2010-2011 Concert Series

2011-01-17T00:50:00.000-08:00

Palmer Woods Music in Homes continues its fourth season of outstanding, sold-out performances in magnificent mansions, cool castles and unique homes in Detroit's historic neighborhood.

All concerts include a reception with refreshments during intermission, where you can meet the musicians and and enjoy the architecture and elegance of the homes. Tickets at palmerwoods.org

Call 313-891-2514 for more information

Saturday, Jan. 29, 8 pm

Mardi Gras Celebration

Ron Kischuk’s

Tartarsauce Jazz Band

There’ll be a hot time in the old town tonight with the New Orleans sounds of trombonist Ron Kischuk’s Tartarsauce Traditional Jazz Band. Ron has been spicing things up at jazz festivals and concert halls for over 30 years, not to mention years of entrancing crowds at Greenfield Village and Detroit Tigers baseball games with Tartarsauce. Vocalist Judy Cochill serves up the goods along with a group of accomplished musicians that includes cornetist Johnny Trudell, bassist Marion Hayden, reedman Gene Parker, pianist Chuck Shermetaro and drummer Bill Cairo. Get ready to tap your toes and wiggle your hips as Tartarsauce delivers some serious musical fun in one of our most palatial homes.

Sunday, Feb. 27, 7 pm

Rick Robinson &

Linette Popoff-Parks

Double bassist Rick Robinson and pianist Linette Popoff-Parks will take this unusual instrumental pairing and intimate setting to present chamber compositions with an exotic ambience. Robinson is a composer, 21-year veteran of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and 2010 Kresge Arts Fellow. Popoff-Parks, chair of the music department at Madonna University, has performed across the country in various settings. Their program includes the profound Prayer by Ernest Bloch, Antonin Dvorak’s popular Humoresque, Johannes Brahms’ Sonata in E minor, compositions by Robinson and other musical delights to mull a chilly winter evening.

Saturday, March 26, 8 pm

Bass & Guitar: Robert Hurst

& A. Spencer Barefield

Five-time Grammy Award winning bassist, composer and educator Robert Hurst returns home to welcome Spring with a jazzy musical fanfare. Hurst burst into national repute at a relatively young age, working with Out of the Blue, Wynton and Branford Marsalis, Harry Connick Jr. and a slew of other luminaries in addition to leading his own ensembles and recording original compositions. He performed, directed, composed and arranged music for the “Tonight Show with Jay Leno” for more than eight years. Hurst will be joined by guitarist A. Spencer Barefield, a 2010 Kresge Artist Fellow and critically acclaimed recording artist.

Saturday, April 30, 8 pm
Bass & Violin: John-Paul &
Jannina Norpoth

Palmer Woods’ own violin prodigy Jannina (Barefield) Norpoth made her concert debut at age 13 at Orchestra Hall as a soloist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Recently married to bassist John-Paul Norpoth, the couple will bring their musical sparks to a unique classical program featuring many of their own arrangements. A sought after collaborative artist, John-Paul is the principle bassist in the Bachanalia Chamber Orchestra, and frequently performs at Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall and Symphony Space. Both are well versed in classical, pop and jazz, and have traveled the world to perform and record.

Saturday, May 28, 8 pm
Violao: Sean Blackman, Wayne Gerard & Larry Fratangelo

Violao means guitar in Portuguese, and indeed the guitars of leader Sean Blackman and Wayne Gerard weave a tapestry of bossa nova, samba, flamenco and cha cha that send your senses far south of the border. Blackman is known for mingling the music of many world cultures. Jazzman Gerard has worked with the likes of Bob James, David Sanborn, Grover Washington and Kirk Whalum. They are joined by percussionist Larry Fratangelo, who’s worked with numerous stars from Funkadelic and Was (Not) Was to Anita Baker and Kid Rock. Together they create an intimate, yet expansive, sound to soothe your soul.

JAZZ FEST in the WOODS

Enjoy three summer concerts beneath a tent under the stars and sunshine set in the Borman-Redstone home gardens! Tour the home and learn about its history and design from the son of famed architect Louis Redstone.

Friday, June 24, 8 pm:
Ozzie Rivera’s Orquesta La Inspiracion

There is nothing better to get your body shaking on a velvety twilight than the Latin grooves of Orquesta La Inspiracion. Led by Puerto Rican-born congero Ozzie Rivera and music director-pianist Bill Meyer, this 10-piece unit honors the traditions of merengue, cumbia and Afro-Caribbean jazz, while forging new directions in Latin music. If a bit of that inspiration gets into your backside, it’s ok to let it move to the beat — bring your dancing shoes!

Sat., June 25, 8 pm:

A. Spencer Barefield Ensemble

Palmer Woods’ intrepid musical explorer A. Spencer Barefield leads a quintet that winds through jazz from the traditional to outer limitless space. Barefield’s guitar skills have been compared to those of luminaries Andres Segovia and Jimi Hendrix. His cohorts include musicians with accomplished careers in jazz, classical, pop, African rhythms and rap, who fearlessly take that plunge: saxophonist David McMurray (regular with Bob James, Kid Rock and Kem); Oscar and Grammy awardee keyboardist Luis Resto; Juno-award winner Dave Young (Oscar Peterson’s bassist for years); and drummer Djallo Keita. This dynamic ensemble will take you on a memorable journey.

Sunday, June 26, 2 pm:

Grand Finale: Marion Hayden’s

Legacy Ensemble

If you haven’t heard Marion Hayden perform you’ve been hiding in the basement wearing ear plugs. The ubiquitous bassist is one of the most sought after Detroit musicians for local and national artists. She is a founding member of the all-women Straight Ahead ensemble, band leader, composer and recording artist. She is joined by horn players Dwight Adams, Cassius Richmond and Vincent Bowens; pianist Henry Gibson; and drummer Djallo Djakate Keita. The Legacy Ensemble celebrates the compositions of the Detroit jazz icons — Kenn Cox, Donald Walden, Roy Brooks, Marcus Belgrave and others — whose tutelage brought along Hayden and other members of her sextet to create a new generation and keep alive the Detroit jazz traditions.

Past Concert:

Sunday, Dec. 26, 7 pm
Naima Shamborguer Trio with A. Spencer Barefield & Don Mayberry
SOLD OUT! The nights may be cool after Christmas, but the jazzy and richly textured voice of Naima Shamborguer is sure to warm your heart and soul as we approach the New Year. Her polished vocal skills have been featured on stages across the U.S. with the likes of Geri Allen, Freddie Hubbard, Kenny Burrell, James Carter, Rodney Whitaker and Steve Turre, who has said that “Naima is not just a singer, she’s an artist.” Shambourger will be accompanied by world-renowned guitarist A. Spencer Barefield and the equally accomplished virtuoso bassist Don Mayberry.