Blood, Sweat & Tears co-founder to play at Clark

The Visual and Performing Arts Department’s annual Geller Jazz Series this spring will feature trumpeter Randy Brecker — seven-time Grammy Award winner and founding member of Blood, Sweat & Tears — as well as a concert inspired by climate activist Greta Thunberg.

The Randy Brecker Quintet will kick off the series on Wednesday, March 20, at 7:30 p.m. in Razzo Hall. Tickets are now available, and $20 for general admission and $5 with a Clark ID.

With a career spanning over five decades, Randy Brecker’s sonic explorations have resonated across genres, from jazz and rock to funk and beyond. As a founding member of Blood, Sweat & Tears, and later, the Brecker Brothers alongside his saxophonist brother Michael, Randy has been at the forefront of shaping the evolution of jazz fusion.

The unmistakable sound of this Grammy Award-winning trumpeter and flugelhornist can be heard on iconic recordings from Horace Silver and Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers to Steely Dan, Bruce Springsteen, and Frank Zappa. Whether collaborating with legends or leading his own ensembles, Brecker continues to captivate audiences with his impeccable technique, soulful improvisations, and innate ability to connect through the language of music.

Brecker’s set will feature Ada Rovatti on saxophone. A veteran of major festivals, Rovatti has appeared and performed with an impressive and diverse list of artists and bands, including John McLaughlin, Joanne Brackeen, Tony Levin, and many others. In addition to her musical expertise, Ada appeared in the movie “Mona Lisa Smile” featuring Julia Roberts. Rounding out the group is a rhythm section of Daniela Shaechter (piano and vocals), Alex Claffy (bass), and Steve Johns (drums).

The concert’s opening set will feature Cuban drummer Dafnis Prieto, whose revolutionary drumming techniques and compositions have had a powerful impact on the Latin and Jazz music scene, nationally and internationally. As a composer, Prieto has created music for dance, film, and chamber ensembles, ranging from duets to big bands. Prieto has performed at many national and international music festivals as a bandleader, presenting his own projects and music. Prieto, a 2011 MacArthur “Genius” Fellow, will perform with a trio of masterful musicians and improvisers: Peter Apfelbaum (woodwinds, melodica, percussion, and keys), Martin Bejerano (piano), and Matt Brewer (acoustic and electric bass).

The Geller Jazz Series continues Wednesday, April 3, at 7 p.m. in the Higgins Lounge at Dana Commons, where Eric Hofbauer and The Five Agents will perform “Waking Up!” Admission is free, and tickets are not required.

Hofbauer was inspired to compose the suite by Greta Thunberg’s speech at the 2019 UN Summit for Climate Action. “Thunberg’s speech is so honest, blunt, and authentic,” Hofbauer says, “and I think of her as an icon and inspiration for someone like my daughter and the younger generation, who have to bear the brunt of what’s coming. In her delivery, there’s so much pain, frustration, and worry. It’s very moving, and I wanted to use that emotional space as a jumping-off point for improvisation.”

Hofbauer will be joined by Seth Meicht on tenor sax, Anthony Leva on bass, trumpeter Jerry Sabatini — who is director of Jazz Ensembles at Clark — and drummer Curt Newton.

Immediately following the performance, Hofbauer and Newton will present a talk-back on arts activism.

The Geller Jazz Concert is supported by a generous gift to the Visual and Performing Arts Department from the Estate of Selma Geller. The biannual jazz concert series pairs new and emerging artists with jazz legends, and supports audience development programming. Previous featured artists in Geller Jazz Concert series and recipients of the Selma B. Geller Foundations of Jazz award include Ron Carter, Dave Liebman, Tom Harrell, Christian MacBride, Ravi Coltrane and Joe Lovano, Trio da Paz, Bill Charlap with John Faddis, Omar Sosa, and Donald Harrison.

Selma Geller was a New York City philanthropist who died in 2007. She was deeply concerned about the lack of musical educational opportunities available to the current generation of students. Her gifts to Clark University for music scholarships and musical performances are a testament to her desire to bring the original American musical art form to the Clark community.

For further information, contact ClarkArts at ClarkArts@clarku.edu or 508-793-7349.