Alvin Waddles, piano
Rhapsodising on Gershwin
Sunday, May 2nd @ 4:15 PM EST
(Rescheduled from April 25th, 2021)
This concert is generously sponsored by the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation.
From Porgy and Bess to Rhapsody in Blue, this tribute to George Gershwin is both a salute and an opportunity for singer/pianist, Alvin Waddles, to showcase his love and dexterity at the piano and like Gershwin, his ability to delight audiences with works in a variety of genres.
Rounding out Alvin’s legendary Detroit-based trio are the incomparable Marion Hayden on bass and percussionist extraordinaire Dave Taylor.
Tune in and experience Alvin’s impressive style and energy for yourself on Live @ the 415!
Pianist, singer, composer, and director, Alvin Waddles began studying the piano at the age of eight in his hometown of Detroit. He continued his studies at the Interlochen Arts Academy and the University Of Michigan School Of Music. After returning home to Detroit he immediately immersed himself in the rich musical culture of the city, benefiting from the diverse influences that would eventually shape his own unique style.
Mr. Waddles has worked in the Detroit and Ann Arbor Public Schools and currently serves as Musical Consultant/Musical Director for the Mount Vernon Public Schools, Performing Arts Dept in New York. He has also served as Music Ministries of several churches; among them, the historic New Bethel Baptist Church, Hartford Memorial Baptist and Hope United Methodist in Southfield, Michigan where he has served as the Director of Music since 1995.
He has been musical director and/or pianist for numerous theatrical productions including: The Wiz, The Color Purple, Dreamgirls, Chorus Line, West Side Story, Sophisticated Ladies. He served for a decade as Musical Director for The Three Mo’ Tenors, aka Cook, Dixon & Young and their touring productions and recordings.
He received rave reviews as a featured performer in the Detroit Music Hall’s long running production of Ain’t Misbehavin’. During the 2010-2011 season his diverse gifts were on full display when, within a two week period, he sang the role of Crown for Bolling Green University’s production of Gershwin’s ‘Porgy and Bess’ and played the composer’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ with the Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra.
Mr. Waddles has delighted Detroit music lovers with performances in a variety of musical events including the international Detroit Jazz Fest and the Detroit Festival of the Arts. He is the featured piano soloist in the often-sold-out annual productions of “Too Hot to Handel” in both Detroit and Chicago and can be found performing wherever music is celebrated from festivals to jazz clubs, and performing arts venues. Waddles received the 2010 Excellence Award from Detroit Musicians Association and the Detroit City Council’s 2015 Spirit of Detroit Award. This year he was the 2018 Artist in Residence at the Tuba Bach Festival in west Michigan.
Mr. Waddles’ engagements as a soloist and featured artist have taken him to a variety of destinations including Barbados, Beijing, Paris, Barcelona and Ghana, West Africa. He has been blessed to work with some of the world’s finest musicians including Robert Shaw, Margaret Hillis, Brazeal Dennard, Minister Thomas Whitfield, Aretha Franklin, Anita Baker, Placido Domingo, George Shirley, Marcus Belgrave, Jack Jones, Haley Westenra, Stephanie Mills and Tramaine Hawkins.
Marion Hayden is part of the great Detroit Jazz bass legacy. As a young protégé of trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, she learned improvisation, ensemble performance, repertoire and a deep appreciation for jazz and its creators. Marion combines these influences in a unique jazz perspective, creating a swinging sound with the bass which is both authentic and fresh. Her music embodies the spirit of tradition and adventure in jazz. Marion has been involved in countless ensembles throughout her career, including Straight Ahead and the all-female group Venus, as well as performing and recording with jazz legends while releasing her own work, including her solo album Visions.
David Taylor studied percussion performance at the University of Cincinnati/College-Conservatory of Music where his principal teacher was William Youhass. Other teachers include Salvatore Rabbio, Gordon Stout, and Tim Hagans. Since returning to Detroit, David has performed shows at the Fox, Masonic, and Fisher Theatres. In addition, he performs regularly with the Michigan Opera Theater Orchestra and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. David has been a member of Wayne Sate University’s jazz faculty since 1991 and has toured Europe and South Africa with saxophonist Chris Collins. He has been on countless recordings, including work with Emmy award winning composer/producer Joseph LoDuca. David has taught at the Interlochen National Music Camp. He is a Vic Firth Artist.
