Diana Wortham Theatre partners with Steinway artist Michael Jefry Stevens for new Jazz in the Forum concert series

Diana Wortham Theatre in partnership with Steinway Artist Michael Jefry Stevens announces a new Jazz in The Forum Concert Series. The inaugural concert, “Celebrating the Genius of Bill Evans and Thelonious Monk,” is Saturday, September 14 at 7:30 p.m. and features Stevens performing selections from the songbooks of Thelonious Monk and Bill Evans, including Monk’s famous “Round Midnight” and the beautiful Evans jazz standard, “Waltz for Debbie.” All pianists performing in this jazz concert series play Diana Wortham Theatre’s Hamburg Steinway Model B.

This three concert series, presented in The Forum at Diana Wortham Theatre, is patterned after Concord Record’s now historical “Live at the Maybeck Recital Hall” jazz piano concert series. For the 2013-2014 season:

• Steinway Artist Michael Jefry Stevens kicks off the new Jazz in The Forum Concert Series with his concert, “Celebrating the Genius of Bill Evans and Thelonious Monk.” Saturday, September 14, 2013, 7:30 p.m. The Forum at Diana Wortham Theatre. Tickets: Adults $20 in advance or $25 day-of-show; Students & Children 12 and under $15; Package for entire three-concert series $51. Tickets/Info: (828) 257-4530 or online at www.dwtheatre.com.

• The Jazz in The Forum Concert Series presents “Now and Then: A Journey Through a Century of Great Solo Piano Jazz” featuring Dr. William Bares. Friday, November 22, 2013, 7:30 p.m. The Forum at Diana Wortham Theatre. Tickets: Adults $20 in advance or $25 day-of-show; Students & Children 12 and under $15; Package for entire three-concert series $51. Tickets/Info: (828) 257-4530 or online at www.dwtheatre.com.

• The Jazz in The Forum Concert Series presents “Dual View: An Evening of Jazz Piano Originals and Favorites” featuring Pavel Wlosok. Saturday, February 15, 2014, 7:30 p.m. The Forum at Diana Wortham Theatre. Tickets: Adults $20 in advance or $25 day-of-show; Students & Children 12 and under $15; Package for entire three-concert series $51. Tickets/Info: (828) 257-4530 or online at www.dwtheatre.com.

Over the past 40 years, pianist/composer Michael Jefry Stevens has been associated with some of the most important figures in modern jazz, including Dave Douglas, Mark Feldman, Charles Moffett, Dave Liebman and his long time bassist and collaborator, Joe Fonda. Stevens has been on the forefront of the New York and international improvised music scene, performing in Germany, France, Belgium, Switzerland, as well as Argentina, Mexico, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. He has released over 80 CDs of his original music and composed over 400 works for various ensembles, including big band, string quartet, music for voice, music for solo instruments and various small group compositions. For more information on Michael Jefry Stevens, and to listen to his music, please visit his web site at: michaeljefrystevens.com.

Dr. William Bares, performing November 22, 2013, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Amherst College, a Masters degree in Jazz Performance from the University of Miami, and a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology from Harvard University, where he studied with Ingrid Monson, the Quincy Jones Professor of African American Music. Bares spent ten years performing and researching jazz in Europe, and his book Eternal Triangle: American Jazz in European Postmodern is forthcoming with Oxford University Press. Bares is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Music at University of North Carolina Asheville.

Czech pianist, composer, arranger, and educator Pavel Wlosok, performing February 15, 2014, received his classical education in piano performance and composition at the Conservatory of Music in Ostrava in the classes of Zdenek Pecek and Igor Katajev, and in the class of Arnost Parsch at the Janáček Academy of Music (JAMU) in Brno, Czech Republic. He obtained his bachelor and master degrees in jazz studies at the University of North Texas in Denton, where he studied composition with Cindy McTee, jazz piano with Dan Haerle, and classical piano with Adam Wodnicki.

The new entrance for the Diana Wortham Theatre at Pack Place is marked by the location of the theatre’s new marquee between 12 and 14 Biltmore Avenue. Patrons enter the theatre through the breezeway between Marble Slab Creamery and Circle in the Square restaurants, and into a large interior courtyard for Pack Place with multiple glass doors to the theatre’s lower lobby and new box office. The Jazz in The Forum Concert Series events take place in The Forum off of the main lobby of Diana Wortham Theatre. For more information or to purchase tickets, call the theatre’s box office at (828) 257-4530 or visit www.dwtheatre.com.