CLEVELAND (November 2, 2011) – NYC-based jazz trumpeter Dominick Farinacci, backed by a sextet of emerging and stellar jazz musicians, will perform in concert Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Main Stage Theatre at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) as part of the college’s new Young Visiting Artists Program. Tickets ($25, $10 for students) can be purchased at www.tricjazzfest.com or by calling 216-987-4444.
Tri-C’s Mainstage Theatre is located at 2809 Woodland Ave. (between E. 30th and E. 22nd streets). Free, secure underground parking is available at Lot 5, near the entrance of the college’s Center for Creative Arts.
The evening will be the culmination of a three-day residency of workshops, master classes and studio recording taking place at the Center for Creative Arts and at Cleveland Heights schools. While the musicians will be involved in all of the workshops, audio engineer Todd Whitelock will focus on recording technology for the Recording Arts &Technology students at Tri-C, with a studio session involving Farinacci’s group and selected students from Tri-C’s Jazz Studies Program. The concert on November 16 will mark the official Cleveland CD release of Farinacci’s new recording, The Dawn of Goodbye.
A kick-off jam session for area students will precede the residency at NightTown, 12387 Cedar Rd., Cleveland Heights, Sunday, Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. General admission is $5, but students who are playing will be admitted free.
Farinacci is the newly appointed 2011-12 Artist in Residence for the Young Visiting Artists program at Tri-C. In this role he will help bring young, well-established bandleaders to Cleveland throughout the year to engage in performances, workshops and visits to area schools. In addition to coaching students and collaborating with Tri-C faculty, the visiting artists will also be involved in the discovery and development of budding young talent in Cleveland.
“We expect that with this world-class, youth-focused program, Tri-C will become the center for all things jazz in the region,” says Terri Pontremoli, director of Jazz @Tri-C. “We are thrilled that the new program is spearheaded by one of Tri-C’s most illustrious alumni.”
Following the release of Dawn of Goodbye, The New York Times recognized Farinacci as “having the prepossessing charm and lyrical instinct of a jazz pop-star.” Mitch Winehouse, father of the late Amy Winehouse, invited Dominick to perform with him in a tribute to his daughter at Royal Albert Hall in London last month. He is the recipient of the International New Star Award (along with Diana Krall and Christian McBride), the Disney New Star Award, and first place honors in the Carmine Caruso International Trumpet Competition. Dominick was discovered by Wynton Marsalis at Tri-C JazzFest when he was just 17 years old.
In Farinacci’s words, “I was given such great opportunities and training at Tri-C that I want to give back by helping students in Cleveland. I’m really excited at the potential of developing talent and nurturing interest and support for jazz in my home town.”
In addition to Farinacci, the Nov. 16th concert will feature Dan Kaufman, piano; Charenee Wade, vocals; Christian Tamburr, vibes; Lawrence Leathers, drums; Keita Ogawa, percussion; and Paul Sikivie, bass.
Christian Tamburr (vibes) served as Musical Director for Julio Iglesias, and is the Artistic Director for the Aria Hotel in Las Vegas. Vocalist Charenee Wade was the first runner-up in the world renowned Thelonious Monk Competition (2010). Paul Sikivie (bass) and Lawrence Leathers (drums) have performed with Wynton Marsalis and are in-demand players on the New York scene. Keita Ogawa (percussion) has performed with Yo-Yo Ma and orchestras throughout the world, and studied with Cleveland legend Jamey Haddad, while Dan Kaufman (piano) has performed with artists ranging from Marilyn May to Donald Harrison.
The guest audio engineer Todd Whitelock is a two-time Grammy Award winner and has engineered sessions for Yo-Yo Ma, Sting, Wynton Marsalis, James Taylor and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
