Gershwin is the quintessential American composer.
He spanned the classical pieces to the popular. There’s “Rhapsody in Blue” and the opera “Porgy and Bess.” And if people were asked to name five American composers, Gershwin would be one.
“It’s the music we whistle daily, that everyone has heard and loves,” said Everett Symphony Executive Director Jody Matthews. “Gershwin is Americana personified.”
The Everett Symphony is pairing up Gershwin classics with one of the hottest commodities on the jazz circuit these days.
Vocalist Spider Saloff will fill the Everett Civic Auditorium tonight with such Gershwin hits as “Embraceable You,” “They Can’t Take That Away from Me,” ” ‘S Wonderful” and “Fascinating Rhythm.”
So it’s time to come out and get your bad groove on with Saloff, who has been described by the New York Times as having a “wicked way with a lyric and glint of well-controlled mischief.”
“She is so cool,” Matthews said.
Saloff has played with the Everett Symphony before, back in 2004 when she did a pops concert of Cole Porter tunes.
“It was really awesome,” Matthews said. “She’s going to be doing a lot of neat Gershwin … so it’s going to be pretty spectacular. All the stuff you hum along and the songs everybody knows.”
Spider Saloff has five CDs released nationally. Her Christmas release, “Cool Yule,” was a finalist for the Indie Awards. Her new CD this year is “Like Glass.”
Saloff can be heard as the co-star and co-creator of the internationally syndicated weekly Public Radio series “Words and Music” on PBS, according to her Web site.
Matthews said Saloff works with symphonies all over the country and has a real synergy with Everett Symphony conductor Paul-Elliott Cobbs.
“She brings a special something to the music,” Matthews said.
Arts writer Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424 or goffredo@heraldnet.com.
Spider Saloff performs tonight with the Everett Symphony Orchestra.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
