SoVoSó -- September 19, 2000
Schwungvoll -- November 28, 2000
Duo Concertante -- February 6, 2001
Cypress String Quartet -- March 27, 2001
Baguette Quartette -- May 22, 2001

SoVoSó
Tuesday, September 19, 2000, 8:00 p.m.
(In the Ballroom)
Joey Blake
Sunshine Garcia
Norman Pitters
Melanie Rath
Destani Wolf
David Worm

In the jazz tradition, the program will be announced by the performers.

From the Soul to the Voice to the Song. The founding members of SoVoSó came together in Bobby McFerrin's Voicestra. SoVoSó is a highly imaginative a cappella ensemble that sings a compelling mix of jazz, R&B, gospel, world, pop, and improvisational music. The singers explore the extended capability of the human voice with such elements as groove-oriented bass lines, syncopated guitar- or horn-like riffs, and vocal percussions, all of which support exquisite harmonies. The ensemble is rooted in the art of circle singing, where a framework supporting improvised solos is created through interlocking patterns that are spontaneously composed. SoVoSó captivates audiences with their playfulness, humor, and unpredictability.

". . . ear-boggling in its originality and harmony." -- San Jose Mercury News

"SoVoSó leaves listeners awestruck by its vocal agility and musical smarts." -- Oakland Tribune

"SoVoSó is tight, soulful, and a whole lotta fun." -- Bobby McFerrin

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Schwungvoll
Tuesday, November 28, 2000, 8:00 p.m.
(In the Members Lounge)

Cheryl Keller, soprano
Martha Stoddard, flute
Dana Bauer, oboe
Karen Wells, clarinet
Carrie Weick, horn
Wendy Young, bassoon
Hadley McCarroll, piano

Works by Ruth Crawford-Seeger, Martin Butler, David Diamond, Irving Fine, and local composers William Ludtke and Peter Josheff.

schwung·voll \schvoong-foll\ adj. : [G, Mus. (lit. "swing")]
1. Full of verve
2. Performing and enjoying contemporary music

With the motto "Serving the avant-garde since 1992," Schwungvoll is committed to performing exclusively 20th and 21st Century works. Schwungvoll is a diverse group of chamber musicians, including winds, voice, strings, and piano. Appearing in this evening's concert are woodwind quintet, soprano, and piano, in various combinations.

In a review of a recent all-Webern concert, Mark Alburger wrote: "Every gesture means something, and every meaning was well-articulated."

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Anita Felix, violin
Wolfgang Fetsch, piano

Works of Brahms, Debussy, Stravinsky, and Franck

This father-daughter duo, descendants of a long line of musicians, is superbly matched and possesses a strong sense of tradition, exciting interpretive flair, and an impeccable grasp of style. Ms. Felix is currently a member of the Sacramento Opera and Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestras. Mr. Fetsch is the former Resident Artist at the University of the Pacific and has performed as a soloist and in recital throughout the United States.

"They just play as one, elegantly, smoothly, as if a single piano-violin were commanded by one mind, one heart." -- Independent Coast Observer

To read more about Duo Concertante, go to http://CaliforniaWest.com/DuoConcertante

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Cypress String Quartet
Tuesday, March 27, 2001, 8:00 p.m.
(In the Ballroom)

Cecily Ward, violin
Tom Stone, violin
Ann Gregg, viola
Jennifer Kloetzel, cello

The Cypress String Quartet has been featured in Chamber Music Magazine as "a Generation X ensemble to watch" and was nominated Debut Artist of the Year by National Public Radio's Performance Today. The quartet's innovative "call and response" programming features two quartets from the standard repertoire, which are linked to one another compositionally. A third quartet, inspired by the first two, has been commissioned from emerging American composer Anna Weesner.

"The Cypress Quartet plays with outstanding sensitivity and depth of musical understanding."
-- Donald Weilerstein, founding first violinist of the Cleveland Quartet

"The skilled Cypress ensemble delivered musical stylishness and a healthy sense of probing."
-- Los Angeles Times

Read more about the Cypress String Quartet at http://www.cypressquartet.com/Entry.htm

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Baguette Quartette
Note: The Baguette Quartette is replacing the Balfe-Cornwell Duo on our series, as Kathleen Balfe will be participating in the Naumburg Competition.
Tuesday, May 22, 2001, 8:00 p.m.
In the Members Lounge

Odile Lavault, accordion, bandoneon, and vocals
Rachel Durling, violin
Will Bernard, guitar and mandolin
Richard Trevor, string bass

Parisian café music from the 1920s to 1940s -- valses musettes, tangos, pasos dobles, fox trots, marches and realistic songs

"...accordionist Odile Lavault's awesome French musette band is one of the coolest acoustic acts in town. Faithful renditions of Parisian cafe music from the 1920s and '30s, performed with a compelling, enthusiastic love of the material, and plenty of sheer musical know-how. It's different, it's great, and it's wonderful to listen to!"
--Joe Sixpack (KALX).

Read more about the Baguette Quartette at http://www.well.com/~baguette

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