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| Sovereign Bank Music Series: The Music of Burt Bacharach  The Sovereign Bank Music Series at Berklee continues with The Great American Songbook: The Music of Burt Bacharach on Sunday, March 1, at 8:15 p.m. at the Berklee Performance Center, 136 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston. Under the direction of Ken Zambello, ensemble professor, students, faculty and alumni will perform such Bacharach classics as "Walk on By, " "What the World Needs Now is Love, " "What's New Pussycat, " "Alfie, " and "I Say a Little Prayer, " among many others from the rich catalog of pop chart toppers by one of the most treasured songwriters of all time.Grammy winner Paula Cole, also a Berklee alumna, will make a special appearance adding her distinct and passionate voice to some Bacharach favorites. Didi Stewart, assistant professor of voice and well-known Boston rock veteren, will also take center stage for a turn at the mic. Burt Bacharach is one of the most accomplished popular composers of the 20th Century. In the '60s and '70s, he was a dominant figure in pop music, responsible for a remarkable 52 Top 40 songs. Bacharach's songs differed from much of the music of the era. His compositions typically boasted memorable melodies, unconventional and shifting time signatures, and atypical chord changes. Combining elements of jazz, pop, Brazilian music, and rock, Bacharach created a unique new sound that was as contemporary as it was popular. Lyricist Hal David, Bacharach's primary collaborator, supplied Bacharach's music with tart lyrics worthy of the best Tin Pan Alley composers. David's unsentimental, bittersweet lyrics were often in striking contrast to Bacharach's soaring melodies. Berklee's Great American Songbook concerts are presented annually to pay tribute to songwriters whose work has endured over generations and who continue to inspire listeners, and other writers, across the globe. Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, and Stevie Wonder have been the subjects of previous songbook concerts. write your comments about the article :: © 2009 Jazz News :: home page |