Page 21 - SPIRE MAY-AUG 2024 9th Issue Digital Flipbook

SPRING-SUMMER 2024

EASTERN BANK LOBBY JAZZ
SERIES: PROJECT: SIDNEY
THU, JUN 06 @ 7:30PM
$15
B Y W O O D R O W B A V O T A
Mainstage Show. Join us for an unforgettable evening Sidney Akerblom is a brilliant composer, pianist and a
featuring the exclusive premier of ‘The Children of Hinnom’—a seriously nice person. When you’re with Sid, his upbeat,
mesmerizing fusion of jazz and symphony, defying labels and peaceful nature immediately captivates you. Behind the
captivating audiences with its transcendent melodies. Whether keyboard, playing his own compositions, you soon realize that
you’re a jazz enthusiast, symphony aficionado, or simply this man is a virtuoso. Welcome, Sid, and thanks so much for
seeking an enriching musical experience, this performance taking time to share with our readers a few details about
promises to delight and inspire. Don’t miss out on Project: yourself and your music.
Sidney‘s unique interpretation of this original tone poem, as we
invite you to immerse yourself in a sonic journey like no other! Oh my goodness, thanks for having me! It is my pleasure!
You are such a prolific player I imagine that you have been
ROOMFUL OF BLUES playing for quite a while. Did you have anybody musical in
your family? How old were you when you started with an
FRI, JUN 07 @ 8PM Instrument? Tell us about your training throughout the years.
$35.10 to $39 My mother was a pianist, I have early memories of sitting on her
Roomful of Blues, according to DownBeat Magazine, “are in a lap and banging on the keys of the piano. I think I started piano
class by themselves.” With their masterful combination of lessons when I was 6. The next door neighbor was a professional
jumping, horn-heavy, hard-edged blues and R&B, it’s no wonder club organist and he started teaching me how to read music and
why the great Count Basie called them “the hottest blues band later on about chords and jazz. When I was about 10, I received
I’ve ever heard.” Since 1967, the group’s deeply rooted blend of a drum set for Christmas and my cousin played the guitar, so we P R O J E C T : S I D N E Y THU, JUN 06 | 7:30PM
swing, rock ‘n’ roll, jump, blues and soul has earned it five formed a band and I remember writing a little melody and we
made a ‘song’ out of it and I was thrilled! Later I also bought an
Grammy Award nominations and a slew of other accolades, organ and in Brockton High School I played the tuba in band and How old were you when you first began to compose? What was
including seven Blues Music Awards. the name of your first composition and style of music?
piano in the jazz band. It was great!!! I also learned to arrange My father always got a kick out of the fact that when I was 6, he
for the jazz band and wrote some charts for the band. It was a bought me a tape recorder and I made up and sang my first
wonderful experience. Outside of school, some classmates and I
SATISFACTION: THE INTERNATIONAL formed a rock-band, and played stuff from ‘Blood Sweat and original song, “I Don’t Want to Go to the Dentist!” (Ha, ha) I can
ROLLING STONES SHOW Tears’ and ‘Chicago’ and it was my job to go home and figure out still remember the time of it! After college I started to write a
number of rockfish kind of songs with a jazz influence.
SAT, JUN 08 @ 8PM the horn parts and write them out. It was good training for me.
$35 Then I went to Berklee College of Music and I majored in Sid, you have been a working musician for many years. You
composition. I was heavily influenced by John Bavicchi, Herb must have an interesting story or two about the events where
“Satisfaction/The International Rolling Stones Show” is the Pomeroy, and Michael Gibbs. Outside of school, I studied piano
international touring tribute show to the World’s Greatest Rock and life in general with Charlie Banocus. you have performed.
& Roll Band. This Billboard & Pollstar highly rated show are During my last year in college I had the pleasure of working with
entering their 20th year in production with over 4000 a comic named Wayne Barrows. He impersonated singers like
performances listed to their credit. Their client list include the Sammy Davis Jr and such. We played at the Berklee
nation’s top casinos, performing arts centers, music halls and Performance Center, the Melody Tent in Hyannis, and the like.
corporate clients. Performing up to 150 shows a year, this highly Well, he knew the valet for the Manhattans. “Kiss and Say
acclaimed production showcases the most authentic cast & Goodbye” had just gone #1 and they were looking for a band
costuming of its kind. leader/musical director. I received a phone call in February
asking me if I wanted to join them, but my mother said no, I had
BETTYE LAVETTE to graduate first. Well, I thought so much for that. Three days
after graduation I received another phone call and the next day I
THU, JUN 13 @ 8PM was in NY working for the musical group that had a number 1
$43.20 to $48 hit!!! I was only 21 and was traveling through the states and
touring England and Europe with Harold Melvin and the Blue
Bettye LaVette, acclaimed as a soul icon by the New York Times and revered
by peers like George Jones, began her career in 1962 in Detroit. With hits on Notes. I especially remember the first time I played at Madison
Atlantic Records and appearances on Broadway, she's had a storied journey Square Garden, we were with the Commodores. Then there was
through the music industry. Her resurgence in the 2000s brought numerous the Winter Garden with Natalie Cole, the Apollo Theatre, I could
accolades, including Grammy nominations and Blues Music Awards. Her go on and on, but I’ll stop here! After I got off the road, some
latest album, "LaVette!", featuring songs by Randall Bramblett, showcases time in the 80’s I played in rock, jazz, and GB bands before
her unmatched ability to make each song her own. At 78, with over six landing a wonderful gig as the house pianist at the Ocean Edge
decades in the business, LaVette remains a vibrant force in soul music, From left to right: Sidney with Yahuba Resort in Brewster, which lasted 20 years. I also played many
performing her latest releases and beloved classics with her full band. Garcia Torres Marty Ballou &Thomas Arey times at the Kennedy compound for Rose, and Ted.
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