Ukiah Daily Journal from Ukiah, California • Page 5

THE UKIAH DAILY JOURNAL Arts Entertainment JAN. JAN. 2, 1999 A-5 amous jazz pianist raises funds to refinish piano I nternationally known jazz pianist Barbara Sutton Curtis will perform a benefit concert as the first artist to use the Ukiah Community Concert Association since its refinishing by Ivory Palace. The concert is Saturday, Jan. 9 at 7:30 p.m.

at Ukiah High School's cafetorium. Guest artists appearing with Curtis are mezzo- soprano Michelle Athanasiades and well-known bassist, Steve Baird. Proceeds from the concert will benefit the piano restoration fund for the refinishing of the 9-foot grand piano used in Association concerts. Tickets are available at Mendocino Book Company, at the door or by calling Jane Haskell at 462-8275. The history of the piano began in October 1950 when a fund was established to purchase a piano for use by guest artists at Community Concert performances.

Prior to that time, a piano was either rented or borrowed from C.M. Mannon. In March 1951, a self-perpetuating three-person trusteeship was established, giving the trustees the same power over the piano which a private owner would have. First trustees were C.M. Mannon, William Chessall, and Myska.

new Steinway Concert Grand was purchased in October the. year. In 1970, Leopard Nix donated funds for a cover. Through the years tuning and insurance has been prodded by Community Concert A.ss«jciation, but the finish on the piaiip.had become scratched and marred. The Concert Association decided to have the instrument refinished and this concert will be the first appearance of the beautiful piano since being redone.

Curtis was born in Howell. a small rural town near St. Louis. Her earliest musical influence was her brother, Ralph Sutton, and it was through him that she became acquainted with the music of Fats james P. Johnson, Willie "The Lion" Smith and Art Tatum.

She took her first piano lessons from the same teacher who started her brother. Having a love for the piano as well as an extraordinary talent, she continued her musical education at Lindenwood University, St. Charles, where she was awarded the President's Scholarship for four consecutive years and from which she graduated from distinction in 1952. While she was attending college, she started playing jazz professionally. She played with a number of St.

Louis bands, including Singleton Palmer's Dixieland Six. After leaving St. Louis, she eventually moved to Marin County, playing extensively in the San Francisco Bay Area. Sutton Curtis was invited to perform with jazz greats Eddie Miller, Flip Phillips, Milt Hinton, Gus Johnson and Billy Butterfield. Additionally, she played a number of two-piano duets with her brother, Ralph, which jazz critic Phillip Elwood called "exquisite!" Although not scheduled to perform at the 1937 Peninsula Jazz Party in Menlo Park, when jazz pianist Dick We'lstood passed away before he could per- Herman Magdalenon'ht Daily Journal Barbara Sutton Curtis will perform a benefit concert for the Community Concert's piano restoration fund 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 9 at the Ukiah High School cafetorium. form, an immediate replacement was needed and the unanimous choice was Sutton Curtis. In the fall of 1987, the pianist performed with her brother, Ralph, in Europe and received rave reviews. Upon her return, she performed in Toronto at the Cafe des Copains, a club featuring the best jazz pianists, returning for additional engagements to enthusiastic audiences.

The next year she played solo piano again in Toronto for the DuMaurier Downtown Jazz Festival as a featured performer, and at the Fats Waller Memorial Jazz Festival in Watsonville. In 1991, she returned to St. Louis, performing at the Mid America Jazz Festival. She has been a featured performer at the Santa Rosa Dixieland Jazz Festival, played a concert with Ralph in Baden, Switzerland, and been a featured performer at Pianorama at the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Festival, the world's largest festival of its type. Sackville Records in Toronto, Canada's premier jazz label, has released two CDs with Curtis: The first, 'Barbara Sutton Curtis Solos and Duets" (Sackville SKCD2-2027) features Curtis playing both solo piano while performing at the Cafe des Copains in Toronto, as well as a number of two piano selections recorded in Switzerland, with her brother.

Her newest CD. "Old Fashioned Love" (Sackville SKCD2- 2042) is a live recording of Curtis playing solo piano at both the Montreal Bistro and the Cafe Des Copains in Toronto. Both albums have received rave reviews. She makes her home in Ukiah, where she teaches private piano. Additionally, she has performed with her own group for many years.

Bassist Steve Baird is no stranger to local concert-goers. He's been in Mendocino County since 1972. and has since 1984 played continually with the Barbara Curtis Quintet and Quartet as well as Will Siegel (Jump Street and Willie the Nighthawks). He also performed on an album with Curtis. Born in Lexington.

Baird moved to California when he was 3 years old. then grew up in Marin and Monterey counties. Baird's father was a bass player and bass singer, so he grew up not only surrounded by music but with the "voice" of the bass always present and "that's what I hear in my head." he said. He began playing bass in junior high. He also played tuba, trombone and other horns while in school.

Vocalist Michelle Athanasi- ades has been a resident of Mendocino County since 1994 and currently resides in Willits. A member of the staff of Willits Community Theatre, she teaches private vocal instruction in all styles. She is currently in rehearsal for the upcoming WCT production of the 1983 Tony nominated musical review, "Blues in the Night." Local work includes shows with WCT Coward," Ukiah Civic Light Opera Goes," "Nun- sense," Mendocino Music Festival, and Spencer Coyote Studio among others. While in the Bay Area, her work included membership with the nationally acclaimed vocal choir, "Kitka." URIAH GROCERY OUTLET The Lowest Prices In Town!" Shop Us First Save up to WK Construction ROOF REPAIRS Licensed Insured Remodels Re-Roofs New Construction Ukiah, CA 95482 Will Knight Owner Lie. 1660127 AU2IMAIIO LATINO Authentic Mexican Cnslne "From thekeart of Mexico to the heart of Ukiah" longs Plaza 187 Orchard, UWan 467-1322 MEXICAN LUNCH DINNER BUFFET AIL YDU CAN EAT lunch Dinner if if if if if if it ir if SHOKA-WAH AtSHOKAWAH Bingo.you could even Win Session Times and Buy-ins Monday through Thursday: Early Games 6 PM Main Session 6:45 PM $9 buys-2 packs for 12 games paying $250 $18 buys 2 packs for 12 games paying $500.

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