On January 14, the Watchung Arts Center’s “JaZZ in the Gallery” series will present a concert by pianist John Colaiacovo. John has recently appeared at the WAC, playing piano and accordion, with “The Woodford Brothers”, but this will be John first solo appearance at the Arts Center. The following week, on January 21, the WAC welcomes “Acoustic Road”, a NJ-based acoustic rock and classic rock duo. Both concerts are at 8:00 PM, and each will include a dessert reception following the performance.
John Colaiacovo brings a unique, personal quality to his work as a pianist, composer, and arranger. His performance career began in his youth when he would rise to become a national prize-winning accordion virtuoso. At age 16, he studied guitar and theory with the late jazz guitar legend Harry Leahey, who eventually encouraged him to apply to The Berklee School of Music in Boston to study piano. At Berklee, John earned degrees in Music Synthesis and Music Education.
With ears and mind continuously open, John matches extraordinary technical proficiency with effortless beauty and freedom, as a pianist with several bands, as a music minister, as a teacher at his own school of music in North Plainfield and Princeton area, and especially as a solo artist — versatile, pushing, continually searching for more as player and composer. His collaborations as arranger, recording engineer, and performer on two distinctive recordings with Metropolitan Opera tenor Ronald Naldi have received praise from Gramophone magazine, Opera News, and other publications.
“Acoustic Road” specializes in the faithful recreation of the legendary music that helped define the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s. The duo, consisting of Jeff Friedman (Keyboard, Vocals) and Matt Robinson (Guitar, vocals), play classic rock favorites by such artists as The Allman Brothers, America, Beatles, CSN, Eagles, Grateful Dead, Rolling Stones and U2. Jeff and Matt both have had extensive experience as solo performers, as well as with other groups, before joining together as “Acoustic Road” in 2007. With their strong lead vocals, precise harmonies, solid musicianship and reverence for every song they play, “Acoustic Road” consistently succeeds in making audiences smile, sing along and have a great time.
Tickets for each of these events are $16 in advance, $20 ($18 WAC members, $10 students) at the door. Tickets may be purchased online at watchungartscenter.eventbrite.com. Tickets may also be purchased by mail or by visiting the Watchung Arts Center during office hours: Tues- Fri noon-5PM or Saturday, 10AM-3PM.
The Watchung Arts Center, located at 18 Stirling Road in Watchung 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.
(above) JaZZ in the Gallery: Pianist, John Colaiacovo will perform on Saturday, January (above) Acoustic Road will perform on Saturday, January 21, 2017, 8 PM. 14, 2017, 8 PM.
(above) Acoustic Road will perform on Saturday, January 21, 2017, 8 PM.
