Noel Freidline and Maria Howell define chemistry. Musically they breathe as one, communicating almost telepathically as they explore and re-interpret some of the best music of the last 80 years. Always approaching the music from “the left,” Noel and Maria have made a name for themselves as they offer listeners something they have heard, but that they have never heard before. Combine this fresh musical approach with a rapport and witty banter that harkens back to a bygone era, and you have Noel and Maria in their element: on stage, thrilling an audience at every turn.
Here are a couple of our themed Jazz Celebration shows.
Check out our other Jazz Celebration shows under “Themed Shows”
The audience at a Ray Charles concert was an almost perfect cross-section of American culture, his fans representing every age, race, ideology, and preference in music genre. The unifying factor was Charles himself, and his timeless, universal appeal.
Catching Some Rays! A Jazz Celebration of Ray Charles explores that diversity, through song and narrative anecdotes. The program weaves its way through Charles’ life, music, and how he became the father of soul music when he combined gospel music with secular lyrics.
Catching Some Rays features many of Charles’ original compositions (“Unchain My Heart,” “Hit the Road Jack”), blues standards (“I Don’t Need No Doctor”), Charles’ masterful interpretation of the Great American Songbook (“Come Rain or Come Shine” “Hard Hearted Hannah” “Georgia On My Mind”), his take on pop tunes (“A Song for You”), Charles’ affinity for Country & Western (“I Can’t Stop Loving You”) and even his 1972 arrangement of “America the Beautiful”, at the time a daring foray for an African-American artist on the heels of the turbulent 60’s and the struggling civil rights movement.
Check out our official Catching Some Rays! A Jazz Celebration of Ray Charles video demo!
MORE videos from Catching Some Rays!
“Unchain My Heart”
“I Can’t Stop Loving You”
“I Don’t Need No Doctor”
“Georgia On My Mind”
“Come Rain or Come Shine”
A genius of modern music, Stevie Wonder is one of only three artists to have 20 number one hits (along with Aretha Franklin and the Beatles). And in so doing, his music has become the soundtrack of an entire generation. A musical renaissance man, Wonder can do it all. It could be argued that he is one of the most gifted and influential composers, vocalists, instrumentalists, producers and social activists of the 20th century.
Joined by special guest vocalist Adam McKnight (Elton John, Maroon 5), Noel & Maria present Signed, Sealed, Delivered, a jazz celebration of Stevie Wonder’s music, including a Count Basie-esqe treatment of “My Cherie Amour”, “Higher Ground” with an African 12/8 feel, a simmering jazz waltz arrangement of “Superstition,” and many more including “Signed, Sealed, Delivered,” “I Wish” and “All In Love is Fair.”
Videos of Signed, Sealed, Delivered
“Superstition”
“All In Love is Fair” feat. Adam McNight
“My Cherie Amour”
“I Wish” feat. Adam McKnight
“Higher Ground”
Check out our other Jazz Celebration shows under “Themed Shows”
