UNC Asheville Music Department Kicks Off Spring Concert Season with Two Free Shows

UNC Asheville’s Music Department will kick off its spring concert season with two performances in January. The first concert will feature world music, while the second will highlight jazz. Both concerts are free and open to the public.

The sounds of world music will fill UNC Asheville's Lipinsky Auditorium at 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, as singer-songwriter Chris Rosser and percussionist River Guerguerian perform original tunes.

Rosser, a North Carolina native, has released two solo recordings on ISG Records, “The Holy Fool” (2000) and “Archaeology” (1998). He has won songwriting contests at the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival and Merle Watson Festival and was awarded a 2003 Songwriter/Composer fellowship from the N.C. Arts Council. With the help of a 1999 WNC Regional Artists grant, Rosser studied Hindustani classical music in California with the acclaimed Indian musician Ali Akbar Khan.

Guerguerian, a Canadian native, has performed or recorded with a wide array of groups, including the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Tibetan Singing Bowl Ensemble, Chuck Berry, Sophie B. Hawkins and Ziggy Marley. He has recorded on more than 70 albums and film soundtracks, including the John Cage documentary film, “I Have Nothing to Say and I Am Saying It.” In addition, Guerguerian has performed at music festivals in Berlin, Moscow, Rome, Edinburgh, Hong Kong, Barcelona, Greece and Istanbul.

The popular Tim Haden Jazz Quartet will perform at 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, in UNC Asheville’s Lipinsky Auditorium. Jazz guitarist Haden will be joined by Keith Davis on piano, Michael Holstein on bass, and Sonny Thornton on drums. A discussion focusing on various jazz forms will follow the concert.

Haden, a graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music, has studied with Pat Martino, Jack Petersen, John Abercrombie, and Mike Goodrick and has performed with jazz artists Keith Jarret, Maynard Ferguson, George Benson, and Stanley Clarke. While a studio musician for Motown Records, Haden recorded and played with such artists as Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye and Chuck Jackson. He currently serves as jazz guitar instructor at Clemson University, North Greenville College and UNC Asheville and performs with the acclaimed jazz guitar trio Triad.

For more information, call UNC Asheville’s Music Department at 828/251-6432.

Media Contacts:

• UNC Asheville Music Department, 828/251-6432
• Jill Yarnall, UNC Asheville Public Information Assistant Director, 828/251-6526