West Stockbridge — The Richard Stanmeyer Quintet will appear at Old Town Hall on Friday, October 25, to play a set in tribute to Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker, arguably the main progenitors of bebop. He will be joined by a group of phenomenal musicians: Mary Ann McSweeney on bass, Omar Valenzuela on piano, and Tobias Israel on drums. (The fifth member of the quintet is unknown.)
Having graduated in May with a master’s degree in jazz studies (trumpet performance) on a full-tuition Helena Foundation Presidential Scholarship at New England Conservatory, Richard now has more time to play jazz gigs. And, being based in Boston, he knows the best jazz musicians studying at Berklee College of Music, the source of several of the musicians we have heard in the Historical Society’s jazz concert series. Richard gives private lessons.
Born in Aptos, Calif., Maryann McSweeney started playing piano at the age of five and started with violin when she turned eight. That led her, in high school, to take up the double bass after seeing Ray Brown at the Concord Jazz Festival. At the age of 16, she performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival with the All Star band fronted by Thad Jones and Mel Lewis.
When an up-and-coming jazz prodigy like Stanmeyer is able to attract players of bassist Maryann McSweeney’s caliber, it tells you something about their talent and reputation. McSweeney has played with such legends as Dizzy Gillespie, Joanne Brackeen, Lee Konitz, Gil Goldstein, and Bucky Pizzarelli. She has performed under such esteemed conductors as Leonard Bernstein, Lalo Schifrin, and John Williams.
Other jazz players McSweeney has collaborated with include Renee Rosness, Vic Juris, Ken Peplowski, Dennis Mackrel, Lewis Nash, and Larry Goldings, not to mention the Berkshires’ own Ted Rosenthal, who works with the very best jazz players in New York City. Maryann has performed with the Maiden Voyage and Diva big bands. With her own quintet, she has performed at the Seixal Jazz Festival in Portugal and the Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival at the Kennedy Center.
McSweeney toured Europe with David Krakauer’s Klezmer Madness, and, most notably, McSweeney has backed Tony-award-winning vocalist Audra McDonald.
In addition to playing piano and double bass, Maryann is an arranger and orchestrator, having worked in that capacity with Chita Rivera (latest CD titled “Now I Swing”) and with Warner Bros. artist Lea Delaria.
The group will focus on the music of bebop masters Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker, so it would be wise to prepare yourself for more than a few thrills and chills.
Hear the Richard Stanmeyer Quintet at Old Town Hall on Friday, October 25, at 7 p.m. More information and tickets are available here.
