With more than 40 years of hits like “Thick as a Brick,” “Aqua Lung,” and “Locomotive Breath,” one of the most iconic groups in rock history, the legendary Jethro Tull, comes to Kresge Auditorium for a night of stellar songs. Led by rock legend Ian Anderson, arguably the world’s best-known rock and roll flutist, Jethro Tull packs a performance tailor-made for true rock aficionados.
Ian Anderson
Ian Anderson, known throughout the world of rock music as the flute and voice behind the legendary Jethro Tull, celebrates his 49th year as a recording and performing musician in 2017.
Still enjoying a lengthy if intermittent ongoing career, Jethro Tull has released 30 studio and live albums, selling more than 60 million copies since the band first performed at London’s famous Marquee club. After undertaking more than 3000 concerts in forty-something countries throughout four decades, Tull has played typically 100 concerts each year to longstanding, as well as new fans worldwide.
Widely recognized as the man who introduced the flute to rock music, Ian Anderson remains the crowned exponent of the popular and rock genres of flute playing. So far, no pretender to the throne has stepped forward.
One of its generation’s most compelling string ensembles, the Grammy-nominated Enso String Quartet brings its mastery and music to Corson Auditorium. The quartet has been described by Strad magazine as “thrilling,” and praised by the Washington Post for its “glorious sonorities.” This gifted quartet has won top prizes at the Concert Artists Guild competition and the Banff International String Quartet Competition, and is, in the words of Classical Voice, “one of the eminent string quartets of our era.”
The Enso’s members are all drawn to the string quartet repertoire because of its richness and diversity, and the ensemble is committed to exploring the four corners of that repertoire. The Enso regularly performs the classics of the string quartet literature, but also champions lesser-known works that deserve to be heard, along with much contemporary music, including works the Enso has commissioned. The ensemble also performs its own transcriptions, including arrangements of 16th-Century Renaissance music. “The quartet’s ability to present music of three completely different idioms so persuasively puts it in the running for the mantle of Quartet of the Future”(Palm Beach ArtsPaper). World premieres this season include commissioned works by New Zealander Alex Taylor and Australian Brenton Broadstock, and in recent seasons they have premiered quartets written for them by Dame Gillian Whitehead, Kurt Stallmann and Paul Moravec. The Enso also gave the world premiere of Joan Tower’s Dumbarton Quintet, with the composer at the keyboard.
August 19, 2017 – 8:00pm
Ticket price(s):All Seats $29.50
Join us for “A Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald” featuring Carmen Bradford, Gary Motley and the Interlochen Arts Academy Jazz Ensemble and Combo in honor of the Ella Fitzgerald Centennial Celebration.
Carmen Bradford
Born in Austin, Texas and raised in Altadena, California, Carmen Bradford grew up with music in her home and in her heart. It was only natural that Carmen would follow in the footsteps of her great family legacy, being the daughter of legendary trumpeter/ composer Bobby Bradford and world renowned vocalist/composer Melba Joyce. Her grandfather Melvin Moore sang with Lucky Millender and Dizzy Gillespie’s Big Band in the 1940’s, and sang with the Ink Spots, making Carmen the third generation of incredible musicians. She has carved out a place in music history for herself and is playing an integral role in this uniquely American art form called jazz. Carmen Bradford is Jazz Royalty.
Gary Motley
Gary Motley is a jazz pianist and composer. He is best known for his captivating performances, classic yet current sound, and popularity in the southeastern United States jazz music scene. Motley has received awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Great American Jazz Piano Competition and the American Composers Forum (ACF). Featured on NPR’s Piano Jazz with Marian McPartland, his notable performances also include the premiere of his first orchestral work “The Artist and the Visionary,” duo performances with pianists Dave Brubeck and Kenny Barron, and concerts with Jon Faddis, Eddie Daniels, Benny Golson and others. Motley’s selection by the ACF as an artist-in-residence led to his second composition for string orchestra and jazz trio “The Resolution of a Dream.” He premiered his “Highland Summit: A Suite for String Quartet and Jazz Quartet” with the Vega String Quartet at the Highlands Chamber Music Festival and later performed his “Suite Odyssey” with the ensemble at Carnegie Hall. In 2010, Motley premiered a composition based on a work by Toni Morrison at the Toni Morrison Society’s 6th Biennial Conference in Paris. Recent travels include performances and workshops in South America and Cuba. Cited by his home state for his artistic and educational achievements, Gary was inducted into the Alabama jazz Hall of Fame in 2015.
May 5, 2017 – 7:30pm
Dendrinos Chapel and Recital Hall
ZZ Top
With more than 45 years of hit songs, ZZ Top is an instantly recognizable and undeniably cool American institution. The 2004 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees bring their own brand of blues and rock to the Kresge stage for what is sure to be a stellar presentation of many of their classic hits. With songs ranging from “La Grange” to “Sharp Dressed Man” and more, this legendary trio will rock the house with music designed to get you on your feet. Get ready for an evening full of red-hot Texas boogie and blues as this “Little Ol’ Band from Texas” does what they do best.
Austin Hanks
His deep, dirty southern rock hits, including “Sucker Punch,” “Alabama Clay,” “Ashes to Ashes” and others, have appeared on the popular FX series Sons of Anarchy. But Alabama-born singer-songwriter Austin Hanks has been touring and playing shows with legendary rock icons like ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bad Company and dozens more for years. His music has been described as “rockin’ country soul,” and he brings every drop of his self-descriptive blues background to the stage with every song.
