The Fred Hughes Trio featuring Fred Hughes on piano, Amy Shook on bass and Frank Russo on drums will be joined by local favorites Steve Abshire on guitar and Dick Durham on piano for sparkling jazz renditions of favorite holiday tunes at The Mainstay in Rock Hall, Maryland on Saturday November 26 at 8:00 p.m. Admission is $20. Information and advance ticket sales are available at the Mainstay’s website https://www.mainstayrockhall.org and reservations can also be made by calling 410-639-9133.
Following the critically acclaimed release of their holiday recording, I’ll Be Home For Christmas in November of 2015, the Fred Hughes Trio is hitting the road to spread a little holiday cheer in 2016. I’ll Be Home For Christmas garnered three and a half stars from Downbeat Magazine and ended 2015 at number five on the CMJ Jazz Charts. About the recording, Travis Rogers at JazzTimes Magazine said that “these Christmas chestnuts are done with class and cool,” and a reviewer at Amazon.com called the recording “a true Christmas present.”
Joining the trio for the evening’s festivities are longtime Mainstay favorites Dick Durham on piano and Steve Abshire on guitar.
Pianist Fred Hughes had this to say about the lineup, “Upon thinking about The Mainstay show and our tour theme, it only made sense to add Dick and Steve to the lineup as they have truly made The Mainstay their home over the years. It will be a lot of fun to mix and match the different instrumental combinations for this show. I guarantee that Holiday Cheer will definitely be flowing with these two wonderful musicians joining us!”
Originating in the jazz clubs of Washington, DC, the Fred Hughes Trio has been performing and recording since 1989. A sampling of the group’s performing credentials includes the Elkhart, Rehoboth, Cape May, East Coast, Clifford Brown and Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festivals, the 1996 Summer Olympics and tours to the Republic of Korea.
This will be a festive but relaxing way to start the countdown to the end of the year. You can even do some of your holiday shopping at The Mainstay. Gift certificates, holiday and other jazz recordings and Mainstay apparel will be available.
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), nonprofit 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.
Upcoming Mainstay performances include:
Nov. 21 Mainstay Monday with guest Sue Matthews, vocals
Nov. 26 The Fred Hughes Trio – “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”
Nov. 28 Mainstay Monday with Jeff Davis, guitar, bass and vocals
Dec. 3 The Chris Bergson Band
Dec. 5 Mainstay Monday with guests Holly Lane on vocals and Mike McShane on drums
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