OCTOBER 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lexington, VA -- Acclaimed jazz quartet Astral Project will be bringing their New Orleans groove to Lexington in the first SonoKlect concert of the new season. The performance will take place in Washington and Lee’s Wilson Hall at 8pm on Saturday, October 19th. It is free and open to the public.

Earlier that same afternoon the quartet will be presenting a free clinic. Join the band on the main stage of Wilson Hall for this opportunity to pick the brains of these creative masters. Astral Project is known for their educational programs in and out of their native New Orleans. Musicians and non-musicians alike will enjoy this pre-concert insight into the music from the Big Easy. The clinic will take place from 3-4pm.

For more than thirty years, Astral Project has delighted audiences around the world with its unique brand of cutting edge improvisation and near telepathic interplay over deep New Orleans grooves.

In 1978, Tony Dagradi gathered together the brightest, most energetic young players in the Crescent City and started out on a path that would help shape the modern jazz scene for years to come. A devoted student of Eastern philosophy, Dagradi coined the band name as a reflection of the group’s quest for a higher plane of experience. As everyone who has seen the band in concert knows, each performance finds these men reaching for the stars.

Over the years the personnel has remained remarkably constant. Master drummer John Vidacovich continues to direct the rhythmic ebb an flow of the music as only he can. A brilliant soloist and highly sensitive accompanist, he plays with a command of dynamics, distinctive melodic accents and effervescent swing. On bass, James Singleton is a conduit of pure energy. His solid rhythmic concept and harmonic sense are the foundation of this innovative group’s improvisational strength. Steve Masakowski has long been regarded as one of the most awe-inspiring guitarists and composers in contemporary music. His technique on the unique seven string instrument which he designed has influenced a generation of guitarists. Performing on tenor and soprano saxophones, Tony Dagradi brings an emotional urgency to each solo. His huge tone and soaring lines speak of the entire tradition of jazz and constantly push the energy of the band forward.

A reception follows the performance, offering the audience a chance to meet and greet the performers.


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