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Allegheny
Unitarian Universalist Church
1110 Resaca Place
Pittsburgh,
PA 15212
Phone: 412-322-4261
Minister: David McFarland auuchurch@yahoo.com
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 Thank God, It's Spring!
The Ortner-Roberts Duo
Hot World Chamber Music
Saturday, March 20th at
7:30 pm
Pre-concert reception
with cash bar at 6:30 pm
Allegheny Unitarian
Universalist Church
1110 Resaca Place
Pittsburgh,
PA 15212
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of our historic place on the North Side.
Tickets are $15 (suggested donation) and are available from Buena Vista Coffee,
or KS Kennedy Floral.
Swing – Harlem Stride – Rembetika – Gypsy – Klezmer – Early Calypso – Tango – Valse Musette – Classical…
When a passionate clarinet meets a “hot” piano -the sparks fly -not only musically.
The German clarinettist Susanne Ortner and the American pianist Tom Roberts met 2006 in Pittsburgh while performing. Subsequently they developed a concert repertoire that can only be described as Hot World Chamber Music.
Hot ... was the word used to describe hard swinging jazz music of the twenties and thirties, as opposed to the sweet bands who had gained in popularity during the Depression. This was exciting music that inspired movement, from the tapping of toes to extravagant exploits on the dance floor. The Ortner-Roberts Duo feature many superlative examples of Hot Music, one of the highlights being the music of the Benny Goodman Trio, painstakingly recreated note for note from the original recordings. Additionally they perform the music of Benny’s chief rival, Artie Shaw and the sizzling sounds of the Creole clarinetists of New Orleans. From the piano bench comes scorching stomps from Jelly Roll Morton, and the refined Mozartean heat of Teddy Wilson. They also spice up many arrangements by incorporating the funky New Orleans piano stylings of James Booker and Professor Longhair.
World … The Ortner–Roberts Duo explore the rich traditions of world music and discover little known treasures, occasionally combining the results of their discoveries into an eclectic musical gumbo. Calypso from Trinidad, Tango from Argentina, Greek Rembetika, French Valse Musette, Klezmer from Eastern Europe, Flamenco from Spain, Beguine from Martinique, Turkish music and the passionate music of the Gypsies from India to Spain. And the unexpected places where worlds collide.
Chamber Music…The concert is presented in the manner of a chamber concert with a difference, lively comedic banter and wonderful anecdotes concerning the original composers and performers .The Ortner-Roberts Duo also create the illusion of more than two instruments and other instruments.
By blending and fusing various genres and incorporating classical themes and techniques,
they succeed in the balancing act of stretching between tradition and modernity.
“Seldom has one experienced music performed with so much joy, enthusiasm and passion as with the Ortner-Roberts Duo” Augsburger Allgemeine Zeitung
Tom Roberts – piano is one of the leading exponents of early jazz piano in the world today.
He has performed on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Kiellor.
Tom has arranged music for the syndicated PRI show Riverwalk Jazz, Live from the Landing with the Jim Cullum Jazz Band, as well as a number of pieces for Wynton Marsalis and The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra for a concert of the music of Louis Armstrong in October 2006.
He arranged and performed the music for the soundtrack of Martin Scorsese’s film The Aviator, as well as several titles for the film DeLovely. Tom has performed in all the major clubs in the French Quarter and on the “riverboats” of New Orleans.
Tom has performed twice at New York’s Carnegie Hall in 2003, once with Skitch Henderson and the New York Pops. He was featured in 2003 in solo with Dick Hyman at the prestigious Jazz In July series at New York’s 92nd St. Y, and was the featured pianist at the 2001 International Stride Piano Summit in Zurich, Switzerland. He has recorded over 30 compact discs and has performed throughout the United States and Europe including: England, France, Germany, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Sweden, Finland, and Switzerland.
“ … In our humble opinion Tom Roberts is without question one of the finest pianists today in the exciting Harlem stride piano style…” JAZZBEAT MAGAZINE
"Tom Roberts (piano) - a real wizard“ NEW ORLEANS MAGAZINE
Susanne Ortner-Roberts - clarinet is internationally acclaimed both as a soloist and as a member of the German Quartet “Sing Your Soul“, and the Ortner-Roberts Duo. Her expressive interpretation of Klezmer music is noted for its authenticity, depth, beauty, and warmth. Likewise her performance of the music of jazz clarinetists Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Sidney Bechet and Johnny Dodds has been recognized for its power and authenticity.
Susanne Ortner-Roberts collaborates with Jazz- and Klezmer musicians from Germany and the USA, such as her husband, pianist Tom Roberts, the Augsburg quartet Sing Your Soul, trumpeter Charlie Caranicas (NYC), and drummer Tom Elrick (Pittsburgh). As a serious student of Eastern European Folk music she does research and offers Klezmer Workshops in Germany and in the United States. (e.g. Klezmer workshops at the University of Pittsburgh, a master class for the students of Ron Samuel, Duquesne University). Susanne arranges and composes music (e.g. music to “Mazel”, an Amy Hartman play commissioned by the Jewish Theatre of Pittsburgh) and has done several book and film projects. She is currently the subject of a biography being written by German Television journalist Helge Fuhst.
Susanne currently resides in Pittsburgh, USA.
“[….] Susanne Ortner-Roberts seems to be capable of everything (…) Warm, soft tones if necessary, rapid, speedy passages and in addition to this the challenging embellishments,, all at breakneck speed and with an almost unbelievable ease.” Augsburger Allgemeine Zeitung
www.myspace.com/ortnerrobertsduo
www.ortnerrobertsduo.com
www.ortnerrobertsduo.de |