Jason Vieaux & Julien Labro • guitar & bandoneon

JASON VIEAUX & JULIEN LABRO

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2017
5:00 PM
CHESTER MEETING HOUSE

SPONSORED BY RYDERS HEALTH MANAGEMENT AND LIGHTHOUSE HOME HEALTH CARE

About Jason Vieaux & Julien Labro

In recent years, Jason Vieaux and Julien Labro have thrilled Collomore Concert audiences separately – Jason playing classical guitar in a solo concert and Julien playing accordion with the Detroit Hot Club. When we heard they had joined forces touring, playing the guitar and bandoneon, we jumped at the opportunity to have them return.

As described by Jason, expect something “entertaining, fun, exciting, virtuosic in the unusual pairing of these two instruments. The program contains some modern classical, world music from Brazil and Argentina, and even some pop music. It’s full of improvisation and surprises.” Their joint album, Infusion, released in October 2016, features their own arrangements of works by Leo Brouwer, Astor Piazzolla, Radames Gnattali, and Pat Metheny.

Jason Vieaux is described by NPR as “perhaps the most precise and soulful classical guitarist of his generation.” Recent and future highlights include performances at the Caramoor Festival, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, New York’s 92Y, Ravinia Festival, and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. His most recent solo album, Play, won the 2015 Grammy Award for Best Classical Instrumental Solo. In 2012, the Jason Vieaux School of Classical Guitar was launched with ArtistWorks Inc., an interface that provides one-on-one online study with Vieaux for guitar students around the world. In 2011, he co-founded the guitar department at the Curtis Institute of Music and since 2001 has headed the guitar department of the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Julien Labro has established himself as one of the foremost accordion and bandoneon players in both the classical and jazz genres. French-born Labro was influenced early on by traditional folk music and the melodic, lyrical quality of the French chanson. Upon discovering the music of jazz legends like Charlie Parker and Miles Davis, he quickly became inspired by the originality, freedom, and creativity in their musical language. After graduating from the Marseille Conservatory of Music, Labro sweep first place in numerous international competitions. He moved to the United States earning graduate degrees in Classical Music, Jazz Studies, and Composition. Labro draws from both his diverse academic and eclectic musical influences in his professional life as a performer, arranger, and composer.

 

Program

Fratres (arr. Labro)    Arvo Part (b. 1935)

Suite Retratos ( arr. Labro)    Radames Gnattali

1. Pixinguinha (Choro) (1906-1988)
2. Ernesto Nazareth (Valse)

Antonia (arr. Vieaux)    Pat Metheny (b. 1954)

Escualo (arr. Labro/Vieaux)     Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992)

Intermission

Prelude and Scherzo    Rossen Balkanski (b. 1968)

Suite Retratos (arr. Labro)    Radares Gnattali (1906-1988)

 

At the conclusion of the program, members of the audience are invited to meet the artists at a reception with refreshments.