Brave Combo Opens Summer Breeze 2012 Concert Series
Two-time Grammy award winners Brave Combo will kick off the 2012 Summer Breeze free concert series on Sunday, May 20, in Norman’s Lions Park at the corner of Symmes and Flood. This first concert is part of a collaborative arts festival presented by the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, the Firehouse Art Center, The Jacobson House, The Norman Arts Council, and the Performing Arts Studio. The third annual Luncheon on the Grass hands-on arts activities and entertainment will take place in the park from 4 pm – 6:30 pm. At 6:00 pm the Norman Public Arts Board will dedicate Douglas Shaw Elder’s original sculpture being placed in Lions Park. The group’s latest public arts project will be made from this original sculpture. Brave Combo will take the stage at 7 pm. Bring seating and refreshments for a full afternoon and evening of art, music, and fun in the park!
Brave Combo has perfected a world music mix that includes salsa, meringue, rock, cumbia, conjunto, polka, zydeco, classical, cha cha, the blues and more. They are America’s Premier Dance band and a rollicking, rocking, rhythmic global journey -- offering what one critic recently wrote, “Even if you come for the party, you'll leave with something of a musical education.”
Keyboardist, guitarist, accordionist, and singer Carl Finch founded the band in 1979. Alongside Finch for most of Brave Combo's 30 years has been multi-instrumentalist Jeffrey Barnes, who joined in 1983. Barnes is known for his lively and imaginative stage wear, as well as playing an array of reeds and woodwinds, harmonica, pennywhistle, guitars, you name it, sometimes in multiple, simultaneous combinations. Rounding out the current line-up are trumpet player Danny O'Brien, drummer Alan Emert and Little Jack Melody on electric bass.
For additional information contact The Performing Arts Studio, 405-307-9320.
Summer Breeze Concerts are produced by the Performing Arts Studio and are made possible in part by grants from the Norman Arts Council, the Oklahoma Arts Council, and from businesses and individuals including: Michael Miller; Jamie Belknap, DDS, Norman Smile Center; Andi Berry, Wyoming Art Therapy; Skye Diers, Gingerbread Nursery School; and Republic Bank and Trust. Additional support comes from Cardinal Engineering; David Fries Roofing; Tom McAuliffe, Don Cies Real Estate; Old Republic Title Company of Oklahoma; The Spirit Shop; Dale Wares,Wares Properties; The Earth Natural Foods; The Montford Inn; and City of Norman Parks and Recreation Department.
Summer Breeze Concert Schedule 2012
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Trying to describe Brave Combo’s music requires a pretty extensive vocabulary – at least when it comes to musical styles. For the past three decades the Denton, Texas based quintet has perfected a world music mix that includes salsa, meringue, rock, cumbia, conjunto, polka, zydeco, classical, cha cha, the blues and more. They are America’s Premier Dance band and a rollicking, rocking, rhythmic global journey – offering what one critic recently wrote, “Even if you come for the party, you'll leave with something of a musical education.” This year, we're teaming up with Firehouse Art Center, the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, the Jacobson House Native Art Center, and the Norman Arts Council to make the first Summer Breeze concert a part of the annual Luncheon on the Grass event - a free picnic and arts event scheduled from 4:00 to 6:30pm. Luncheon on the Grass will feature hands-on art activities for all ages, music, and storytelling. A wonderful way for our community to come together in a relaxed atmosphere to experience and participate in the arts and culture of Norman, followed by a fun and entertaining evening of music by two time Grammy Award winners Brave Combo. Luncheon on the Grass begins at 4:00pm Brave Combo will take the stage at 7:00pm Links: |
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Alegria Real will take you on a journey into the Heart of Latin American Roots Music, interpreting the songs that represent a rich and diverse treasure of living folkloric musical traditions throughout Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe, the duo Alegria Real entertains, educates, and embraces audiences with eclectic and captivating sounds. Collectively, their repertoire of songs includes an impressive variety of over twenty-five acoustic string, wind and percussion instruments that interpret particular styles and rhythms ranging in complexity from such regions as Mexico, Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay, Peru and Spain. They intersperse musical selections with stories and information that give the songs cultural, historical, and cross-cultural contexts giving listeners a richer connection to what they are hearing and establishing a rapport with the musicians. As well, audience members are invited to become involved in playing certain instruments or singing on some of the songs creating an impactful and more palpable understanding of the music. Alegria Real is comprised of Christina Audas and Armando Rivera. The duo also enjoys collaborations with a variety of guest musicians on performances of all types. Links: |
June 3 - Alegria Real
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"Music comes at us from all directions. Sometimes a short review will catch your eye and lead to an overwhelming discovery. Other times a new band seems promising, and then one of its members takes off on their own. That’s Beau Jennings. The Oklahoma native has a name that sounds like he should come from that state, but his music is as big as America. He made two albums with Cheyenne, and both are striking collections of personal perceptions. But it’s Jennings’ solo debut that makes you think here’s someone who is creeping right up to the edge of greatness, and with any luck could easily cross over. This isn’t roots music, unless you consider the entire cosmos the backyard. It’s more like the singer-songwriter has his head tuned into a prairie radio capable of receiving every kind of American music there is. Jennings’ job is to distill it down to his own creation--and he does." -- Bill Bentley, Sonic Boomers |
June 17 - Beau Jennings & The Tigers|
Ginger Leigh adds value and delight to every environment she enters. As a global artist featuring a variety of styles from rock to Latin to pop, blues and jazz, Leigh brings a classy modern mix of uniquely high-spirited music and entertainment. Leigh’s drive and ambition go unmatched. Leigh is as equally loved as misunderstood. Some blindly consider her an emergent Melissa Etheridge type as her on-stage energy is quite similar in strength, but Ginger Leigh is more of a chanteuse-like female Elvis who appeals to both men and women, young and old. Ginger’s strongest message is about living outside of the box. Her uniqueness lies in her ability to see and live beyond the status quo. She manages to deliver this message with contemporary powerful up-beat rhythms and melodies that come from her varied background in jazz, country, R&B, and a family of 5 generations of professional musicians. Her career was kick-started as the lead-singer in her first professional performing band at the age of 9. Links: |
July 1 - Ginger Leigh|
Camille Harp prides herself on her ability and love for writing. She has a voice in her soul that sings the words of her heart. Harp's style crosses musical borders from folk to rock to country-based pop. Though her genre is hard to define, it's easy to get enveloped by her sincere lyrics and graceful melodies. Harp's music ranges from catchy, danceable tunes to heart-wrenching, melodic love songs. It's music that is easy to relate to and listener friendly on many levels. Give it your ears and it will take your heart.
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July 22 - Camille Harp and John Calvin
John Calvin describes himself as a "folksinger and instrumentalist who tells it as he sees it." But that only scratches the surface of this emerging young artist who is as easily adept at channeling Dylan as he is riffing on a loop, belting out a blues number, or eloquently interpreting a jazz standard.|
Fronted by brothers Dick and Dave Pruitt on bass and electric guitars, with Michael Cherry on drums, the Bel Airs play a danceable mix with an authentic but eclectic bluesy-country-soul-and-rock-n-roll sound influenced by the likes of Wilson Picket, Slim Harpo, Howlin' Wolf and Johnny Cash. The Bel Airs marked their 30th year performing together in 2011. The Pruitt brothers' harmony vocal style sets them apart in the contemporary music scene--leading one reviewer to refer to them as the "Everly Brothers of Blues". David's "big guitar" and Dick's howling vocals over soulful, right-on rhythm playing make this trio a powerhouse. |
August 5 - The Bel Airs|
Expect the unexpected. The David Mayfield Parade is all at once a rock band, a folk group, a bluegrass combo, and a comedy troupe. They'll have you rolling on the grass laughing one moment, and in the next jaw-dropping amazed at their instrumental virtuosity and intelligent, beautiful, humorous songs. “...a dynamic combination of music and comedy worthy of a traveling vaudeville act” - The Boston Globe “...his songs are sturdy enough to work in any format, because his tunes are that lovely and his words that understated.” - Washington Post "...the wild man of Americana!" -The Independent Links: |
August 26 - The David Mayfield Parade|
4 girls. All can sing, play and write songs...sometimes all at once. None are named Trisha. The four principal members of Austin’s The Trishas would have you believe that they’re not blood related, but to hear them sing together, you’d swear they were harmonizing from the womb. Then again, sometimes luck and fate sing in perfect harmony, too, and uncontested magic just happens — just as it did the very first time Jamie Wilson, Kelley Mickwee, Liz Foster and Savannah Welch ever shared a stage together. It was ostensibly supposed to be a one-off gig — two songs as part of a tribute to Savannah’s father, famed songwriter Kevin Welch, at the 2009 MusicFest in Steamboat Springs, Colo. But midway through their first practice, it became clear to all in the room that they were on to something good. Goosebumps don’t lie. Links: |
September 9 - The Trishas
