UNC Asheville's Concerts on the Quad Series Continues June 27;
Renowned Jazz Vocalist Kendra Shank to Perform

UNC Asheville’s 23rd annual Concerts on the Quad summer music series continues at 7 p.m. Monday, June 27, with a performance of jazz standards by acclaimed vocalist Kendra Shank. This New York artist has been praised as “supremely talented, innovative and at the same time readily accessible” by the Village Voice, while TIME magazine has urged listeners to “get in on the ground floor: this lady is going up.” The concert, which is free and open to the public, will be held on UNC Asheville’s Quad and is co-sponsored by the Jazz Composers Forum and Call that Jazz.

Shank began her professional music career at age 19 as a folk/pop singer and guitarist in Seattle, but a residency in Paris introduced her to the influence of jazz artists. She soon began studying jazz vocals and gigging in jazz clubs. Her first album, “Afterglow” was released in 1994 to critical acclaim. This recording was followed by two releases on Jazz Focus Records, “Wish” in 1998 and “Reflections” in 2000. The last record landed on the top ten lists of The Boston Globe and Newsday.

Shank’s clear tone, powerful musicianship and elastic phrasing have won her rave review. CDNow has called her “one of the most innovative of present-day jazz vocalists,” and L.A. Jazz Scene named her “one of the top jazz singers around today.” She has performed across the nation as well as in numerous venues in Canada, France, Japan and South Africa. Shank has also been featured on NPR’s “JazzSet” with Dee Dee Bridgewater and “Piano Jazz” with Marian McPartland.

In addition to the concert, the Jazz Composers Forum and Call that Jazz will host a jazz vocal workshop with Shank on June 25-26 in UNC Asheville’s Lipinsky Auditorium. Cost is $200. For more information or to register, click on http://jazzcomposersforum.org/events.html or call 828/252-2257.

Concerts on the Quad is fun for the entire family. The public is invited to bring picnics, blankets and lawn chairs. Sorry, no pets allowed. With nearly 3,000 people attending each concert, lawn-chair seating will be separate from blanket seating in order to preserve sight lines; please look for signage when arriving on the Quad. Café a la Quad will sell hamburger and hotdogs, sandwiches, wraps, fruit, snacks, beverages, desserts and hand-dipped ice cream from 6-8 p.m.

In case of rain, the concerts will be held in Lipinsky Auditorium. No food will be served at the rain location. Location decisions will be made at 5 p.m. the day of the show. Patrons may call 828/232-5000 after 5:15 p.m. to hear a recorded announcement on line three about the location of that evening’s performance.

For more information about the series, call UNC Asheville’s Special Events Box Office at 828/232-5000 or visit the Concerts on the Quad Web site at www.unca.edu/summerquad/.

Media Contacts:

• Barbara Halton-Subkis, UNC Asheville Office of Cultural and Special Events Director, 828/251-6674
• Jill Yarnall, UNC Asheville Public Information Assistant Director, 828/251-6526