Two professional musicians from different backgrounds and generations, chat about the music industry and about their remarkable experiences in the business. Their talent and travels have taken them around the world, and into the concert halls, clubs, and homes of hundreds of musicians, actors, and raconteurs. 5-time Grammy nominee, vocalist, and pianist Karrin Allyson and pianist, conductor, and accompanist to music legends, James Argiro invite us into a world alive with stories and song. Join this special excursion with Karrin and James at Luthier’s Co-op.
Start off this event with Jazz Trivia by Bex Taylor of New England Public Media, get in the mood with carefully crafted playlists in your inbox, and receive delightful diversions in your mailbox.
With all the variety and entertainment, you’ll feel like you had an evening out on the town! Finally, ticket holders will reap savory specials to Easthampton restaurants to make their event experience complete.
~ Jazz ~
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Created, especially for you, by Bex Taylor
"Of course, I had to start off the playlist with the namesake of the event, 'Life Is A Groove' by Karrin Allyson. I would also recommend giving a listen to Karrin's album 'Ballads: Remembering John Coltrane' with her memorable version of 'All Or Nothing At All'" — Bex Taylor
Vocalist, pianist, and songwriter Karrin Allyson is a five-time Grammy Award nominee. Originally from the Midwest and a resident of Manhattan for the past 20 years, Ms. Allyson travels the globe playing venues from intimate to vast, including clubs, festivals, and concert halls. Karrin received a bachelors’ degree in piano performance with a minor in French and has been a bandleader with the best in the business. Her career runs the musical gamut between French chansons, The Great American Songbook, instrumental jazz standards with new lyrics, pop, blues, Bossanova, and a tribute to Rodgers and Hammerstein. The most recent among Karrin’s 15 CDs are the all-original “Some of That Sunshine” (2018), and a special project “Shoulder to Shoulder: Centennial Tribute to Women’s Suffrage” featuring a stellar array of talent including Madeleine Peyroux, Rosanne Cash, Harry Belafonte, Rapsody, and Kurt Elling (Aug 2019).
James Argiro‘s professional career began at age 14 and by 16, his R&B/Blues band was providing backup for many of the top groups of the period: The Moonglows, The Cadillacs, Lavern Baker, The Drifters, and Ruth Brown, among others.
A pianist, composer, arranger, conductor, producer, and author, James received his training at The Hartford Conservatory of Music, The University of Southern California at Los Angeles, (UCLA), The Institute of Audio Research in New York, and film scoring with Albert Harris. He is currently on the music faculty at Westfield State University.
As a music director and arranger, James has worked with a remarkable number of celebrities including Bernadette Peters, Leslie Uggams, Frank Sinatra Jr., Carol Channing, Mickey Rooney, Joan Rivers, and Juliet Prowse. As a jazz pianist and arranger, he has performed with Mel Torme, Marlena Shaw, Ernie Andrews, Lionel Hampton, “Cat” Anderson, Red Rodney, Ernie Watts, Jeff Hamilton, Shelly Manne, and Louis Bellson, among many others. His big band credits include Harry James, Tommy Dorsey, Bill Holman, Count Basie, Richard Maltby, and Alvino Rey.Musical Collaborations with Nelson Riddle, Neal Hefti, Henry Mancini, Fred Karlin, Anthony Newley, David Rose, Peter Matz.
On top of all that, James is a famous raconteur and tells a great story.
Your Jazz Age Drinks
Tastes best with Mt. Tom Gin.
Four Sundays of Virtual Experiences, February through April
CitySpace Presents is in support of CitySpace’s Transformation Campaign — a capital project to create a 350-seat accessible performing art and community space in Easthampton’s most iconic and historic building, Old Town Hall. Learn More.