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| Martin Piecuch's JAZZical Fusion Jazz at Kitano World-renowned symphonic conductor and woodwind virtuoso Martin Piecuch will bring his "Jazzical Fusion Band to Jazz At Kitano in New York on Saturday, November 14th. Show times 8 p.m. and 10 p. m. The performance, which features Maestro Piecuch on multiple woodwinds with pianist Regan Ryzuk, bassist Laurence Goldman and Brazilian guitarist Richard Miller mixes classical music, modern jazz, and the ancient folk music of Europe and the Americas to create a unique experience that has been called "a remarkable display of versatility, styles, and hip arrangements" by New York Philharmonic saxophonist Albert Regni. Piecuch was named Permanent Guest Conductor of the Moscow Philharmonic in 2003 and has also conducted the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, where in his debut performances, he thrilled audiences with Rolf Lieberman's Concerto for Jazz Band and Symphony Orchestra. Martin Piecuch is a truly versatile musical artist, accomplished as both an honored orchestra conductor and a virtuoso classical and jazz wind musician. His lifetime elision of experiences in both genres, as well as in opera and musical theatre, led him to create his unique concept, Jazzical Fusion. Mro. Piecuch (pronounced PQ in USA and Pyet-sook in Russia and Europe) has enjoyed 19 tours of Russia as conductor, wind soloist with orchestras, and with Jazzical Fusion. In 2002 he was named Permanent Guest Conductor of the Moscow Philharmonic, in 2003 he made his debut conducting the St. Petersburg Opera and in 2005 he debuted on the podium of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic. Prior to that, he flourished for ten years as the Music Director and Conductor of the Washington Symphony Orchestra (DC). Jazzical Fusion was created by Martin to juxtapose his lifetime experiences while having dual careers in classical music and jazz. It embraces other musical genres as well: Tango, Samba and other Latin rhythms, folk, pop, opera. Jazzical Fusion has performed at New York City's celebrated Birdland and Kitano's, has toured Central Russia and the Russian Far East, has appeared in Connecticut, Massachusetts and at the Bergen [NJ] Performing Arts Center, as well as the former home of Marilyn Monroe in Palm Springs, CA. Their CD was released in 2012. In 2008-2010 Mro. Piecuch was the Music Director & Conductor of Sound Music where he led America's fourth oldest orchestra, the New Haven Symphony, in concerts on the Connecticut shore of Long Island Sound. In 1998, Mro. Piecuch conducted the musical 1776 with actual members of the United States Congress portraying members of the original Continental Congress. This led to the Senators and Congressmen's enthusiastic encourage-ment of Piecuch forming the United States Congressional Choral Society which then led to his conception of the United States Congressional Philharmonic Society, the aim being to promote American music and, as stated in the United States Congressional Record, to serve as the artistic voice of Congress. Piecuch spent 18 months developing 50 programs, one for each state, and another 19 thematic concerts on American themes such as movies, sports and jazz. After discussions on the floors of both houses, in 1999 it was endorsed by both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. (Footnote: Maestro Piecuch is one of only three conductors ever to be mentioned in the U.S. Congressional Record, along with John Philip Sousa and Mstislav Rostropovich.) Sadly, USCPS became a casualty of the events of 9/11/2001. The anticipated focus and support for this new artistic concept understandably shifted to National Security. In September 2001 he made his New York debut at the Society for Ethical Culture, leading A Puccini Ring Cycle: the opera Gianni Schicchi, the Messa di Gloria and Le Nozze di Martin and Elizabeth wherein he married stage director Elizabeth Falk. The couple had met in rehearsal at Kennedy Center, in 1996 when he conducted and she directed the world premiere of a Chinese-American opera, Lan Ying. In 1995 during his first of 19 tours of Russia, Maestro Piecuch became the first American to conduct the Krasnoyarsk (Siberia) Symphony Orchestra. In the International Music Festival of Asian Pacific Countries he led the first performance of Dvorák's Symphony No. 8, Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man, and The Grand Canyon Suite by Ferde Grofé. With the Music Comedy Theater he conducted The Merry Widow by Franz Lehár. He returned in 1996 to conduct two KSO concerts, and Die Fledermaus. In subsequent trips to Russia, Maestro Piecuch has conducted the symphonies and/or opera companies of Moscow, St. Petersburg, Archangelsk, Omsk, Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, Krasnoyarsk, Nahodka, Ekaterinburg, Yakutsk. He has been honored with a Bronze Medal presented by Russia's Minister of Culture. Of his many "firsts" in Russia, he is especially proud of these: Stravinsky's Firebird (Krasnoyarsk and Vladivostok), Liebermann's Concerto for Jazz Band and Symphony Orchestra and Barber'sOverture: The School for Scandal (St. Petersburg Philharmonic), Gershwin's Rhapsody In Blue with the original jazzy interpretation of American pianist Raymond Jackson (Vladivostok and Khabarovsk), and with Elizabeth Falk directing: the opera Don Giovanni in Yakutsk where Mozart had never before been heard. In 2006 he recorded a CD in St. Petersburg, Sax with Strings Attached, with the Stravinsky String Quartet, comprised of the first chairs of the string sections of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic. From 1990-98 as Music Director & Conductor of Washington Symphony Orchestra, Mro. Piecuch led the orchestra through a growth period of budget, audience, and artistic development with concert seasons at Constitution Hall. Crowning his tenure with WSO he produced an international orchestra with musicians from his WSO, the Bohuslav Martinu Orchestra from Zlin, Czech Republic, and the Ukraine Radio/TV Orchestra in a 21-Concert Tour of Germany and Austria Mro. Piecuch was the first resident conductor, orchestra manager and chorusmaster at Wolf Trap. He has also led the Hradec Králové Philharmonic in Czech Republic, the Vogtland Philharmonie of Greiz/Reichenbach, Germany as their first American conductor, Indiana University Orchestra in Bloomington, the Danville (IL) Symphony Orchestra. He was Music Director/Conductor of Washington Civic Opera and Symphony, and Conductor of the Alexandria Choral Society. He has led over 800 performances at Kennedy Center, Wolf Trap and Carter Barron, to name but three. He was Music Director of Aldersgate Choir which he led on tour through Germany, Austria and Hungary. This native of Maine was Founder/ Director of Washington Woodwind & Saxophone Quartet, guest flutist at Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall, and from 1963- 1992 Saxophone Soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra under Aaron Copland, Antal Dorati and Julius Rudell. He accompanied Beverly Sills, Henry Mancini, Dinah Shore, Johnny Mathis and Anthony Newley at Kennedy Center, Wolf Trap, National and Ford's Theaters. He has served on the faculties of St. Mary's College, Howard University and Catholic University of America. Martin Piecuch began his career when he became the saxophone soloist of the U.S. Marine Band at 18. He later earned Bachelor of Music Degrees in each woodwind instrument (flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon and saxophone), and a Masters' Degree in Orchestral and Choral Conducting, graduating Summa Cum Laude from Catholic University of America. He studied conducting with Maestro Frederick Fennell. write your comments about the article :: © 2015 Jazz News :: home page |