Esperanza Spalding - a.k.a. the one who beat out Justin Bieber for the Best New Artist Grammy - played in Cumberland in 2009
This is just another example of why I cringe when people say that there's nothing to do in Cumberland.
-- Dave Kauffman, event coordinator
By Jack Kegg
for The Potomac Highlands Dispatch
CUMBERLAND, Feb. 16 -- Millions of middle school teenagers are up in arms these days. It seems as if their heartthrob, Justin Bieber, had his sure Grammy plucked away by a jazz vocalist, bassist and composer named Esperanza Spalding.
It was just two short years ago that the Esperanza Spalding Quartet performed to a packed house downtown at Windsor Hall, as part of Frostburg State University's Cultural Event Series Jazz Club, sponsored by Kauffman Music.
Dave Kauffman, who has been bringing in top-notch entertainment to the area for several years, recalled the concert by the future Grammy winner.
"This is just another example of why I cringe when people say that there's nothing to do in Cumberland," Kauffman said. "She was so talented, and besides her other talents, she has been teaching at Berklee School of Music in Boston since she was 20."
Esperanza was born and raised in the not-so-jazz city of Portland,Ore. By the time she was five, she had taught herself to play the violin and was playing with the Chamber Music Society of Oregon. She stayed until she was 15 and left as a concertmaster.
When she was 25, she found herself with a Best New Artist Grammy, disappointing hordes of teenagers in the process.
More good jazz is coming to Windsor Hall on Thursday, March 3, at 7:30 p.m. (The next day, Spalding is performing in Frederick).
John Fedchock, whom Kauffman labeled "the best trombonist on the planet," will bring his NewYork Big Band to Windsor Hall. This critically-acclaimed musician started his career with Woody Herman, who called him his "right hand man."
Fedchock has also toured with T.S. Monk, Louis Bellson and Gerry Mulligan's Concert Band. Aside from his musical talents, John also has produced several recording projects.
Tickets for the Fedchock performance are $12/premium reserved; $10/regular reserved; and $5/student with ID> Tickets are available at The Book Center, 15 N Centre Street, and Main Street Books in Frostburg. For a calendar of performances at Windsor Hall, visit the website or call 301-722-2284 or 301-689-5605.
About the writer
Jack Kegg started reviewing shows in the summer of 1971. His first "big one" was The Grass Roots at Allegany College on Nov. 1,1971. Jack also submitted reviews of Alice Cooper, Led Zeppelin, Neil Young and Kiss at the larger venues in Pittsburgh and Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
Over the years, Jack also covered the Rocky Gap music festival in eastern Allegany county when top country artists came to the area.
Jack's biggest thrill was meeting the Beach Boys - his all-time favorite group.
"The easiest performers to interview are the country singers, who are the most down to earth people I have talked to," Jack says. "I also interviewed big band leaders Guy Lombardo, Harry James, Woody Herman, Lionel Hampton, Maynard Ferguson and Buddy Rich. I like all types of music but lean toward 50s and 60s rock and roll."
A native of Cumberland, Jack is a 1969 graduate of Allegany High School and attended what was then Allegany Community College (now Allegany College of Maryland).
He wrote a music column for the Cumberland Times-News from Oct. 5, 1974 to August 2007, when the paper discontinued publishing it and other subject-specific columns.
The Potomac Highlands Dispatch
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Mount Savage, MD 21545
Photo courtesy Frostburg State University