Fine & Performing Arts

Prolific jazz pianist and composer Chick Corea joins vibraphonist Gary Burton to present a concert of duets at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 10 in North Central College’s Wentz Concert Hall at the Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville.

Corea and Burton are each multiple Grammy Award-winning artists who first collaborated on the 1972 album “Crystal Silence,” which National Public Radio calls “one of the seminal recordings of that decade.” Jazz Times says, “There’s a kind of logic and magic that happens when Chick Corea and Gary Burton duo,” and Musicmatch says “Corea is at his most lyrical when Gary Burton joins him.”

Tickets are $75 and $70; call the North Central College Box Office at 630-637-SHOW (7469) or visit http://finearts.northcentralcollege.edu/x48387.xml.

Corea established a reputation during the 1970s as one of the foremost jazz fusion performers and recording artists. He participated in the birth of the electric fusion movement as a member of Miles Davis’ band in the 1960s. He formed the group Return to Forever with bassist Stanley Clarke in the 1970s. His popular compositions include “Spain,” and he has collaborated with such legends as Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Stan Getz, Al Di Meola and John McLaughlin. Visit www.chickcorea.com to learn more.

A true original on the vibraphone, Burton developed a pianistic style of four-mallet technique as an alternative to the usual two mallets. This approach caused Burton to be heralded as an innovator and his sound and technique are widely imitated. He is also known for pioneering fusion jazz and popularizing the duet format in jazz, as well as being a major figure in jazz education. Visit www.garyburton.com to learn more.

The pair marked the 35th anniversary of their groundbreaking 1972 release by reuniting in 2007 to record “The New Crystal Silence,” which was nominated for three Grammy Awards and was followed by a reunion tour. All told, Corea has been nominated for 51 Grammy Awards and has won 15.

North Central College will feature a performance by the a cappella jazz and pop group Take 6 at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, in the College’s Wentz Concert Hall at the Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville.

Founded in 1985 in Alabama and now based in Nashville, Take 6’s popular numbers include “Seven Steps to Heaven,” “Someone to Watch Over Me,” “Back to You,” “Do You Know What It Means” and their cover of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On.”

With its roots in gospel, doo-wop, and the sophisticated jazz-influenced singing groups of mid-century America (such as the Hi-Los), Take 6 is both a throwback to an earlier, more genteel era of American music and a precursor for a number of black male pop groups of the 1990s, most notably Boyz II Men.

“The vocal blend is characteristically sharp and seamless,” The New York Times said of the group’s 2008 release, “The Standard,” which featured such guest musicians as trumpeter Roy Hargrove and jazz singers Al Jarreau and Jon Hendricks.

Tickets are $40 and $30; call the North Central College Box Office at 630-637-SHOW (7469) or visit http://finearts.northcentralcollege.edu/x48369.xml. Visit www.myspace.com/take6 for more information about the group.

Veteran quintet Canadian Brass will fill Wentz Concert Hall with bright sounds when the world’s foremost touring brass ensemble performs Jan. 30 at North Central College.

Since its founding in 1970 in Toronto, Canadian Brass has recorded more than 80 albums and sold out venues around the world. The musicians have a special affinity for Baroque music and have recorded works by Purcell, Vivaldi, Gabrieli, Pachelbel, Beethoven, Wagner and especially Bach.

Canadian Brass

The Washington Post says, “These are the men who put brass music on the map. With their unbeatable blend of virtuosity, spontaneity and humor, they brighten the rosters of concert halls, international festivals and orchestra series throughout the world.”

Canadian Brass made its American debut at Washington’s Kennedy Center in 1975, and in 1977 was the first group of western musicians allowed to perform in China after the Cultural Revolution. In 1979 Canadian Brass become the first chamber ensemble to solo the main stage at Carnegie Hall.

Thanks to its pioneer status, the quintet developed a unique character and rapport with audiences that proved so successful that it has been emulated by many other ensembles. Canadian Brass masters the gamut of concert presentations—from formal classical concerts to music served up with lively dialogue and theatrical effects. No matter what the style, the music is central and performed with utmost dedication and excellence.

The “fabulous five” spend most of their time on tour and have performed with many major symphony orchestras in the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan. They have gained a large international following of their solo performances that offer a large variety of musical styles.

Millions of television viewers have seen the Canadian Brass on such shows as “The Tonight Show,” “Today” and “Entertainment Tonight.” They have appeared as guest artists on “Evening at Pops with John Williams and the Boston Pops,” “Beverly Sills’ Music Around the World” and numerous PBS specials.

Members of the Canadian Brass are keenly interested in training the next generation of players. On their travels around the world, they often pause for master classes. The famous five are chamber quintet-in-residence at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, Calif. Additionally, they have created an innovative brass summer course at the famous Eastman School of Music. They have been invited by the Canadian government to play for visiting heads of states on numerous official occasions.

Members of Canadian Brass are founders Chuck Daellenback, tuba, and Gene Watts, trombone; and Jeff Nelsen, horn; Brandon Ridenour, trumpet; and Chris Coletti, trumpet.

Canadian Brass performs at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, in Wentz Concert Hall at the Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. Tickets are $50 and $40; call the North Central College Box Office at 630-637-SHOW (7469) or visit http://finearts.northcentralcollege.edu/x48360.xml.

For more information about the ensemble, visit www.canbrass.com.