Everett Symphony saluting Cole Porter

  • By Sharon Wootton / Special to The Herald
  • Thursday, May 20, 2004 9:00pm
  • LifeGo-See-Do

Vocalist Spider Saloff returns tonight for Everett Symphony Orchestra’s “Cole Porter: Beyond the Jazz Age.”

“Cole Porter’s music is irreverent in a very charming way,” orchestra cellist Cheryl Lindley said. “The whole concept of his musical ‘Anything Goes’ encapsulates his whole attitude toward music and performance and life. … It’s (musically) thumbing your nose at everything.”

Saloff performed a Gershwin salute with the symphony two years ago, a time characterized by Lindley as “love at first sight” between the orchestra, the vocalist and conductor Paul-Elliott Cobbs.

The evening will feature combinations of Saloff with the symphony, combos from the orchestra, saxophonist Harry Allen, and arranger and pianist Tony Monte.

Saloff is the co-star and co-creator of the PBS show “Words and Music,” performs in jazz clubs across the country, and is a five-time winner of the Manhattan Association of Cabarets award, including Best Female Jazz Vocalist.

Most of Porter’s music was not written with a symphony orchestra in mind but for ensembles and vocals. However, much of it translates well to a symphonic approach.

“The melodies and the harmonies are very pleasing to play,” Lindley said. “There’s a life and a lightness to his music that can be very rewarding as a performer.

“We’re invested in our classical and romantic music, but it’s refreshing to perform popular music, to let our hair down.”

Pacifica Quartet: In the 1990s, the foursome won three of chamber music’s most important honors: Naumburg Chamber Music Award, top prize at the Concert Artists Guild Competition, and the Coleman Chamber Music Competition grand prize. The musicians, who perform Wednesday in Seattle, will play pieces by Franz Joseph Haydn, Paul Hindemith and Antonin Dvorak.

Hawaiian Music’s Next Generation: Four rising stars perform tonight in Seattle: vocalist and slack-key guitarist Keoki Kahamoku; ukulele master Herb Ohta Jr.; songwriter and musician Patrick Landeza; and singer and ukulele player David Kamakahi. They’ll be joined by slack-key guitar master Dennis Kamakahi (Sons of Hawaii) and Brook Lee, Miss Universe 1997, who will dance the hula.

Pinetop Perkins: Original Mississippi bluesmen take the stage Tuesday through Thursday in Seattle. Perkins has earned a living playing the blues since 1926. He’s influenced three generations of pianists with his signature approach of horn lines from the right hand and bass notes from the left. Guitarist Hubert Sumlin was a bandmate of James Cotton and played with Howlin’ Wolf for 25 years.

Spider Saloff

Harry Allen

Pinetop Perkins

Hubert Sumlin

Where to hear it

Everett Symphony: 8 tonight, Everett Civic Auditorium, 2415 Colby Ave.; $10-$30; 425-257-8382; wine-tasting 6-7:30 p.m., Everett Station, 3201 Smith Ave., fourth floor, Weyerhaeuser room, $15, $20.

Pacifica Quartet: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Meany Theater, University of Washington, Seattle; $30; 206-543-4880.

Hawaiian Music’s Next Generation: 7 tonight, Town Hall, 1119 Eighth St., Seattle $20, $22; .

Pinetop Perkins: Various times Tuesday through Thursday, Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Ave. Seattle; $20.50-$22.50; 206-441-9729.

Where to hear it

Everett Symphony: 8 tonight, Everett Civic Auditorium, 2415 Colby Ave.; $10-$30; 425-257-8382; wine-tasting 6-7:30 p.m., Everett Station, 3201 Smith Ave., fourth floor, Weyerhaeuser room, $15, $20.

Pacifica Quartet: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Meany Theater, University of Washington, Seattle; $30; 206-543-4880.

Hawaiian Music’s Next Generation: 7 tonight, Town Hall, 1119 Eighth St., Seattle $20, $22; .

Pinetop Perkins: Various times Tuesday through Thursday, Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Ave. Seattle; $20.50-$22.50; 206-441-9729.

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