MONROE - Swiss-born jazz saxophonist, Sam Burckhardt of Chicago, and organist Stephan Grieder of Basel, Switzerland, will perform music from their CD titled "Nachtwandler" (Night Wanderer) at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 9, at St. Victor Catholic Church in Monroe. They also will be performing at St. James Cathedral in Chicago on July 7 and at Trinity Lutheran Church in Madison on July 12.
The concert is part of Turner Hall of Monroe's ongoing 2009 Swiss Heritage Series, in cooperation with St. Victor Parish. Burckhardt and Grieder are appearing in part through courtesy of the Office of the Swiss Consul General in Chicago. A reception to greet the artists will be in the Turner Hall Ratskeller immediately following the one-hour concert.
Burckhardt, a performer and composer specializing in jazz and blues, grew up in Basel, Switzerland. He moved to Chicago in 1982 to join the band of legendary blues pianist, Sunnyland Slim. After playing with the Mighty Blue Kings and Vanguard Aces, in 1999 he formed the Sam Burckhardt Combo, which plays regularly in the Chicago area and abroad. More information on Burckhardt is available at http://samburckhardt.com/
Grieder is a classically-trained pianist and organist who also plays contemporary music, ranging from rock to improvised pieces. Since 1989 he has been a music teacher and music therapist at the Arxhof, a work and educational juvenile detention facility in Basel. He also has been a teacher and director of the Musikwerkstatt Basel (Basel Music Workshop) since 1991. Grieder and Burckhardt first played together in 2002 at the Basel Cathedral, and have been doing annual duet concerts ever since. This is the first time the two will be performing together in the United States.
Admission to the concert is a $5 suggested minimum free-will donation. St. Victor Catholic Church, located at 1760 14th St., is air-conditioned and handicapped-accessible. More information is available at www.TurnerHallofMonroe.org.
The concert is part of Turner Hall of Monroe's ongoing 2009 Swiss Heritage Series, in cooperation with St. Victor Parish. Burckhardt and Grieder are appearing in part through courtesy of the Office of the Swiss Consul General in Chicago. A reception to greet the artists will be in the Turner Hall Ratskeller immediately following the one-hour concert.
Burckhardt, a performer and composer specializing in jazz and blues, grew up in Basel, Switzerland. He moved to Chicago in 1982 to join the band of legendary blues pianist, Sunnyland Slim. After playing with the Mighty Blue Kings and Vanguard Aces, in 1999 he formed the Sam Burckhardt Combo, which plays regularly in the Chicago area and abroad. More information on Burckhardt is available at http://samburckhardt.com/
Grieder is a classically-trained pianist and organist who also plays contemporary music, ranging from rock to improvised pieces. Since 1989 he has been a music teacher and music therapist at the Arxhof, a work and educational juvenile detention facility in Basel. He also has been a teacher and director of the Musikwerkstatt Basel (Basel Music Workshop) since 1991. Grieder and Burckhardt first played together in 2002 at the Basel Cathedral, and have been doing annual duet concerts ever since. This is the first time the two will be performing together in the United States.
Admission to the concert is a $5 suggested minimum free-will donation. St. Victor Catholic Church, located at 1760 14th St., is air-conditioned and handicapped-accessible. More information is available at www.TurnerHallofMonroe.org.