 8:00 p.m.
Admission: $8 in advance / $12 day of show

Bury Me Standing songs are musically challenging, with complex metric structures based on time signature changes, mixed meters, and metric superimposition. Modal improvisational passages follow complex functional harmonic structures, only to give way to powerful distorted unisons and back again to delicate singable melodies, often informed by traditional Balkan and Gypsy folksong. The band includes two vocalists: Berklee alumna and current New England Conservatory contemporary improvisation grad student Burcu Guleç, whose unearthly voice draws from her own soulful Turkish vocal traditions, and Rebecca Kopycinski, a Vermont native who has mastered the art of electronic loops and digital effects on her already experimental, siren-like vocals. The core personnel is rounded out by a bassist who plays electric and acoustic basses, and the Moroccan sintir.

10th Annual Business of Hip-Hop/Urban Music Symposium
Tuesday / October 4, 2016 / 7:00 p.m.
Admission: $8 in advance / $12 day of show

The 10th Annual Business of Hip-Hop/Urban Music Symposium presented by Berklee’s Music Business/Management Department features a celebration of one of the most influential genres in today's music industry. The event will feature a special panel discussion titled the State of the Black Music Business, moderated by Gail Mitchell, Billboard Magazine's urban music senior correspondent, and will include several prominent hip-hop/urban music industry executives and academics, followed by a question-and-answer session with students.

The 2016 Armand Zildjian Artist-in-Residence Final Concert with Will Kennedy
Wednesday / October 5, 2016 / 8:00 p.m.
Admission: $8 in advance / $12 day of show

This concert is the culmination of the three-day Armand Zildjian artist-in-residence program, featuring Will Kennedy. If you have met Kennedy or have seen him perform, you understand that inspiration and Will Kennedy are inseparable, if not synonymous. Whether during his many years as a member of Yellowjackets or one of the many artists he has recorded and toured with, Kennedy has always been credited for being the inspirational drive in the music. His musicality and finesse are legendary among the “who’s who” of the jazz world and beyond. Kennedy has participated in varied music and production opportunities, including music for award-winning TV talk shows, house band for Grammy telecasts, movie soundtracks, and recording sessions. Herbie Hancock, Chaka Khan, Snarky Puppy, Bobby McFerrin, and Esperanza Spalding are a few of the wide range of artists who have requested his musical talents.

Berklee A Cappella Showcase
Thursday / October 6, 2016 / 8:00 p.m.
Admission: $8 in advance / $12 day of show

This show will feature a wide variety of a cappella music by Berklee groups the CharlieChords, Pitch Slapped, On the Vox, Upper Structure, and Treble Threat.

Brookline Booksmith and WBUR Present M Train Author Patti Smith in Conversation with Michael Patrick MacDonald
Tuesday / October 11, 2016 / 7:00 p.m.
Admission: $25

Patti Smith's M Train is an unforgettable odyssey of a legendary artist told through the cafés and haunts she has worked in around the world. It is a book Smith has described as “a roadmap to my life.” Smith is a writer, performer, and visual artist who gained recognition in the 1970s for her revolutionary merging of poetry and rock. She has released 12 albums, including Horses, which has been hailed as one of the top 100 albums of all time by Rolling Stone. Her books include Just Kids, winner of the National Book Award in 2010, Wītt, Babel, Woolgathering, The Coral Sea, and Auguries of Innocence. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. Michael Patrick MacDonald grew up in South Boston’s Old Colony housing project. After losing four siblings and seeing his generation decimated by poverty, crime, and addiction, he became a leading Boston activist, helping launch many anti-violence initiatives including gun-buyback programs. MacDonald won the American Book Award in 2000. His national bestseller, All Souls, and his follow-up, Easter Rising: A Memoir of Roots and Rebellion, have been adopted by university curriculums across the country.

Musical Odyssey IV: Tribute to Vasilis Tsitsanis Featuring the Greek Music Ensemble
Wednesday / October 12, 2016 / 8:00 p.m.
Admission: $8 in advance / $12 day of show

Berklee’s Greek Music Ensemble, in collaboration with drummer/percussionist and Berklee alumnus Kostas Milonas, the Tsitsanis Museum, and the Municipality of Trikala-Greece, presents a concert celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the birth of legendary songwriter and bouzouki player Vasilis Tsitsanis.

Guitarist/Singer-Songwriter Showcase
Thursday / October 13, 2016 / 8:00 p.m.
Admission: $8 in advance / $12 day of show

This showcase presents an evening of original songs performed by some of Berklee's finest guitarist/singer-songwriters in a variety of creative settings. Now in its eighth year, this concert is presented by the Guitar Department and directed by Abigail Aronson. Past showcases have featured up-and-coming guitarist/singer-songwriters including (then students) Molly Tuttle (Goodbye Girls), Adrianne Lenker (Big Thief), Calin Peters (Ballroom Thieves), Sarah Jane Scott, and others.

Mariza
Friday / October 14, 2016 / 8:00 p.m.
Admission: $30 / $42 / $50 / $69

Performing for the first time in Boston since 2009, Mariza is a charismatic fado singer with a clarion voice and mesmerizing stage presence. Whether singing traditional numbers or new songs, Mariza honors the legacy of fado, Portugal’s expressive lament of destiny. She is touring in support of her stunning 2015 release, Mundo, her first new album in five years.

Lampedusa: Concerts for Refugees with Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Patty Griffin, Buddy Miller, and the Milk Carton Kids
Sunday / October 16, 2016 / 8:00 p.m.
Admission: $57 / $67 / $77

Grammy Award–winning artist Emmylou Harris will tour this fall with Steve Earle, Patty Griffin, Buddy Miller, and the Milk Carton Kids. The 11-stop tour, called Lampedusa: Concerts for Refugees, will raise awareness for the unprecedented worldwide refugee crisis. Jesuit Refugee Service/USA (JRS) will host this singer-songwriter tour in support of the organization’s Global Education Initiative, which was launched in 2015 and endorsed by Pope Francis. JRS seeks to double the number of refugees served by its educational programs to 240,000 by 2020. Funds raised by the concert will support educational programs for refugees around the world. For more information, visit jrsusa.org/lampedusa.

Tribute to Gunther Schuller
Tuesday / October 18, 2016 / 8:00 p.m.
Admission: $8 in advance / $12 day of show

The Berklee Concert Jazz Orchestra and the Boston Conservatory Sinfonietta perform a tribute to Gunther Schuller with modern classical chamber music, jazz big band arrangements, ragtime, and classical pieces with guest artist Ran Blake.

Diego El Cigala
Friday / October 21, 2016 / 8:00 p.m.
Admission: $30/ $42/ $50/ $69

Three-time Grammy winner Diego el Cigala has captivated audiences all over the world with his gravelly voice and passionate interpretation of flamenco. Born in Madrid, he has often been touted as "the Sinatra of flamenco.” His various collaborations with world-renowned Latin American artists have earned him a reputation for seamlessly melding the rhythms and melodies of his Spanish Gitano heritage with styles ranging from bolero to son, tango, and Afro-Caribbean jazz.

Guitar Night: Jazz/Blues
Tuesday / October 25, 2016 / 8:00 p.m.
Admission: $8 in advance / $12 day of show

This annual student showcase features the best student jazz and blues guitarists and their bands. The performers are chosen from dozens of applicants who submit demos to participate. Students will show off their skills in a concert filled with incredible tunes and rich sounds.

Fall Together
Wednesday / October 26, 2016 / 8:00 p.m.
Admission: $8 in advance / $12 day of show

Berklee’s Jazz Composition Department's annual fall concert features compositions by faculty composers including Scott Free, Eric Gould, Greg Hopkins, Bob Pilkington, and Marc Rossi.

Dweezil Zappa Cease and Desist Tour / 50 Years of Frank
Thursday / October 27, 2016 / 7:30 p.m.
Admission:  $29.50 / $37/ $45 / $79

In 2012 Dweezil Zappa redefined the mission of his band and sculpted it into the current six-piece configuration he takes on tour (Dweezil Zappa, lead guitar, vocals; Scheila Gonzalez, saxophone, flute, keyboards, and vocals; Kurt Morgan, bass and vocals; Chris Norton, keyboards and vocals; Joe Travers, drums and vocals; Ben Thomas, lead vocals, trumpet, and trombone). When Dweezil's father, Frank, toured with smaller ensembles he referred to them as his “Rocking Teenage Combo.” But smaller in size doesn’t mean smaller in sound, for Frank or Dweezil. Now able to tour in even more cities and venues because they can fit on stage more easily, Dweezil’s rocking teenage combo has been navigating through new geographic and musical territory. This fine assortment of hand-picked musicians all have their own unique qualifications, but it’s their dedication to preserving and performing the detailed music of Frank that unites them and thrills audiences across the globe. (Note that the soundcheck party, included in the $79 VIP ticket, will start 90 minutes before doors and last approximately 45 minutes. Please arrive 30 minutes prior.)

Yehuda Poliker
Saturday / October 29, 2016 / 8:00 p.m.
Admission: $40 / $50 / $60 / $70 / $80 / $100 / $150

With a career that spans over 40 years, Yehuda Poliker became a cornerstone of Israeli music and redefined Israeli contemporary pop and rock with his unique combination of electric guitars and bouzouki with a Greek-Mediterranean rhythm and rock flavor.

Tomatito
Sunday / October 30, 2016 / 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $30 / $38 / $48 / $58

Winner of four Grammys, José Fernández Torres, known as Tomatito, is a guitarist of major significance within the realm of flamenco. His unique approach and elegant style highlight his unprecedented musical sensitivity and interpretive power. He will be accompanied by a full ensemble and guest dancer José Maya.