BELLOWS FALLS — Stone Church Arts presents “Cellos in Bellows,” three public concerts celebrating the cello in pop, jazz, rock, and folk settings. The concerts take place in Immanuel Episcopal Church, 20 Church St., with its historic architecture and warm, vibrant acoustics. All concerts begin at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 15, features Stone Church Arts Musical Director Eugene Friesen teaming up with jazz vocalist and pianist Peter Eldridge.
Eldridge is a longtime member of New York Voices, a globe-trotting jazz vocal quartet. Cellist Eugene Friesen has collected four Grammy Awards from his recordings with the Paul Winter Consort and, with Eldridge, will be performing a program of original songs and instrumentals.
On Tuesday, June 18, two modern cellists will take the stage at Immanuel Episcopal Church. Malcolm Parson is a multi-faceted cellist from Atlanta, Georgia steeped in blues, jazz, classical, and folk music.
He has toured with the Carolina Chocolate Drops and is currently the cellist with Turtle Island Quartet, a jazz string quartet based in San Francisco. Parson lives in Brooklyn.
Also featured will be singer/songwriter/cellist Trevor Exter. With a voice like Sting and a cello technique that channels pop and rock, New York City-based Exter sings and plays original songs and covers.
Third on the program will be excerpts from Eugene Friesen's solo show, “The Beauty We Love.” Inspired by nature as well as climate change, Friesen will premiere several new compositions on cello and electric cello using electronics and live looping.
“1200 Horsehairs - A Band of Cellos” will present their inventive repertoire for four cellos on Wednesday, June 19. Composed of four cello virtuosi from the Northampton, Mass., area, 1200 Horsehairs has developed an avid fan base with their rocking and songful arrangements and originals.
Also featured June 19 will be selected participants of Friesen's “Creative Cello Workshop” running concurrently with “Cellos in Bellows.”