Alverno Presents: Performing Arts Events

Gretchen Parlato Duo and Esperanza Spalding Trio

Saturday February 16, 2008 8 p.m.

Pitman Theatre

Ticket Price: $28


Audio Clip (Esperanza Spalding)
Audio Clip (Gretchen Parlato)

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We've had our eye on Gretchen for some time now. Ever since she won the 2004 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition, and ever since we've heard her sing a few amazing numbers at Joe's Pub, we've been thinking about the best way to introduce this important young artist to Milwaukee.

And then we heard Esperanza Spalding. Widely hailed as a child prodigy on the double bass within months when she first cradled the instrument, and now one of the youngest teachers at Boston's prestigious Berklee College of Music (a distinction previously held by Pat Metheny), this rapidly became one of those ideas that are too good to pass up. And that is – An evening with two, twenty-something women who have the cognoscenti buzzing and are each on the cusp of their own brilliant careers. Gretchen will do a set, Esperanza will do a set, and then they'll close the evening by joining forces in a pull-out-all-the-stops jam. One of the things about witnessing history is you don't know that's what you're doing until it's all over. That said, we're pretty confident that these artists in this pairing are something you're not going to want to miss.

www.gretchenparlato.com
www.berklee.edu/profiles/spalding.html

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel review