Jazz trio to present local premiere of 'Black Book Project'

9/10/2009

"The Black Book Project," original music inspired by images captured by the Hubble Space Telescope, will have its local premiere at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 19 in the Maumee Indoor Theater, 601 Conant St., Maumee.

The New York jazz fusion trio, TEN27 - Monica Wilson-Roach, Michael Roach, and Paul Borrello - will perform its multimedia composition, which reflects aspects of cosmology, astronomy, and history.

The project comprises seven numbers, one of which was scored by Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid. Instrumentation includes Wilson-Roach's electronic cello, Roach's various keyboards and bass, and Borrello's array of percussion equipment.

TEN27, named for the day Wilson met Roach in 1998, has released two CDS, the latest "The Black Book Project."

Wilson-Roach, a Toledo native who lived in the Holland area early in her life, taught on the faculty of the Juilliard School in New York City for 20 years, and also teaches and plays throughout the New York metro area. TEN27 is appearing with support from the local MENSA chapter. Tickets are $15-$20 at the door.

•

Chamber Music of Toledo will present a benefit evening of arts and music at 7 p.m. Sept. 19 in 20 North Gallery, 20 North St. Clair St., across from Fifth Third Field.

Wine and refreshments will be served. The third Chamber Music of Toledo series of four concerts is to begin Nov. 22 in First Presbyterian Church of Maumee. Donations of $40 single or $75 per couple will go to CMT. Information: 419-508-1348.

•

The University of Toledo Jazz Ensemble will perform at 8 p.m. Sept. 21 in the Center for the Performing Arts Recital Hall. Composed of faculty and student musicians, the ensemble will launch its season with a varied program. Tickets at the door are $3-$5.

•

Bowling Green State University will present faculty trumpeter Charles Saenz and pianist Solungga Fang-Tzu in a free recital of music by Stephenson and Chaynes at 8 p.m. Sept. 16 in the Moore Musical Arts Center Bryan Recital Hall. On Sept. 17, visiting flutist/composer Robert Dick will perform at 8 p.m. in Bryan Hall, part of the MidAmerican Center for Contemporary Music series. The recital is free.

Faculty flutist Nina Assimakopoulos will take listeners on a musical tour of the Toledo Museum of Art collection at 3 p.m. Sept. 20 in the Great Gallery. Pianist Thomas Rosenkranz and dancer Tammy Metz Starr will assist with the free, public recital, to include compositions by Dick, Reinecke, Dukas, and Prokofiev.

•

The Toledo Choral Society will hold auditions and begin rehearsals for the annual performances of Handel's Messiah at 7:30 p.m. Monday in Augsburg Lutheran Church, 1342 West Sylvania Ave.

An additional series of rehearsals and auditions for those unable to attend Monday evenings will be at 10 a.m. Saturdays, starting Sept. 19, at Unity Church, 3535 Executive Pkwy. Information: 419-531-9483.

•

Christopher Fellows, a former member of the Milwaukee Ballet, has joined Dance FX Academy, 4730 West Bancroft St., to lead a new ballet program. Fellows, who has appeared in the area with the former North American Ballet, also has performed with the Chicago Joffrey Ballet and the Chautauqua Ballet.

•

Ballet Theatre of Toledo will hold auditions for its holiday production of The Nutcracker starting at 1 p.m. Saturday in the studio, 1124 Corporate Drive, Holland. Tryouts will begin with Primary 2 dancers, then Elementary 1 and 2, Intermediate 1 and 2 at 1:45,

and Advanced 1 and 2 2:30 to 3:15.

Auditions need to arrive half an hour early to register and be measured for costumes. A $55 nonrefundable fee is required that day to cover costuming and the cast party.

Items for News of Music should be sent to svallongo@theblade.com at least two weeks ahead of the event.