West Stockbridge — Arranger and keyboardist Joe Rose will appear with a band of local jazz musicians at The Foundry on Monday, December 18, for the purpose of making spirits bright.
Mr. Rose knows how to brighten spirits through a staggeringly wide range of musical activities. He would probably do it at The Foundry with an 80-voice choir if the venue were large enough, because he is music director at St. Charles Church in Pittsfield, where he leads three choirs. Also, he has accompanied Berkshire Lyric Chorus on keyboard for many years and served as music director for a Lyric Children’s Chorus fundraiser at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts. So you may have heard Joe’s keyboard playing this month at one of Berkshire Lyric’s Christmas programs.
Joe knows a lot of great vocalists, and one of them is John Demler, a bass singer who works with Rose as a soloist with Berkshire Lyric Chorus but also as a member of the jazz ensemble appearing at The Foundry on December 18. Mr. Demler has performed in oratorio roles with Berkshire Lyric in repertoire ranging from Stravinsky to Mozart and in countless Christmas concerts, as well as the “Kick the Winter Blues” popular concerts. Before moving to the Berkshires, John sang for the Philadelphia Opera Company and the Philadelphia Singers. He teaches Spanish and French at Nessacus Middle School in Dalton and directs the school chorus there.
Joining Mr. Rose on the 18th will be Dan Broad, who has performed on electric and upright bass throughout the U.S. and Europe. Comfortable with many musical genres, Dan has performed everything from rock, blues, and jazz to classical, bluegrass, and more. He holds a BA in Music from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where he studied under Salvatore Macchia and Mark Dresser. He gives private musical instruction locally.
The drummer on Monday will be Sturgis Cunningham, a veteran of tours with Peter Tork, Brooks Williams, M.C. Frontalot, Tim Eriksen, Martin Sexton, Chris McDermott, Jimmy Weider, Chris Pureka, Charles Neville, and many others. Sturgis has extensive experience as a session drummer, including dates for television and film. He teaches privately in Western Massachusetts, where he makes his home.
Also in Monday’s lineup:
Berkshire audiences know Rob Putnam as a member of the BTUs, the highly regarded blues-rock outfit that makes regular appearances at the Egremont Barn (including the Barn’s “Holiday Spectravaganza” on Sunday, December 17, at 7:30 p.m.). Rob sings and plays guitar, bass, and keyboards.
Captain of an Ultimate Frisbee team, trumpeter Soren Smedvig has performed since the age of nine in small ensembles, concert bands, jazz bands, and the Massachusetts All-State Jazz Band. He earned Western Massachusetts Jazz Band District Honors on two occasions. He is also a DJ and an aspiring engineer and producer of electronic music, which he studied at Berklee College of Music.
Beth Rose has lived in the Berkshires all her life and has been a singer for more than 30 years. She performs in the area regularly and has worked as a session vocalist, recording as a soloist and backing vocalist on numerous productions. Beth serves on the board of directors for Vocalis Youth Choir.
Hear Joe Rose and Friends at the Foundry, 2 Harris Street, West Stockbridge, December 18, at 7 p.m. Tickets: $15. For more information and tickets, visit The Foundry’s website or call (413) 232-5222.
