The campus community is invited to an hour-long concert by Jazz Vocalist Shiri Zorn at noon on Thursday, Sept. 28 at the BTC Auditorium. The performance, presented by the college’s Cultural Affairs Program, is open free to all.
Shiri means “Sing!” in Hebrew and Israeli-born Shiri Zorn discovered her natural talent at a young age. Over the past decade, Zorn’s enduring collaboration with guitar and improvisation virtuoso George Muscatello continues to amaze and delight audiences. The two take standard jazz repertoire to new heights with unusual time signatures and Latin or Middle Eastern influences. Nine-time Grammy nominee Tierney Sutton co-produced Zorn’s 2023 debut album, “Into Another Land,” that is showcased in Downbeat (July 2023). In addition to Muscatello, NYC-based Brazilian percussionist Mauricio Zottarelli joins Zorn at HVCC.
Upcoming on Thursday, Oct. 26:
The Peg Delaney Big Band on Thursday, Oct. 26
Jazz pianist brings 17 of the region’s top musicians to the Troy campus.
Schenectady-native Peg Delaney, who has greatly enriched the Capital Region’s music scene during five decades of playing, arranging and composing sophisticated jazz piano, finally has fulfilled a long-time goal to compose music for a big band. The result will be showcased in a free (reservations required*) concert at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26, in the Maureen Stapleton Theatre, located in the Siek Campus Center.
Always performing – solo, as an accompanist, or with a trio that includes her husband, bassist Bill Delaney – Delaney hoped one day to turn all the melodies in her head into scores for a big band. The pandemic shutdown provided the free time she needed to compose or rework nearly 20 compositions that were premiered at a sold-out concert at SUNY Schenectady in fall 2022.
Music Journalist Michael Hochanadel summed up the epic event: “Peg Delaney led a black-clad crew of local heroes in two sets of her original tunes, then lit up ‘Seven Steps to Heaven’ ” [by Miles Davis and Victor Feldman]. “The show had a warm, family feel,” Hochanadel wrote on Nippertown.com, recognizing that these musicians have supported each other for years. Many of them perform together in other groups. Now, Delaney is thrilled to bring her original works that often depict family and other memorable events to HVCC. She’ll lead a line-up of stellar musicians — Alto Sax: Awan Jenkins, Jim Corigliano (Delaney’s big band composition mentor); Tenor Sax: Brian Patneaude, Dave Fisk; Baritone Sax and Vocals: Jeanine Ouderkirk; Flute: Patty Fusco; Trumpet: Scott Thompson, Dylan Canterbury, Steve Lambert, Steve Horowitz; Trombone: Ken Olsen, Elias Assimakopolis, Mark Giordano; Bass Trombone: Shaun Bazylewicz; Acoustic Bass: Gregg August (Grammy winner and Delaney’s nephew); Drums: Gene Garone; Percussion: Brian Melick.
*Admission is free, but reservations are required for The Peg Delaney Big Band and can be made at www.hvcc.edu/culture. HVCC employees and students are urged to reserve their seats as soon as possible for this spectacular event!
