The first of the March nor’easters forced the postponement of Rio Clemente’s March 2, 2018 concert at the Watchung Arts Center, but that just adds to the assortment of concerts scheduled for the month of April.
On April 7, the WAC audience will be entertained by the Scheuble family: young pianist, Leonieke, her vocalist sister, Natasha, and their father, drummer Nick Scheuble, joined by bassist Ted Givens. The following weekend features two performances: jazz pianist Rio Clemente’s rescheduled concert on Friday, April 13, and a folk music performance by Silk City on Saturday. April 14. A Sunday afternoon classical music program by the Long Duo, sisters Beatrice and Christina Long, on April 22, in celebration of Earth Day, closes out the month. All four concerts will include a dessert reception offering an opportunity to meet the performers. The April 22 concert is at 4 p.m.; the other three programs start at 8 p.m.
Leonieke Scheuble was just 10-years-old when jazz great Dr. Lonnie Smith was shown a clip of her playing piano and gifted her with a Hammond organ. Three years later, she would go on to win Best Up and Coming Young Artist at the 2015 Hot House Fan Decision Awards. She has appeared previously at the WAC on several occasions, most recently in the April 2017 Let Us Entertain You variety show. Leonieke’s sister, Natasha, an opera major in her junior year at SUNY Purchase, was a first violinist with the New Jersey Youth Orchestra and a ballet student of Warren Lynch-former principal dancer of the Boston Ballet. Aside from her operatic roles in college, Natasha has been a featured jazz vocalist at many NY/NJ venues including Trumpets, Shanghai Jazz, DiMenna Center, and Symphony Space. Their father drummer Nick Scheuble has performed and/or recorded with Wynton Marsalis and a host of other jazz greats. Nick has performed at Lincoln Center, Birdland, The Village Gate, and other noted venues throughout America and Europe.
Pianist Rio Clemente, a perennial Watchung Arts Center favorite, is back for his second concert of the 2017-18 season. Known as “the Bishop of Jazz,” master pianist Clemente draws the audience up in a musical embrace and then takes them on an extraordinary journey of fanciful melodies and scintillating rhythms. Clemente mixes a strong classical background with a rich knowledge of jazz history, and then adds an amazing sense of creativity and interpretation. The result is a smorgasbord of music that is different from others, and nearly always produces a standing ovation and cries for “more.” A native of Morristown, Clemente is New Jersey’s own jewel of the jazz world. He is a member of the Morristown Hall of Fame, was named by the NJ Council of the Arts as an Outstanding Professional of the Year and has been recognized as one of the Top 40 New Jerseyans by the New Jersey Monthly, as well as being selected for Who’s Who in America.
Silk City’s sound is as unique as their repertoire. Mandolin, guitar, bass, and vocals deliver hard-driving roots music and bluegrass along with a wide variety of other styles to enrapture acoustic music lovers. The trio features Barry Mitterhoff’s stellar mandolin stylings, Danny Weiss’ heartfelt guitar and vocals and the rhythmic pulse of bass master Larry Cohen. The beautiful North Carolina “roots” sound of Mary Olive Smith’s vocals combine with Danny’s smoky baritone for some beautiful, duets and the quartet rocks with an infectious energy. Get ready for good times with Silk City’s great tunes, hot picking, dynamic singing and an irresistible mix of bluegrass and rockin’ honky tonk, roots/ county, western swing and original music.
Pianists Beatrice and Christina Long will present a selection of pieces celebrating nature, in honor of Earth Day. As one of the most sought-after piano duos, the Long Duo was hailed as artists “who bring new life to duo piano recitals” (The Washington Post); and “superb performers” (Audiophile Audition). Long Duo performed in venues on three continents, including Alice Tully Hall Lincoln Center, Weill Recital Hall Carnegie Hall, National Concert Hall in Taiwan, Dallas Museum of Arts, Phillips Gallery in Washington D.C., Spoleto Festival, International Piano Series in Charleston, Grand Theatre (Hangzhou) and Xinghai Theatre (Guangzhou) in China, and Jordan Hall in Boston among others.
The Watchung Arts Center, located at 18 Stirling Road in Watchung, New Jersey, on the Watchung Circle, is a multi-disciplinary arts facility serving Watchung, the surrounding communities and the Tri-State Area. To obtain more information about upcoming performances, classes and workshops, and monthly art exhibitions, please visit WatchungArts.org or call 908-753-0190. Tickets for our concerts can be purchased online at watchungartscenter.eventbrite.com. Tickets may also be purchased by mail, or in person during our office hours.
(above) Scheuble Family
(above) Rio Clemente
(above) Silk City
(above) Long Duo
