Merry & Bright

A Big, Brassy Christmas with Charles Lazarus

With special guests Bruce Henry and Tonia Hughes

Featuring Tommy Barbarella, Jeff Bailey, David Schmalenberger

& The Lazarus Brass

Minneapolis Akamai Arts announces the premiere performance of Merry & Bright: A Big, Brassy Christmas with Charles Lazarus on Thursday, December 19, 2013, 7:00pm at Wayzata Community Church, 125 Wayzata Blvd. E., Wayzata, 55391. Tickets will be available at the door $20 adult / $15 senior & student / under 6 free.

From Latin to lounge, groove to gospel, Merry & Bright is a fresh soundtrack for the holidays. Ranging from an intimate duo version of Christmas Time is Here, to a high-energy, big-band swing arrangement of We Three Kings, as well as a Latin-tinged arrangement of Veni, Veni Emmanuel, this concert of highly original takes on Christmas classics is designed to inspire a new family tradition. The list of musicians to be featured at the premiere performance of Charles Lazaruss most recent creative venture reads like a whos who of local luminaries. The concert will feature acclaimed vocalists Tonia Hughes and Bruce Henry on several numbers, including a soulful and sassy new version of Baby, Its Cold Outside. Lazarus rhythm section, Tommy Barbarella (keyboards), Jeff Bailey (bass), and David Schmalenberger (drums/percussion), provide the tight, seasoned and inventive core upon which the all-brass big band is layered. Members of the Lazarus Brass, familiar faces to Minnesota Orchestra and SPCO audiences, bring energy and excitement to a number of tunes, including I Saw Three Ships and a New Orleans Second Line take on Frosty the Snowman.

The Merry & Bright CD will be available for purchase at charleslazarus.com and online retailers in mid-November, as well as in all Allen Edmonds locations. Paul Grangaard, Allen Edmonds CEO, served as the CDs executive producer.

Charles Lazarus is available for interviews. Please contact Mele Willis at 612-804-7723 to set up a time that is convenient. Please visit charleslazarus.com for much more information, including an online press kit with a full bio, downloadable high-resolution jpeg photos, audio samples and more.

Performer Biographies

Charles Lazarus, trumpet

Trumpeter Charles Lazarus is known for his commitment to original music and the mixing of musical genres. His musical versatility is showcased in several original orchestral pops programs hes premiered in recent years; A Night in the Tropics, Fly Me to the Moon, and American Riffs all feature Lazarus combining a jazz rhythm section with symphony orchestra as equal partners onstage. This artistic direction is a natural outgrowth of his eclectic career, which began when he made his main stage Carnegie Hall solo debut with the New York String Orchestra at the age of 19 while still a student at The Juilliard School. Since then, hes been a member of the Dallas Brass, Meridian Arts Ensemble, Canadian Brass and, currently, the Minnesota Orchestra. In addition, Lazarus has performed his own compositions at the Montréal and Ottawa international jazz festivals, on live radio and TV across Canada and as an opening act for Tony Bennett. His quartet was recently featured on an Emmy-awarding winning episode of Twin Cities Public Televisions MN Originals. A regular soloist with orchestras across North America, hes recorded for television and IMAX film scores as well as numerous classical, pop and jazz ensembles. Lazarus distinctive blend of lounge/exotica and funk-fired jazz can be heard on two CDs of original music Solo Settings and Zabava.

Tommy Barbarella, keyboard

Over past two decades, Tommy Barbarella has made his mark composing, touring, recording and performing with the likes of Prince, Art Garfunkel, Jonny Lang and Mavis Staples. He has contributed his talents to Hollywood features by iconic directors like Spike Lee, Robert Altman and Marc Forester.

A world-class keyboardist, composer, producer and arranger, Tommy has numerous Gold and Platinum records to his credit and has toured the world many times over. A first-call session musician, his keyboard work can be heard on recordings by artists as diverse as Switchfoot, Backstreet Boys, Ziggy Marley, Love & Rockets, David Sylvian, Miley Cyrus, Italian superstar Giorgia and many more. Recently, Tommy toured and recorded with Nick Jonas, endearing himself to legions of screaming teens and soccer moms.

Jeffrey Bailey, bass

Jeff Bailey has performed in a wide variety of musical settings as a musician, composer, and producer. He has performed with world renowned Jazz artists: Craig Taborn, James Carter, Eric Garvat, Rodney Jones, Dave King, Wessel Anderson, and James Moody. Never one to be pigeonholed into one style, Jeff has also toured/performed with: Joey McIntyre (NKOTB), Jennifer Kimball, Heather Headley, and Charley Drayton, and logged time on the road touring and giving clinics in the U.S., Germany, France, Italy, South America and Japan. He has served as musical director for Keith Antar Mason and the Hittite Empire and the Black Fathers and Sons project at the B.A.M. Next Wave Festival in New York, with photographer Albert Chong and writer Quincy Troupe. Jeff has also received accolades for producing a Minnesota Music Award winning CD for Alicia Wiley, receiving a Best of the Twin Cities Award as a founding member of Moveable Feast, and a Minnesota Music Award nomination for best Bass Player of the Year.

David Schmalenberger, drums/percussion

Percussionist David Schmalenberger is a sought-after addition to numerous groups ranging from Cab Calloway, Steve Turre and the Fifth Dimension, to local favorites Debbie Duncan, Laura Caviani and Connie Evingson. He is also a regular in Ordway and Childrens Theatre Company ensembles. David is active as a clinician offering workshops in jazz, percussions, and world music, and has served as adjudicator/clinician for several regional and national jazz festivals. Schmalenberger received his DMA in Percussion Performance and World Music from West Virginia University, Master of Music Degree in Orchestral Percussion from the University of Michigan, and Bachelors Degree in Jazz Studies from Capital University. He currently teaches at McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul and serves as the Assistant Department Head for percussion.

Tonia Hughes, vocals

Twin Cities recording artist and actress Tonia Hughes is undoubtedly one of the best-kept secrets in the Midwest. Her vocal style is colored with melodic acrobats and elements of Gospel, Blues, Jazz, R&B, Rock and Worship. Tonias versatile ability and incomparable delivery, has afforded her the opportunity to open for various events featuring such mega gospel industry standouts as Dorinda Clark-Cole, Marvin Sapp, Jamal Bryant and Fred Hammond to name a few. She has garnered critical acclaim for both her latest CD, Im Ready Now, and for her leading roles in musical and theatrical productions. Her credits include Encounters (2002), Southern Theater; Black Nativity (2003 present), Penumbra Theater; Caroline or Change (2009), Guthrie Theater; Loves Covers (2010), Womans Club of Minneapolis; Mahalia (2011), Fellowship Baptist Church; and Cinderella, The Ordway Theater (2011).

Bruce Henry, vocals

Bruce A. Henry is a vocalist, performer and educator extraordinaire. Henry's eclectic vocal style has been influenced by legends such as John Coltrane, Leon Thomas, Gil Scott Heron, Al Jarreau, Nina Simone and Marvin Gaye. He possesses a three-octave range, a pure voice with versatility few can match. Bruce's music has taken him to five continents and he has recorded for Disney, HBO and numerous national ad campaigns. In addition he has performed with and opened for the likes of Doc Severinsen, Roberta Flack, Chris Botti, Ramsey Lewis, Stephane Grapelli, Jimmy Jam and The Sounds of Blackness.

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