Free Bridge Quintet: "It Might As Well Be Spring"
- Saturday, April 6, 2013
- Old Cabell Hall
- 8:00pm
- $15 General / $8 Students /
Free for UVA Students if
Reserved in Advance
The Free Bridge Quintet, the faculty jazz quintet of the University of Virginia, presents their spring concert, “It Might As Well Be Spring,” on Saturday, April 6th at 8:00 p.m. in Old Cabell Hall. The quintet will be welcoming the arrival of the new season, as well as the arrival of their newest member, Butch Taylor, who will be making his debut as the group's pianist. The first half of the concert will feature some of the group's favorite spring-themed jazz standards such as "Spring Is Here," Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most," and of course, "It Might As Well Be Spring." The second half of the show will be a musical reunion of sorts between members of Free Bridge and their new pianist. "When we first met Butch back in the mid-80's," says FBQ bassist Peter Spaar," we were all playing and listening to the contemporary jazz of that era...guys like Mike Brecker, Don Grolnick and Kenny Kirkland. After going our separate ways for all these years, we thought it would be great to play some of that music again."A Virginia native, Butch Taylor is best known for his work as a guest keyboardist/vocalist with Dave Matthews Band from 1997 to 2008, performing both on tour and studio albums. In the late 1980’s, he performed with the jazz-fusion group “Secrets” as well as Michael Brecker, Dave Liebman, Steve Wilson, Howard Curtis, Carlos Santana and many others. Throughout his career, he has been active and successful as a freelance performer, arranger, composer, vocalist, conductor, and producer. He received bachelor and master degrees in music from James Madison University and later served on their faculty. Currently, he serves as an adjunct professor of jazz piano at the University of Virginia.
The Free Bridge Quintet, founded in 1997, features Jeff Decker on saxophones, Robert Jospé on the drums, Peter Spaar on bass, and John D'earth on trumpet and flugelhorn and in 2013 welcomes Butch Taylor on piano.
Tickets are $15 for general admission, $8 for students and free for UVA students who reserve at least one day in advance. Tickets can be reserved by visiting artsboxoffice.virginia.edu or by calling 434.924.3376.