The Dennos Museum Center at Northwestern Michigan College will present the Grammy Award winning Jazz pianist Bob James and the Bob James Quartet on Saturday, May 3, 2014 at 8:00 PM in the Milliken Auditorium. Tickets are $35 in advance, $40 at the door, $30 for Museum Members plus fees. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Museum Box office at 231-995-1553 or on line at www.dennosmuseum.org. Tickets will only be available to Museum Members through April 12. Current non-members can buy tickets before April 12 by joining as a member prior to buying a ticket. Call 231-995-1573 or the Box Office to do so.
Listen to Bob James at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V56yeZtqQTs
Grammy Award winning Jazz Legend Bob James returns to the Milliken Auditorium with the Bob James Quartet, featuring James on piano, Clarence Penn on drums, Perry Hughes on guitar and Nate Phillips on bass.
Bob James was discovered at the 1963 Notre Dame Jazz Festival by legendary producer Quincy Jones. That same year he recorded his first solo album “Bold Conceptions” for Mercury Records. From there he went on to make his mark as the musical director for Sarah Vaughn. Bob also worked on many successful albums for CTI Records.
In 1977 James started his is own label, Tappan Zee Records, which gave him the opportunity to spend more time in the studio working on his own recordings. During that time he recorded the gold award winning album “Touch Down,” which included his composition “Angela” from the TV show Taxi.
James won a Grammy Award in 1980 for with the release of “One On One” with Earl Klugh and also in 1985 for the release of “Double Vision” with David Sanborn. In 2008 Bob and his close friend Tony award winning director Jack O’Brien, were awarded the International Achievement Award from the State of Michigan. Bob will also be inducted in the 2014 University of Michigan Hall of Fame this October.
Clarence Penn is a native of Detroit and started playing the drums semi-professionally at the age of 15. He has performed and recorded with many successful artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis, and Roberta Flack. Clarence is very familiar with the Grand Traverse area as he attended the Interlochen Arts Academy.
Perry Hughes is a self-taught jazz guitarist who has lived most of his life in Detroit. He has performed and recorded with Bob James on numerous occasions and also with many of the world’s leading vocalists.
Bassist Nate Phillips has produced or played with a number of well-known artists and bands including The Crusaders, Bobby Caldwell, and Gerald Albright. He grew up outside Portland and was influenced by jazz and early fusion.
The concert is being presented in association with the opening of a major exhibition by S. Korean artist Seungmo Park who will be having his first U.S. solo exhibition at the Dennos Museum Center from May 4- September 7, 2014.
Based in Seoul, Park has studios in Seoul, Berlin and New York City. While visiting his studio in Seoul to discuss the exhibition, Dennos Executive Director Gene Jenneman noticed that Seungmo had an electric guitar and amp in his studio. Jenneman asked if he played which lead to a conversation about music. Knowing that Bob James was a regular performer in Seoul, he asked Seungmo if he knew of him. Seungmo responded “You know Bob James? I go to his concerts when he plays in Seoul.” Having already announced that Bob would perform on the 2013-2014 season, but without a date, it was clear that the opening of Seungmo’s exhibition was the perfect night for Bob to perform.
Concert ticket holders will have access to the Member’s preview reception for the exhibition from 7 PM on Saturday May 3 and a post-concert reception with the performers in the Zimmerman court.
The 2013-2014 performance season at the Dennos Museum Center is made possible with support from the Robert T and Ruth Haidt Trust, and the Osterlin Performance Endowment, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts, with media support from
WNMC 90.7, WCMU Public Broadcasting and TV 29&8. Housing for our performers is provided by the Cambria Suites and Country Inn and Suites.
The Dennos Museum Center is open daily 10 AM to 5 PM, Thursday’s until 8 PM and Sundays 1-5 PM. For more information on the Museum and its programs, go to www.dennosmuseum.org or call 231-995-1055. The Dennos Museum Center is located at 1410 College Dr., Traverse City, MI 49686, at the entrance to the campus of Northwestern Michigan College.