Vocalist Sue Matthews is “Swinging on a Star: Celebrating the Music of Jimmy Van Heusen” on Saturday September 20 at 8:00 p.m. at the Mainstay in Rock Hall, MD. Admission is $20.
Sue Matthews is a superb singer with a silky smooth voice, an intimate style, flawless delivery, exquisite phrasing and a passion for finding every bit of meaning in the heart of a song. She has put together a show celebrating the songs of Jimmy Van Heusen who wrote such classics as “It Could Happen To You,” “Here’s That Rainy Day,” “Come Dance With Me,” and of course, “Swinging On A Star.”
Sue Matthews
She will be joined by pianist Robert Redd, bassist Tommy Cecil, woodwinds player Scott Silbert who is the chief arranger for the United States Navy Band and a drummer whose name was not available at press time.
Jimmy Van Heusen wrote songs for films, television and theater, and won an Emmy and four Academy Awards for Best Original Song. He wrote 85 songs that were recorded by Frank Sinatra, more than any other composer and composed the songs for Bing Crosby for six of the seven Bing Crosby and Bob Hope Road pictures. He was one of the original inductees to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1971. Most of his songs were written with lyricist partners Johnny Burke (1940 to 1953) and then Sammy Cahn.
Sue Matthews first came to people’s attention in 1991, when she released the traditional jazz album “Love Dances.” She was soon playing clubs and festivals and her next release “When You’re Around,” reached the top 20 on the Gavin and R & R Jazz charts. Since then she has released a number of recordings and become a favorite throughout the mid-Atlantic jazz clubs, concert halls, jazz festivals and television studios.
She has been a featured artist at the W.C. Handy Music Festival, with the Calgary Philharmonic, the Florida Symphony, the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Showcase in NYC and the Saluzzo Musical Festival in Italy. She has been artist-in-residence at the Clifden Arts Week Festival, County Galway, Ireland and at Augusta Heritage Center and is a two-time recipient of the Maryland State Arts Council individual Artist Award.
Scott Silbert, a multiple woodwind player and arranger, is the chief arranger for the United States Navy Band. Silbert has been a featured soloist on national concert tours, at the International Association of Jazz Educators Conference, the Saxophone Symposium, The Midwest Clinic, the Detroit -Montreux Jazz Festival, and at numerous local concerts.
Since 2002, when he was appointed chief arranger, Silbert has composed/arranged more than 300 works for all performing groups of the Navy band. In addition, he has performed with/ composed for the National Symphony Orchestra, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, Natalie Cole, Stanley Turrentine, Rosemary Clooney, Bob Hope, Howard University, Red Skelton, Quincey Jones, Andy Williams, Terry Gibbs, Scott Hamilton, Rich Little, the Spinners, the Temptations, the Four Tops, The Les Brown Orchestra, Kathy Tricolli, The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Eddie Daniels, Michael Feinstein, Christine Ebersole, and many others.
Robert Redd, born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area, began playing music as a trumpet player at the age of twelve, and began performing professionally while still in high school. While continuing to perform and study the trumpet, he began to develop a serious interest in the piano and decided to make the switch at age twenty-three. He re-established himself as a piano player and was soon very much in demand.
Redd was a member of the Keter Betts trio for 13 years, until Betts’ death in 2005. The trio performed many concerts and festivals and could frequently be heard at venues such as the Kennedy Center and Blues Alley. From 1995-1998, Redd was pianist and musical director for singer/songwriter Kenny Rankin. He also worked often as a member of the Charlie Byrd Trio, and can be heard on Charlie Byrd’s last recording, “For Louis”. Other recent recordings include “Bouquet Chorale” (Summit Records) featuring Marty Nau and legendary saxophonist Phil Woods, and “When Redd is Blue”, co-led with his brother, Chuck. Robert is also a QRS recording artist and has recorded two Pianomation CDs with fellow pianist Michael T. Jones for the New York-based company.
Bassist Tommy Cecil is long-time fixture in the Washington DC jazz scene — accompanying singers; playing trad, bebop, Ellington repertory concerts, new age, and contemporary music; and presenting his own compositions. He has performed in concerts and at festivals across the country and around the world and has worked extensively with many fellow DC based players, including Shirley Horn, Buck Hill, John Eaton, Chuck Redd, Andrew White, and Charlie Byrd. Tommy has also performed with a who’s who of jazz including Joe Henderson, Anita O’Day, Teddy Wilson, Chet Baker, Cab Calloway, Phil Woods, Benny Carter, Buddy DeFranco, Tommy Flanagan, Ken Peplowski, Fred Hersch, Sonny Stitt, Monty Alexander, Mose Allison, Cedar Walton, Milt Jackson and Bill Mays, just to name a few.
He has been featured on many recordings, including the Grammy award winning “Bon Appetit!” (2003 Best Musical Album for Children). His recent CD, “Side By Side: Sondheim Duos” with pianist Bill Mays has garnered many rave reviews. Marc Myers at JazzWax.com calls it “a perfect jazz album.” Dr. Judith Schlesinger at All About Jazz.com calls it “a brilliant collection.”
The Mainstay (Home of Musical Magic) is the friendly informal storefront performing arts center on Rock Hall’s old time Main Street. It is a 501(c)(3), non profit dedicated to the arts, serving Rock Hall, MD and the surrounding region. For information and reservations call the Mainstay at 410-639-9133. More information is also available at the Mainstay’s website https://www.mainstayrockhall.org.
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