Kirkwood Jazz Transit and RSVP takes the stage with special guest SONOS
An emerging a cappella vocal group headlines the next concert in the Spring Performing Arts series at Kirkwood Community College. The Vocal Jazz Festival will feature SONOS along with Kirkwood’s award-winning Jazz Transit and RSVP in an 8 p.m. concert Friday, March 4. The evening’s music will be led by Kirkwood’s Vocal Jazz director Ray Salucka.
SONOS is a group of six talented vocalists (Jessica Freedman, Rachel Bearer, Katharine Hoye, Ben McLain, Chris Harrison and Paul Peglar) swimming against the tide of jukebox set lists, doo-wop inflections and special attributes in their quest to take a cappella music to a new, more sensual, more musically adventurous destination.
“We do our best to defy stereotypes,” says Freedman.
Many music critics agree with Freedman. UK newspaper The Guardian commented on SONOS’ innovation of a cappella music by advising audiences to “prepare to be stunned.” Chris Douridas of the Los Angeles bellwether station KCRW-FM praised SONOS’ “inspiring repertoire, which is supremely delivered.”
SONOS performs modern selections with pieces such as “Everything in its Right Place” (Radiohead), “Gravity” (Sara Bareilles), “White Winter Hymnal” (Fleet Foxes), “Stacks” (Bon Iver) “Oh What a World” (Rufus Wainwright), “Joga” (Björk) and “Come Here Boy (Imogen Heap) included on their debut album SonoSongs produced by the groups own Chris Harrison.
Kirkwood’s vocal jazz groups have built a renowned reputation in college performance circles, with invitations to perform at jazz festivals in the Czech Republic and Switzerland in the past decade. The RSVP and Jazz Transit ensembles have also earned honors in competitions from California and Colorado to New York.
Tickets for the March 4 Vocal Jazz Concert are $8 for adults and $5 for seniors and students with current ID. Kirkwood faculty, staff and students are admitted free. For advanced tickets, please call (319) 398-5899 ext. 4331.