May 21st SZALON!

1.   Vocalist Sharon Sable and guitarist Shawn Q, with bassist Sam Nobles, will honor the music of Billy Penn Burger

2.   Qin Qian, erhu with Kathryn Woodard, piano perform "Distant Fire" by Kathryn Woodard and “Story of Bu Luo Tuo" by Chen Kunpeng

3.   Youba Cissokho will present traditional songs from West Africa, accompanying himself on the kora

4.   Holly Roadfeldt will be performing a brilliant three-movement suite Penalty Box, composed for her by David Rakowski

5.   Guitarist David Joel will perform “La Fiesta” by Chick Corea and “Philadelphia” by David Joel

6.   Cabin Dogs, Rich and Rob Kwait, will perform American country inspired songs from their 6th studio record On the Creek

7.   Greg Farnese (voice) & Jim Holton (piano) will perform alternative pop songs in jazz arrangements and classic standards from The Great American Songbook

8.   Cynthia Fleming, oboe and Paul Fejko, piano will play The Flower Clock by Jean Francaix (arr. by Paul Fejko)

9.   Jennifer Blaine will perform excerpts from her original solo musical MANNEQUIN

10.    Jim Dragoni, guitarist with Andrew Dragoni, piano, will perform an original work, 'Stars on Blue Lake'

Sharon Sable, Shawn Q, and Samuel Nobles

Sharon Sable is an in-demand vocalist and interpreter of song, known for a presence and delivery that is sincere and demonstrates exquisite vocal prowess. Her new album, “Once Upon a Summertime”, with pianist Joe Holt, was just released in April. The album is a tribute to jazz icon, Blossom Dearie. Sharon and Shawn Qaissaunee, along with bassist Sam Nobles, will be honoring the music of Billy Penn Burger, a Pennsylvania based singer/songwriter who passed away in 2018 and continues to inspire musicians and fans alike. His posthumously released album, “Carry On”, is some of his most moving work. 

www.sharonsablemusic.com

www.billypennburger.com 

Berklee College of Music Alumnus (Jazz Composition/Music Education) E. Shawn Qaissaunee has been in demand as a multi-instrumentalist, composer/arranger and music instructor for over thirty years. Sought out for his talents on guitar, bass, piano, percussion and the rubab and dutar, two instruments from his native Afghanistan, Shawn is known for his musical virtuosity, sensitivity, lyricism and spirited creative energy in the jazz tradition. His constant devotion to musical traditions, while at the same time striving to bring new energy and relevance to his live performances has made him a beloved and admired artist in the greater community and beyond. In 2023 Qaissaunee has maintained a busy performance schedule as well as teaching music and recording and producing several new albums. 

website: www.esqmusic.com 

facebook: www.facebook.com/esqmusic

twitter: twitter.com/esqmusic?lang=en

Samuel Nobles is a Philadelphia-based composer and performer. Primarily a bassist and a pianist, Samuel performs with a variety of groups in the Philadelphia and Delaware areas, including Sharon Sable Group, The Q Factor, The Lunar Year, and Pillow Princess.
Samuel has composed for a variety of films and shows, including the 2019 feature film, “Greener Grass,” and TruTV’s network television show, “Adam Ruins Everything.” For examples of his work and upcoming shows, visit samuelnobles.com

Qin Qian with Kathryn Woodard

Qin Qian is a professional erhu player and teacher in Philadelphia. When she was 20, she received B.A. in the performance of erhu from Guangxi Arts College, China. Then she authored two Chinese books, “My Dreams Fly With Music,” and “A Musical Journey in America.” She produced and was also the featured performer and composer on a Chinese musical CD, “A Romantic Musical Journey.” This is the first music record published by a radio host in China, showing Qin Qian’s multi-talented life. Qin Qian made many new attempts to spread traditional Chinese music after living in the United States. She has partnered with many Western musicians from the US, UK and Australia. Her concerts have mixed the erhu and other Chinese instruments with different musical styles, including classical, jazz, opera, and pop.

https://qinqianerhu.com

Acclaimed American pianist Kathryn Woodard has performed numerous premieres and collaborated with several composers including Allen Otte, Paula Matthusen and Ge Gan-ru. Her international performances have taken her to China, Korea, Croatia, Thailand, Germany, and Turkey. She has performed with Qin Qian since 2015, exploring arrangements of traditional music for erhu and performing new works specifically for erhu and piano. 

www.kathrynwoodard.com

www.soniccrossroads.com

Youba Cissokho

Born to a griot family in Senegal, West Africa, Youba is a 72nd generation Kora Player. He performs traditional Mandinka and Wolof music, as well as modern style mixed with Jazz, Reggae, and Afro Beats. He comes from a musical family; his dad, Issa Cissokho, is the saxophone player in the legendary Orchestra Baobab. Youba has traveled all over the world performing kora and is now located in Philadelphia, US. Currently, he is performing across the East Coast for private events, ceremonies, weddings, yoga retreats, classical & modern dance, and in clubs. For more information, go to https://youbakora.com/.  He can be reached at youbakora@gmail.com.

Holly Roadfeldt

Few musicians balance the new opposite the old quite like American pianist Holly Roadfeldt. Recently deemed a “perfect pairing of technical prowess and innate sensitivity” and “on fire” (American Record Guide), “a vivid pianist” (Gramophone), and “jaw-dropping” (Mainly Piano), Holly Roadfeldt frequently advocates for eclectic programming and creative pedagogical approaches. She has established herself as one of contemporary music’s most prolific ambassadors—to date, she has made over 150 world premieres by more than four dozen composers. Recognized by audiences and critics for both her technical facility and distinctive interpretation of music from all eras, Roadfeldt has appeared on stages and venues across Canada, Europe, Asia, and over 30 U.S. states. Roadfeldt tirelessly searches for like-minded musicians who share her obsession with creating opportunities for listeners to relate to the music they hear. Best demonstrating this ethos is her three-year artistic flagship, “The Preludes Project,” which saw Holly premiere 65 new preludes by 16 composers. The concept drew rave reviews, leading to Holly’s debut album, a collaboration with multi-GRAMMY® award winning producer Andreas Meyer. The Preludes Project CD (2016) released on PARMA Recordings, pairing Chopin’s Op. 28 Preludes with composer Kirk O’Riordan’s Twenty-Six Preludes for Solo Piano (2014). A native of Ohio, Holly makes her home in Easton, Pennsylvania where she lives with her husband, Kirk O’Riordan. She is currently the Director of Keyboard Studies at Lafayette College.

Website: hollyroadfeldt.com

Instagram: @hroadfeldt

Twitter: @hroadfeldt

David Joel

Well known Philadelphia favorite and native, guitarist David Joel has performed in Japan, Europe, and throughout Boston and Washington D.C. A wide ranging background including 42 years of professional performance experience, teaching  at Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA), earning a Master’s Degree from New England Conservatory (Boston, MA) and a Bachelor’s Degree from Berklee College of Music have yielded him the ability of performing and composing in a wide scope of aesthetic musical styles. He performs regularly as a  solo guitarist, with the David Joel Quartet (a contemporary jazz-fusion group) and with other various jazz and musical ensembles. He is the proprietor of the David Joel Guitar Studio where he has taught students of all ages and backgrounds in the Philadelphia area for over 25 years.

www.davidjoel.net

CABIN DOGS: Rich and Rob Kwait

What started with twin brothers Rich and Rob Kwait and their dogs on a mountain retreat has become a 20+ year songwriting quest. Growing up outside of Philadelphia, PA, listening to Pink Floyd and the Grateful Dead while playing whiffle ball, the brothers started planting musical seeds. Through college and grad school, the brothers spent time apart playing guitar and bass/banjo. When they came back together in Philly in the late 90’s, they had a songbook full of ideas, most of which landed on their first two records - Hillside in 2000 and Outland Disco in 2002, all recorded under the Kwait Brothers Band name. They used the songs to form a band and begin playing all the venues and dive bars and coffee shops in and around Philadelphia. A gig at The Point in Bryn Mawr, PA introduced the brothers to Professor Louie (Rick Danko) who helped produce their third record Electric Cabin (Woodstock Records) at his studio in West Hurley, NY. Their band, now known as Cabin Dogs, soon received invites to play Newport Folk Festival, Appel Farm Festival (NJ), Full Circle Fair (ME) and the Philadelphia Folk Festival where they would share stages with Drive By Truckers, Richard Thompson, Old Crow Medicine Show, The Radiators and more. With the help of Philly friends, including producer/engineer Ron DiSilvestro, the brothers would produce their next two records Midnight Trail and Mountain Sun out of their home studio near Merion Station, PA. Just before the pandemic hit, the brothers rented a house on a quiet bend of Taughannock Creek in Trumansburg, NY that would become their home away from home, recording studio and inspiration for their 6th studio record - On the Creek – set for release in 2023.  

For more information on the Cabin Dogs and the upcoming show schedule, check out www.cabindogs.com.  All albums available on streaming services.

Greg Farnese and Jim Holton

Greg Farnese is a modern-day throwback vocalist, a crooner, if you will. He reignites the treasured and timeless classics from The Great American Songbook in his live performances and blends them with his unique interpretations of his modern -day favorites. Surrounding himself with the regions finest, world class musicians, Greg can be seen performing all the throughout the tri-state region to a loyal, music loving following.

Jim Holton has performed extensively in the Delaware Valley, New York and New Jersey with several groups including the critically acclaimed "Rhythm and Brass" and the "Joe Sudler Swing Machine", which backed artists such as Jon Faddis, Clark Terry, Slide Hampton and Al Grey. The musicians he has worked with over the years include bassists Tyrone Brown, Mike Boone, Lee Smith and Charles Fambrough; drummers Byron Landham, Mickey Roker, Billy James, Dave Gibson and Cornell Rochester; horn players John Swana, Bob Howell, Bootsy Barnes and Larry McKenna.

Cynthia Fleming and Paul Fejko

Over the decades of her musical career, Cynthia Fleming has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Israel Sinfonietta, Concerto Soloists,  the Aspen Festival Orchestra, and most of our regional orchestras. She has toured with Relache, the Ensemble for New Music, played and recorded New Age and Folk music with Scott Cossu and Jay Ansill, and created the Orion Ensemble as a concert group. As an educator, she has taught instrumental music at her own private conservatory, as well as at Chestnut Hill College, Springside Academy and Wingarth Conservatory.

https://www.facebook.com/cynthia.fleming.921

Composer/Conductor/Improvisor/Keyboardist Paul Fejko lives locally at his performance space in Chester, PA known as The André Café Acoustique where monthly concerts have now resumed with LIVE audiences.  He is music director of Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church in Philadelphia, a musician with the Muhlenberg College Theatre and Dance departments, and founder of the Chester Performing Arts Project. His specialty is provoking and challenging audiences with an unpredictable, eclectic and capricious approach to both classical repertoire, composition and improvisation. Information can be found at fejko.com and andre-cafe.com. His legacy CD recordings (1989 - 2004) can be found at paulfejko.bandcamp.com as downloadable tracks and albums. More of his work can be found at soundcloud.com/paulfejko, youtube.com/paulfejko and 
youtube.com/andrecafeacoustique. 

Jennifer Blaine

Jennifer Blaine has been performing one-woman shows for 28 years. Her original writing, performing, and comedy delve into serious and socially relevant issues and provides audiences the opportunity to unite in laughter. Jennifer has opened for George Carlin and according to the Philadelphia Daily News “her comic genius is like Lily Tomlin and Tracey Ullman.” Jennifer was the resident Theatre Teaching Artist at the Showstoppers program at The Kimmel Center from 2013-2018 in which she created four original plays on topical issues from bullying to civil rights. She produced the “5,000 Women” festival, showcasing women artists and social activists, at The Center for the Arts at Wesleyan University and in Philadelphia. Some of her 18 FringeArts solo works include Sorry (why women can’t stop apologizing for their existence), White Flight, Hearing Voices, and Ridiculous. Her play Dirty Joke, about women activists (directed by Vashti Dubois, founder of The Colored Girls Museum), was featured at PIFA, and was showcased at The Annenberg Center for the Arts as part of the By Local series. The Vicissitudes of Travel, which depicts a family traveling through brain surgery is performed in art galleries, museums, theatres, Wesleyan University and at Jefferson Medical College which brought together medical staff and the general public to dialogue about loss and illness. Jennifer has most recently written a musical Mannequin, about a defunct fur store in South Philly, its elderly Jewish owner, a teenager, a mafioso, and a political activist, which explores whether we can truly be inclusive, despite the rise of intolerance and white nationalism since 2016. She is also part of a collective called Group Therapy in which she spontaneously coaches the audience about their most pressing issues so they can have a breakthrough and then comedians take the content and spin it into a humorous story.

www.jenniferblaine.com

Venmo- @Jennifer-Blaine-3

IG j.blaine

Tik Tok @jenniferblaine446

Video:

Jim Dragoni with Andrew Dragoni

Jim Dragoni and Andrew Dragoni have been performing together for close to 20 years on jazz gigs, private affairs, concerts and recording sessions.  Andrew has just performed on Jim's latest album, My Man Mose, the Songs of Mose Allison. Jim Dragoni is a composer and guitarist. His performance areas include blues, traditional jazz, and original music. His music has received airplay in Europe as well as in the United States. He has been recognized for years on the East Coast as an artist, teacher and performer.

For recordings email: jim@dragoni.com,

Weblinks for PR:  http://dragoni.com/pressquotes.htm

Sound  samples:   www.soundcloud.com/jimdragoni

Facebook:  Jim Dragoni | Facebook