Concerts by the Creek is thrilled to welcome the Alma Brasileira Sextet featuring Lucia Newell and Mary Louise Knutson for a lively evening of Brazilian Jazz. This dynamic duo will be joined by a stellar ensemble of musicians — Joan Griffith (guitar, mandolin, cavaquinho), Cléa Galhano (recorders), Steve Pikal (bass), and Dave Schmalenberger (drums and percussion.)
This group will captivate the audience with a mix of Brazilian classics and original compositions, featuring works by legendary Brazilian artists such as Jobim, de Moraes, Mendonça, Boscoli, Menescal, Bonfa, and Pixinguinha.
This concert is presented free of charge and is supported by the Matson Music Fund. Reserved tickets are required.
MORE ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Lucia Newell has sung in jazz clubs, concert halls and festivals around the world and at home in the Twin Cities. She spent years singing background vocals on major label recordings, and can be heard on local and national TV and radio jingles, and on a variety of children’s and teaching recordings. Lucia has received special recognition from the Minnesota Jazz Awards and released the critically acclaimed CD Enter You, Enter Love with guitarist Joan Griffith, the recording with Soul Café, The Poetry of Jazz, Pablo Neruda meets Rodgers & Hart, and on Circle of the Dance with Alma Brasileira. Lucia’s Steeped in Strayhorn, is a collaboration with the highly charged sextet, Pete Whitman’s Departure Point, featuring the music of the great Billy Strayhorn. She is currently at work on a new CD of her own compositions and songs written with Twin Cities musicians.
Mary Louise Knutson has graced the Concerts by the Creek stage before as the inaugural artist of our music series and we are excited to have her back! A jazz pianist-composer, she has been called “one of the most exciting artists to happen to jazz piano in quite some time.” Her warm, inviting tone, broad range of emotional expression, and distinctive compositions have brought much recognition on the national music scene. Knutson tours regularly with her group, the Mary Louise Knutson Trio, which includes Steve Pikal on bass and Phil Hey on drums, whose music has been described by JazzTimes as “state-of-the-art piano trio finery,” and by the Star Tribune as “timeless, classic piano trio music, right up there with Bill Evans and Bill Charlap.” For years, she toured with trumpeter Doc Severinsen, former bandleader for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
HISTORIC ST. STEPHEN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
This event will take place in historic St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. This beautiful building was built in 1937 when the new Country Club District of Edina was forming. As the first protestant church in Edina, St. Stephen’s was and remains a true community church nestled into the surrounding neighborhood on the banks of Minnehaha Creek.
Signs will be posted directing you to the event location. View GPS navigation through Google Maps.
PARKING
St. Stephen’s does not have an onsite parking lot. Parking is available in the public lots connected to Utley and Wooddale Parks just West of the church. Street parking is also available. This means you may have to park a short distance away from the church and walk. We strongly encourage carpooling, use of ride services such as Uber/Taxi, and taking public transportation.
There is a bus stop directly opposite the church entrance. Bike parking is also available onsite.
ACCESSIBILITY
Due to the historic nature of the building, the church has some limited accessibility accommodations. We apologize for these inconveniences. While we strive to be welcoming to all, there are limitations within this historic space. If you have any questions about accommodations or accessibility needs, contact concertsbythecreek@ststephens.com or call 952-920-0595.
Here are a few details to know:
- A limited number of handicap-accessible parking spots will be available near the entrance of the church on Wooddale Avenue.
- There is an accessible entrance to the church on Wooddale Avenue.
- Most seating is in fixed pews – there are spaces reserved for wheelchairs but they are limited. Please contact the event organizer at concertsbythecreek@ststephens.com to see if there are wheelchair-accessible spaces available.
- A handicapped-accessible restroom is available.
CANCELLATIONS
Should an unavoidable circumstance arise requiring the cancellation of a concert, all attendees holding reserved tickets will be notified via email and we will update the event page on our website and social channels. We will also contact those holding reserved tickets with rescheduled concerts dates as appropriate.
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