Fountain Street’s “Jazz in the Sanctuary” series kicks off with Robin Connell and Bill Huyge playing “magnificent” grand pianos; Intersection ramps up employment for hectic concert season.
Respected Grand Rapids jazz pianist Robin Connell plays the first “Jazz in the Sanctuary” show. (Photo/Local Spins)
THE LOCAL SPINS MUSIC NEWS UPDATE: AUG. 11, 2014
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Fountain Street Church will bring forth a new jazz series in downtown Grand Rapids starting in September.
Robin Connell, jazz pianist and educator, will serve as the host for the Jazz in the Sanctuary series, which will champion jazz piano performances in its debut.
The first concert, set for 3 p.m. Sept. 14, features Fountain Street’s two grand pianos, a Steinway and a Schimmel, with Connell mastering one and Bill Huyge in charge of the other. Joining them will be bassist Paul Keller. Tickets are $10, or $5 for students, and are available in advance at jazzinthesanctuary.eventbrite.com.
Robin Connell
“It’s a celebration of the grand, on the Grand, in Grand Rapids,” Connell quipped.
Additional concerts are planned for February and April.
Connell lends her impressive credentials to Fountain Street’s new jazz venture. With a doctorate of music from the University of Northern Colorado, she currently teaches at Aquinas College, Grand Rapids Community College and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. She spent two decades directing student jazz ensembles at Interlochen Arts Camp, with nationally known singer Norah Jones among her pupils.
Connell also spent more than a decade performing jazz piano and vocals in New York City, including appearances at the Waldorf-Astoria and the Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center. She has performed in clubs, concerts and college campuses across the country, and accompanies many West Michigan jazz players in the Grand Rapids area.
She performs solo on Thursdays at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids.
Keller, the 2001 West Michigan Jazz Society Musician of the Year, has performed with many international stars, including Diana Krall and Scott Hamilton. He also fronts his own highly respected big band, The Paul Keller Orchestra.
Huyge also is well known to West Michigan audiences having performed solo and with a variety of distinguished jazz bands, including The Rhythm Section Jazz Band, Schock Effect and many more.
INTERSECTION SEEKING MORE STAFF; INTERVIEWS LATER THIS WEEK
Aaron Carter returns to The Stache inside The Intersection in October. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
The Intersection is seeking additional staff members to help it through one of the busiest concert seasons in its history, partner Scott Hammontree has announced.
One of Grand Rapids’ prime locations for live music, The Intersection plans to accept applications and do on-site interviews from 2-6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 14 and Friday, Aug. 15 at the venue, 133 Grandville Ave. SW. The jobs start in September.
Hammontree said open positions include: customer service and security; bartenders, bar backs and servers with at least three years of experience in a high-volume establishment; and stagehands, FOH techs, monitor engineers and lighting directors who have at least one year’s experience in live event production.
For more information, email Hammontree scott@sectionlive.com.
He noted the Intersection needs more staff for the upcoming season — extending from late September through May — because the Grand Rapids venue is booking shows on “as many days as possible” during that stretch. Names on the fall bill at The Intersection include JJ Grey and Mofro (Oct. 7), Aaron Carter (Oct. 21), The Wonder Years (Oct. 28), The Wide Awake Tour (Nov. 1), David Nail (Nov. 14) and Relient K (Dec. 9).
Email John Sinkevics at john@localspins.com.
Copyright 2014, Spins on Music
