April 16 | 8:00 pm
JazzTalk with Doug Auwarter at 7:00 pm
Multi GRAMMY® Award-winning internationally acclaimed recording artist, pianist/singer/composer Eliane Elias’ distinctive musical style is one of the most unique and immediately recognizable sounds in jazz. She blends her Brazilian roots and alluring voice with her virtuosic instrumental jazz, her classical and compositional skills, while she consistently displays her pianistic mastery and ability to integrate the many artistic roles she takes on.
In this special release album show, Eliane and her band will perform her Brazilian hits and favorites and introduce exciting new material from her new album MIRROR MIRROR, (Candid Records Sept. 10).
MIRROR MIRROR is a lifelong musical dream come true—an extraordinary piano duet recording of Eliane with the late legendary jazz great Chick Corea, and famed Cuban pianist Chucho Valdés. While her highly successful recordings have predominantly featured her alluring voice and piano mastery, the piano has always been her first love and working with these two incredible icons was a rare opportunity to record in a two-piano setting, something she hasn’t done in many years.
With nearly 30 albums and over 2.3 million albums sold to date, Eliane Elias has a strong presence on Spotify with 575,000 monthly listeners and over 22 million Spotify listens for her song “Little Paradise.” She has toured 71 countries, is a four-time Gold Disc Award recipient, a three-time Best Vocal Album winner in Japan, and winner of the 2018 Edison Lifetime Achievement Award in Holland to name a few accolades. Her 2019 album Love Stories was voted “Downbeat’s Best Album of 2019- Masterpiece” and like most of her previous releases, hit #1 on the jazz charts worldwide.
Jeff Lorber – Folly Theater 40th Jazz Series
April 23 | 8:00 pm
JazzTalk with Steve Paddock at 7:00 pm
Grammy Award-winning keyboardist, composer, and producer Jeff Lorber has over 42 years and 24 albums, pioneered the post-fusion sound of contemporary jazz with his radio-friendly, groove-oriented instrumental music.
From 1977’s Jeff Lorber Fusion to 2017’s Prototype (named Best Contemporary Instrumental Music album at the 60th annual Grammy Awards) to his recent collaboration with guitar great Mike Stern on Eleven, Lorber has shown a knack for creating fresh vibes and funky grooves while layering on jazzy improvisations on piano, synthesizer, and his signature Fender Rhodes electric piano. Lorber’s work has spanned widely to include music for The Weather Channel and the hit video game, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.
After being diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease, Jeff also served as a speaker for the PKD Foundation and received a successful kidney transplant from his wife.
Jeff’s original performance was scheduled in January of this year but was moved to April 23 due to Covid.
LIVE! in the Lounge featuring Sam Wells
In Partnership with KKFI
April 28th | 7:00 pm
Sam Wells is a songwriter based in Kansas City, Missouri. In 2019, Wells released her debut single Lesson Learned — the track, creaking with the charm of DIY recording, gained the attention of local producer/engineer Riley Corbin. The two came together for Wells’ second single Sugar in early 2020, which expanded on Wells’ previously more minimalist approach by taking to the studio for full instrumentation and a polished final result.
These two releases led up to the drop of her first EP, For The Deflated, which showcases soft and melancholic reflection suitable for a year like 2020, only to evolve into a playfully vibrant ensemble that celebrates and envelops the senses. With its inviting musicality, Deflated provides a silver lining for each dark cloud that Wells examines lyrically throughout the record. The title track and first single For The Deflated serve as a centerpiece for the EP. Specific to the times, the track subtlety delves into some of our biggest challenges as people — climate change, world hunger, and social discrepancies are all on the table. “What can we do / just little old me and you…” Wells inquires as a lyrical motif.
The LIVE! in the Lounge series is a listening room series featuring local artists in an intimate setting with limited seating.
Tickets for all shows can be purchased at follytheater.org.
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