When a pixieish, velvet-clad, virtuoso clarinetist joins forces with a five-man percussion group that plays anything from paint cans to conch shells, expect a mix of sounds that encompasses centuries and encircles the globe.
Grammy Award-winning classical musician Richard Stoltzman and the internationally acclaimed ensemble Nexus fuse their talents into an eclectic program titled "Reflections: a prism of music and light."
Richard Stoltzman has been known for creating musical melting pots, mixing the classical sounds of Bach with the blues of Thelonious Monk. This classically trained clarinetist, the first clarinetist who was presented in recital at Carnegie Hall, has evolved into one of the most popular crossover artists of our time.
Stoltzman would not be able to display his one-of-a-kind, apparently endless versatility within the limits of a classical repertoire. According to the Denver Post, Stoltzman "takes what is interesting and congenial to him and plays it, regardless of schools, -isms and popularity." Thus he embraces classical suites, big-band arrangements, light pop and jazz.
"When I was in college, I played for free beers at a local Dixieland place. I used the music for pleasure and always thought of classical playing as my serious part," Stoltzman explained. "I didn't realize until later in my career, after meeting some of the great jazz musicians, that jazz requires a seriousness and dedication at exactly the same high level as classical musicians strive for."
Stoltzman has made three jazz recordings in addition to his classical records, among them "Begin Sweet World" and "New York Counterpoint."
Though he has recorded a few dozen studio albums, the best way to discover Stoltzman is in concert. The Los Angeles Daily News declared that "to experience (Stoltzman) live is to find him frankly irresistible. With a tone by turns sinuous, frothy, guttural and even sexy, he finds new ways to illuminate borrowed masterpieces."
Stoltzman himself is especially fond of live performance. "It's great to make records, to hone down the pieces and catch the perfect improvisation," he said. "But there's a sense of wonder when an audience encourages you, through silence, or murmurs, or applause... That can't be duplicated in a recording studio. That's why music was created -- for communication of something unique."
Richard Stoltzman is not the only one who wants to communicate a unique message through his music. The five-man percussion ensemble Nexus (John Wyre, Russell Hartenberger, William Cahn, Bob Becker and Robin Engelman) brings its own eclectic blend of sound to Dartmouth.
The quintet, founded in 1971, has been acknowledged as one of Canada's premier chamber groups and was awarded the Toronto Arts Award in 1989.
Nexus boasts a wide range of music which includes compositions by members of the group, works by some of the world's most famous composers, ethnic music, ragtime music and improvisations. According to The Boston Globe, "there doesn't seem to be anything that the five players in Nexus can't do."
Indeed, the ensemble has taken on a variety of projects ranging from creating and performing the music for an Academy Award winning film ("The Man Who Skied Down Mount Everest") to releasing a CD featuring journalist Bill Moyers narrating the story of percussion's evolution ("The Story of Percussion in the Orchestra").
Nexus has also toured extensively throughout the world; they were the first western percussion group to perform in the People's Republic of China. They have given masterclasses and workshops at universities around the globe, and both Nexus and Richard Stoltzman have held family and children's concerts along with a broad array of educational and outreach activities that foster musical interest among a wider range of people.
Together, the percussion ensemble and clarinetist will expand the musical experience of all those yearning for something unique. The program will feature works ranging from Stravinsky to traditional African songs.
The concert is tonight at 8 pm in Spaulding Auditorium. Tickets are $20.50; $10.50 for Dartmouth students.
