Sue Matthews, one of Kent County’s favorite vocalists and Camilo Carrara, The National Music Festival’s favorite Brazilian guitarist, team up to present “A Work in Progress,” a preview of music they are recording together. The concert is at the Mainstay in Rock Hall, MD at 8:00 p.m. on Friday December 12 and is a benefit for The National Music Festival and The Mainstay. Admission is $25.
Sue Matthews and Camilo Carrara had the opportunity to play together at the home of a host family in Chestertown, MD during The National Music Festival last June. Carrara then invited Matthews to sing a couple of numbers as a guest for each of his solo Festival performances. They enjoyed the experience and each other’s approach to the material so much that they made plans to record together.
Matthews and Carrara have studio time booked in December and are taking time off from rehearsals to present this benefit concert, “A Work in Progress” at The Mainstay while Cararra is here from Brazil for the recording. Matthews describes the repertoire they are creating as “Great American Songbook, intimate love songs well-suited to guitar and voice, ballads with a Brazilian touch.”
“Camilo didn’t want to focus on Brazilian composers for this project. He loves American songwriters, especially from our ‘American Songbook’, so that’s where the material is coming from, though I’m hoping for at least one Jobim. We’re close to narrowing down a list, but it hasn’t been easy….too many wonderful songs to choose from. Love ballads mostly because they suit his amazing intimate sound.”
Sue Matthews is a very accessible jazz singer who incorporates cabaret and traditional pop elements. She brings a lot of blues feeling to her work with a big, full voice and an impressive range. She has made a number of recordings from 1991’s “Love Dances” to her most recent recording “Live at the Mainstay”, released in 2008.
Camilo Carrara graduated from the music department of the University of São Paulo, and is renowned for building bridges between the universe of both classical and popular music. He is in demand for recordings, festivals and concerts in Brazil and abroad, frequently performing with artists such as Alaíde Costa, Antonio Nobrega, Carmina Juarez, Cida Moreira, Eliete Negreiros, Fortuna, José Miguel Wisnik, Lokua Kanza (Congo), Mônica Salmaso, Olivia Byington, Paulo Bellinati, Rodolfo Medeiros (Argentina), Toquinho, Vania Abreu, and Zizi Possi among others. He plays with the Symphonic Orchestra of São Paulo State (OSESP), the Municipal Orchestra of São Paulo, the Symphonic Band of São Paulo and with the Het Spectra Ensemble-a Belgium contemporary music group.
His 2002 recording “Song of The Rising Sun” contains songs from the Japanese folk tradition specially arranged for solo guitar by Carrara.
He teaches at every major music school in São Paulo, including the Brooklin Paulista Music Conservatory, Espaço A.U.E., Espaço Musical, Colégio Friburgo, Colégio Galileu Galilei and Universidade Livre de Música Jobim-U.L.M. and is a Professor of Guitar at the Cantareira University and Espaço Musical, in São Paulo.
He can be heard most recently on the recording of Villa-Lobos, Floresta do Amazonas, and Ottorino Resphighi, Roman Festivals with the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, as well as on 60 other recordings.
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. It is committed to presenting local, regional and national level talent, at a reasonable price, in an almost perfect acoustic setting. Wine, beer, sodas and snacks are available at the bar.
The Mainstay is supported by ticket sales, fundraising including donations from friends and audience members and an operating grant from the Maryland State Arts Council.
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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