Stonehill Auditorium, The Mandel Jewish Community Center of Cleveland
26001 South Woodland Rd, Beachwood OH 44122
Tickets $15
To purchase:
Visit The Mandel JCC
Call (866) 546-1358
Order on-line at www.clevejcc.org [1].
(Transaction fees will be added to phone and online orders.)
The Mandel Jewish Community Center of Cleveland presents the first in a year-long series of Saturday night showcases featuring the best of the region’s artistic talent. To kick off the series, classically trained violinist and Cleveland Orchestra member Lev Polyakin will share his forays into the world of jazz accompanied by bassist Martin Block, guitarist Bob Fraser and drummer Roy King.
Polyakin and his ensemble are inspired by such greats as Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Erroll Garner and Stephane Grappelli and are featured on the jazz CDs Russian Blue, The Other Side of the Road and Christmas Kaleidoscope.
ABOUT THE PERFORMERS
Lev Polyakin grew up in Uzbekistan, completed hi studies at the Moscow Conservatory and emigrated to the United States in 1980. He joined the first violin section of the Cleveland Orchestra in 1982 and is presently assistant concertmaster. He also serves as concertmaster of the American Academy of Conducting Orchestra at Aspen Music Festival. Polyakin has appeared as soloist with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, the London Mozart Players, Royal Philharmonic, and the Cleveland Orchestra. Classical recording credits include Melodia, BBC, National Public Radio, and Decca.
Martin Block, "Boy Bass-Player", was born in 1947 and has been performing the bars, restaurants, theaters and concert halls of Northeastern Ohio and the world since the age of fourteen. A graduate of Kent State University, he was bass instructor at the University of Akron and has traveled extensively as a performing musician. He has accompanied such local greats as Pat Pace, Bill Dobbins, Alex Bevan, Mike Petrone, and Lev Polyakin. His experience covers many musical styles –
Classical, Rock Theatrical, Klezmer – but jazz has always been his passion. Mr. Block's association with Robert Fraser and Roy King spans more than 30 years, and with Lev Polyakin 15. Block and King can be heard regularly at Nighttown in Cleveland Heights on Saturdays.
A legend among Cleveland-area guitarists, Bob Fraser’s resume boasts a wide array of performance highlights, including playing on Maureen McGovern’s “The Morning After,” and performing with The Cleveland Orchestra under Pierre Boulez and Christoph von Dohnányi. He has supported musical greats as Luciano Pavarotti, Maria Schneider, Pat Pace, Bill Dobbins, Grover Washington and the great Marion McPartland. Fraser often performs with The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, is an active theater orchestra musician, and currently serves on the faculty of Cleveland State University’s Department of Music.
Drummer Roy King is a graduate of Cleveland Heights High School and holds a B.S. degree in Music Education from Kent State University. He currently performs at Nightown Restaurant on most Saturdays with his own trio, which includes Bassist Martin Block and some of the best pianists in northeast Ohio. King teaches drumming privately at Woodsy's Music, Kent, Ohio, and Vance Music Studios, Lakewood, Ohio.
CABARETS TO CONTINUE
The Stonehill Cabaret Series continues this fall with a performance by singer/songwriter and guitarist Noah Budin with David Budin and Edward E. Ridley Jr. on Saturday, November 15, 2008 at 8:30 pm. Spring 2009 will bring the talent of Tikvah Company of Artists Modern Dance Ensemble (Saturday, April 18, 2009 at 8:30 pm) and Helen Welch & Trio: A Tribute to Jewish Lyricists and Composers (Saturday, May 9, 2009 at 8:30 pm).
SPECIAL OFFER
Purchase one ticket to each of the four Stonehill Series performances and receive one complimentary ticket (date of your choice) to The Mandel JCC commissioned play Cleveland Heights (February 26-
March 15, 2009) or to Pangs of the Messiah (June 11-28, 2009). Call (216) 593-6258 to order.
Links:
[1] http://www.clevejcc.org