Honduran violinist Marissa Licata will perform with her World-Gypsy Fusion ensemble at the Hooker-Dunham Theater on Monday, July 29 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $15 at the door – cash or checks only.
Featuring Licata and Ethan Wood on double violins, the performance will draw on influences from all over the world including EasternEuropean, Latin American, Middle Eastern and Americana. They are joined by Jim Guttmann on bass and Sergio Martinez on percussion.
The concert is presented by Cox Violins to coincide with the one-man show of Doug Cox’s work at David Walter’s Master Craft Gallery. Licata plays on a Cox instrument modeled after one belonging to her teacher, the late Eric Rosenblith of New England Conservatory. The show at the Walter Gallery includes a special focus on Rosenblith, who also taught for many years at the Yellow Barn Festival in Putney. For this show only, Ethan Wood will also play a Cox violin, specially fitted for the occasion with an LR Baggs Violin Pickup.
This show will feature a rich mix of folk Jazz, and contemporary styles. Their fresh sonic blend hints at the
rhythmic framework of today’s electronically produced music, in combination with traditional, world folk melodies and dances. The combo of live, percussive and stringed instruments gives a sound that is intricate and unique, but not unfamiliar.
“I have no real formula for how to mix various genres that will resonate with all generations,” reflects Licata. “All I know is that I grew up listening to all types of music, and had the pleasure of being able to appreciate and internalize such a wide range of written and improvised styles from klezmer, classical, Latin, to pop, rock and roll, and doo wop.”
With her energetic versatility and mixture of passionate, rhythmic, Gypsy flair and improvisation, Marissa Licata assembles and executes musical compositions that showcase her musical upbringing. “I am not a player who tries to show how easily I can perform a piece or passage. I want everyone to know that I am sweating and working to bring every ounce of passion I have to each note and gesture.”
Licata’s passion and energy has given her the opportunity to share the stage in various formats with many
notable performers from various genres of music including numerous television and recording appearances. Her most recent release Water Level in 2012 is a jazz collaboration between her and her father, composer and alto saxophonist Charles Licata.
Violinist Ethan Wood, has appeared around the United States and abroad as guest artist, recitalist, and chamber and orchestral musician. Much of his time is spent interpreting contemporary and new works. He plays baroque violin, as well as Jazz and World music. Also a composer, he has recently had a work premiered at The Music Center at Strathmore in Maryland.
Percussionist Sergio Martinez was born in Madrid, Spain, where he grew up in a musical family He began playing percussion at age 15, studying with Rubem Dantas, Afro-Latin percussion with Rogerio da Souza and Luisito Dulzaides. He studied Hindu percussion with Ramesh Sotham, and percussion and drumset in el Taller de Musicos and joined the Latin Jazz Big Band conducted by Cuban guitarist Kotan. Later he developed an interest in Flamenco music and started his professional career at age 19 accompanying top Flamenco artists.
From smoky dives to Carnegie Hall, from Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw to the Cambridge folk club Passim, Jim Guttmann has had a performance career spanning 30 years and many musical idioms. A member of the legendary string band Cheap Trills in the ‘70s, he joined the Klezmer Conservatory Band at its inception in 1980 and as a member of the band has performed and recorded with Itzhak Perlman and Joel Grey.
For more information about the concert, call or email Cox Violins at (802)257-1024 or info@coxviolins.com. www.coxviolins.com
