Bob James and Keiko Matsui to Perform at the Dennos Museum Center in Traverse City

by Lissa Edwards | Jan 27, 2010 | Counties, Events, Towns

The Dennos Museum Center at Northwestern Michigan College will present Bob James and Keiko Matsui on Saturday, February 6, 2010 at 8 pm in the Milliken Auditorium. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door, $28 for museum members. Tickets may be purchased by calling the museum box office at 231-995-1553 or on line at www.dennosmuseum.org.

Bob James is from the United States and Keiko Matusi is from Japan and their styles are as different from those legends of jazz’s past as fusion is from boogie-woogie. James and Matsui are linked to the tradition of what’s called “four-hand piano,” where two players sit down at one instrument and play together. They toured the world and garnered rave reviews in 2001, now it’s time to revisit this incredible show in the intimate setting of Milliken Auditorium on Bob’s own 9 foot Steinway.

Bob James is one of the pivotal figures in smooth jazz, incorporating pop elements into Weather Report-era fusion to create something new. His efforts to push jazz in a more pop direction have led to his music being heavily sampled by hip-hop artists. His early work featured Earl Klugh on guitar, and he has worked extensively with Grover Washington, Jr., and David Sanborn. He is perhaps best known for his song "Angela", the theme from the show TAXI.

Keiko Matsui is one of the most prolific smooth jazz pianists in the last 20 years. Her style, deftly blending elements of Eastern and Western music and culture, is singular and easily identifiable, recently bordering on New Age territory. A native of Japan, she moved to the United States to record at age 19, and now has over 20 releases under her own name.

“We are very excited to bring these two international performers of contemporary jazz piano to the Dennos” says museum Director, Gene Jenneman, “Bob and I have talked often about possibility of doing this concert at the Dennos following their successful tour in 2001 and now it will happen. It is another great event for Traverse City.”

With the purchase of a ticket to this performance, concert goers are invited to visit the museum’s galleries one hour before the concert and attend a post concert reception with the performers. The Dennos Museum Center concert season is supported in part by a grant from the Osterlin Performance Endowment, and the Robert T. Hughes Family Trust. WNMC 90.7 fm and TV 29&8 provide media support. Housing for Keiko Matsui is provided by Cambria Suites of Traverse City.

The Dennos Museum Center is open daily 10 AM to 5 PM, Thursdays until 8 PM, and Sundays 1 – 5 PM. Admission is $6 adults, $4 for children and free to museum members. For more information on the Museum and its programs, go to   www.dennosmuseum.org or call 231-995-1055. The Dennos Museum Center is located at 1701 East Front Street, Traverse City, MI 49686, at the entrance to the campus of Northwestern Michigan College.

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