The Virtuoso Series at Colorado State University continues with a dynamic concert by faculty Peter Sommer and his quartet featuring Eric Gunnison, piano; Kent McLagan, bass; and Marc Dalio, drums.
The concert will feature music from Sommer’s most recent release on Dazzle Recordings, Narrando Historias, as well as new compositions and improvisations with elements of swing and blues.
After being inspired by a Mayan exhibit at The Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Sommer is excited to bring his take on the idea of, Nuevo Historias or ‘new histories,’ to the Colorado State University community.
Bringing his own history to the stage, Sommer is accompanied by artists that he has known for years. This familiarity allows for more creativity and a little improvisation that Sommer believes audiences will really enjoy.
“With this particular group, the fun comes from not knowing exactly what’s going to happen … [We] don’t play in the way that you would expect [us] to…in a good way,” Sommer explained.
Peter Sommer and Quartet will perform in the Organ Recital Hall on Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. in a concert that is sure to provide some enlightening musical nuances for both the audience and performers. Tickets are available at CSUArtsTickets.com.
About Peter Sommer
Since establishing himself among the Denver area’s elite jazz musicians, Peter Sommer has contributed his energetic tenor playing and creative spirit to a wide variety of musical projects ranging from mainstream bebop to Avant garde and beyond at venues across the nation and around the world.
Sommer has been described as, “The possessor of a dark, gritty sound, clean, fast technique, and melodic ideas [with] a true understanding of the post-bebop style (…) In addition, he is fearless; this guy delivers.”
He has released three albums as a leader Sioux County (2006) on Tapestry Records, featuring his original compositions in duo with jazz piano legend Art lande, Crossroads (2008) on Capri Records, featuring a two-tenor frontline with the great NYC saxophonist Rich Perry, and Tremolo Canteen (2010) on Dazzle Recordings.
In the release of his newest album Narrando Historias, loosely translated, ‘narrated histories,’ Sommer was inspired by literature (Rainer Maria Rilke and Jack Kerouac), history and culture (ancient Mayan civilization) and odds and ends from family life. Sommer now performs recordings from the album and new compositions statewide.
Accompanied by his quartet, Sommer is ecstatic to perform within his jazz community that he describes as “unique and well-rounded.”
Peter Sommer and Quartet Master Class
Starting this fall, the Jazz Barn Series, sponsored by Jim and Wendy Franzen, went through a restructuring where guest artists now come to the UCA to work with Jazz students in a master class/Q&A situation. The clinics are FREE and open to public observation.
As part of the Franzen-sponsored series, Peter Sommer and Quartet will work with the Jazz studio before their concert on Nov. 9 at 4 p.m. in Rm. 204.