Jazz saxophone phenomenon and extraordinary classical string quartet come together to perform Getz' Focus

Lawrence, KS - infoZine- The Lied Center of Kansas, CornerBank and The Eldridge present Branford Marsalis and Alexander String Quartet to perform, among other works, Stan Getz' legendary arrangement for strings and saxophone, Focus.

Celebrated for its extraordinary interpretations of incredible classical composers like Beethoven, Mozart and Shostakovich, Alexander String Quartet will explore pairing classical and jazz music conventions with three-time Grammy Award-winner Branford Marsalis on saxophone to perform a traditional meets improvisational program that includes Eddie Sauter's significant work, Focus; a 1961 composition written for jazz musician Stan Getz.

Focus, in particular, capitalizes on the classical tradition of Alexander String Quartet contrasted against the jazz spontaneity of Bradford Marsalis. Commissioned by Getz to demonstrate how classical structure and the soul of the modern era are both legitimate and beautiful when brought together, Focus features Béla Bartók inspired harmonies, textures and melodic string quartet jazz material matched with improvisational saxo­phone music.

Founded in New York City in 1981, Alexander String Quartet's members include Zakarias Grafilo, violin, Frederick Lifsitz, violin, Paul Yarbrough, viola and Sandy Wilson, cello. Becoming the first string quartet to win the Concert Arts Guild Competition in 1982, Alexander String Quartet garnered international acclaim by becoming the first and only American quartet to win the London International String Quartet Competition, receiving both the jury's highest award and the Audience Prize in 1985.

The quartet has released a nine-CD collection of the Beethoven cycle, a three-CD album of the Mozart quartets dedicated to Haydn and a six-CD set of the complete Shostakovich quartets. Recently the group also released the complete quartets of Pulitzer prize-winning San Francisco composer, Wayne Peterson.

At home in San Francisco, the members of Alexander String Quartet are a major artistic presence, serving as Ensemble in Residence of San Francisco Performance and as directors of the Morrison Chamber Music Center at the School of Music and Dance in the College of Creative Arts at San Francisco State University.

Branford Marsalis, the oldest of the musically gifted Marsalis brothers, began his professional career in the early 1980s playing with Art Blakey's big band, Clark Terry, and Blakey's Jazz Messengers. Branford then joined his brother Wynton's quintet before forming his own ensemble. He has been musical director of the Tonight Show Band and has performed and recorded with a number of jazz champions including Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock and Sonny Rollins.

Known for his innovative spirit and broad musical scope, Branford is equally at home on the stages of the world's greatest clubs and concert halls, where he has performed jazz with his quartet, classical music as a guest soloist with numerous chamber and symphony orchestras and his own unique musical approach to contemporary popular music with his band Buckshot LeFonque.

The three-time Grammy winner has continued to exercise and expand his skills as an instrumentalist, a composer, and the head of Marsalis Music, the label he founded in 2002 that has allowed him to produce both his own projects and those of the jazz world's most promising new and established artists.

Branford Marsalis and Alexander String Quartet's performance is one of several jazz/classical-themed presentations in the Lied Center 2008-09 season including Metta Quintet, Imani Winds and Calder Quartet still to come.

VIP Sponsors: CornerBank and The Eldridge

Branford Marsalis and the Alexander String Quartet - Education and Engagement: As part of their residency, Branford Marsalis and Alexander String Quartet will participate in a new informal dialogue series exploring jazz and classical music crossroads called What's Up With That?, hosted by KU's Dr. Paul Stephens at the historic Eldridge Hotel on Thursday, Sept. 25. Other jazz/classical artists from the Lied Center 2008-09 season will participate in What's Up With That? including The Harlem Quartet, Imani Winds and Calder Quartet. The relaxed gathering is free and open to the public.

Branford Marsalis and Alexander String Quartet will also present a music workshop to KU music students.

Admission Information:
Tickets are available for the Branford Marsalis and the Alexander String Quartet being presented at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 26, 2008, at the Lied Center of Kansas. They are on sale at the Lied Center Ticket Office (785-864-2787 voice or 785-864-2777/TDD), the University Theatre Ticket Office-Murphy Hall (785-864-3982), SUA Office-Kansas Union (785-864-SHOW), and online at www.lied.ku.edu. All seats are reserved. Ticket prices are: adult $35; KU, Haskell students/children (child: 0-18 years of age) $18. Other discounts may apply: please contact the ticket office for details. All orders may be made using MasterCard, VISA, American Express and Discover.