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Produced & Maintained by Idaho Mountain Express, Box 1013, Ketchum, ID 83340-1013 
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Copyright © 2003 Express Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Express Publishing Inc. is prohibited. 


Friday — March 12, 2004

Weekend Living

Swing’s the thing

Mark O’Connor’s Hot Swing Trio
performs Saturday


By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer

Stephane Grappelli was one of the foremost jazz violinists ever. Django Reinhardt was an equally remarkable jazz guitarist. Mix these two virtuosos together and violinist, composer, fiddler Mark O’Connor’s name springs up, especially in his latest recording "In Full Swing," which Downbeat magazine dubbed a "virtuoso fest."

Saturday, March 13, marks the final installment in the Sun Valley Center for the Arts 2003-2004 Chamber Artist series when O’Connor’s Hot Swing Trio liven up the Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood in Ketchum at 7:30 p.m.

Mark O’Connor’s Hot Swing Trio 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Presbyterian Church of the Big Wood in Ketchum. Courtesy photo

According to The New York Times, O'Connor is a musician who plays jazz "like he had a patent on it," despite his folk background.

Grapelli was a longtime mentor of O’Connor’s as was Texas fiddler Benny Thomasson. Between these two extreme influences, O’Connor became a virtuoso of a multitude of musical styles and genres.

O'Connor’s trio comprises guitarist Frank Vignola and bassist Jon Burr. He also has a chamber ensemble, the Appalachia Waltz Trio, for which he created "Appalachia Waltz" and the Appalachian Journey recording sessions.

His compositions have been recorded and performed by a variety of performers, including Yo-Yo Ma who recorded the solo cello version of "Appalachia Waltz" and frequently performs it in recital. Also discovering O'Connor's poetic American music are various dance companies, including Twyla Tharp, the New York City Ballet and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.

As well O’Connor teachers master classes and has conducted symposia at many schools of music including The Juilliard School of Music, Tanglewood, Aspen, the Berklee College of Music, UCLA, the Eastman School of Music and the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University. He also promotes music education and outreach with many organizations, including Opus 118, Midori and Friends, Sphinx, Arts4All and the Music For Life Alliance.

He also serves on the advisory panel for the selection of the Kennedy Center Honors and is the founder of the internationally recognized Mark O'Connor Fiddle Camp and Strings Conference, near Nashville, Tenn.

For information and tickets, call the Center at 726-9491.


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The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.





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