Soundwaves is pleased to present two weeks of strings at the Westport Community Concert Series at Ballard Park. The kick off will be this Thursday July 31st with the Meadowmount School of Music featuring a series of string quartets.

Next Thursday August 7th, critically acclaimed violinist Sara Caswell, the virtuosic mandolin player Joe Brent and celebrated bass player Shawn Conley will bring their celebrated trio ‘9 Horses’ to the pavilion. Local favorites, Staber & Chasnoff will be opening the night with their vocal duo on guitar and mandolin.

About 9 Horses

9 horses is comprised of Joe Brent (mandolin), Sara Caswell (violin), and Shawn Conley (bass), leading lights on their instruments who create a unique and gorgeous blend of instrumental virtuosity. Brent’s indie-pop sensibility, combined with Caswell’s jazz-inspired lyricism and Conley’s extraordinary virtuosity, is at once a breathtaking display of color, melody, and rhythmic drive.

Preview this incredible music here:

Sara Caswell, recognized as a “Rising Star” in the 2013 DownBeat Magazine Critics and Readers Polls and as one of the top jazz violinists in both the 2011 and 2012 JazzTimes Readers Poll, has toured extensively with Grammy winners bassist/vocalist Esperanza Spalding and violinist Mark O’Connor, soloed numerous times in Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops, and performed and/or recorded with many artists including Regina Carter, Fred Hersch, Alan Ferber, Fabian Almazan, Nadje Noordhuis, Gene Bertoncini, and Skitch Henderson.

Says O’Connor: “Most good violinists will never experience what Sara creates with her instrument. It is beautifully refined emotion that lifts the spirit and at the same time, crystallizes for me this thought: jazz violin could really have something to offer again.”

Joe Brent, a graduate of Berklee College of Music, also studied the mandolin in Italy before relocating back to New York City. He was a longtime member of pop sensation Regina Spektor’s touring ensemble, and has performed and recorded with Woody Allen, Jewel, Gary Smulyan, and Stephane Grappelli. Simultaneously, he has maintained a career in classical music, having performed as soloist with the Chicago Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, The Boston Symphony, and countless others.

Music journalist Don von Schrilz said, “There has probably never been a mandolin player with better technical skills, and he matches that with an enthusiasm for every imaginable role a mandolin can fulfill,” and he has been described as, “One of the truly exceptional musicians of his generation,” by David McGee of The Bluegrass Special.

Shawn Conley grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii. While in high school, he won a position in the Honolulu Symphony, and both the State and Southwest divisions of the MTNA solo string competition. He continued his studies at Rice University with Paul Ellison where he received both bachelors and masters degrees in music performance. Shawn also won a Wagoner fellowship to study in Paris with legendary bassist and pedagogue François Rabbath, earning both performance and teaching diplomas. Shawn has attended many prestigious summer festivals including The Tanglewood Music Center, The Henry Mancini Institute, Domaine Forget Academy. Along with teaching privately, Shawn has been on the faculty of the Hawaii Contrabass festival for its past two sessions, in 06’ and 08’. In 2007 he was the third place winner at the International Society of Bassist Scott LaFaro Jazz competition. Shawn currently lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Together, 9 horses weaves a broad musical tapestry, using the delicate strands of folk music and the incendiary embers of jazz and rock. Drawing material from artists as diverse as Stevie Wonder, Astor Piazzolla, and Weezer, along with original compositions reflecting their diverse backgrounds, Brent and Caswell are a musical experience not to be missed.

To learn more about 9 Horses please visit www.josephbrent.com/9horses/

About Soundwaves

The 2014 summer series continues at 7:30 every Thursday night through August 28th on the hillside amphitheater overlooking Lake Champlain, known as the Ballard Park Performance Pavilion. Bring a blanket/lawn chairs and a picnic.

To keep up to date with the concert series, you can “Like” the Soundwaves page on Facebook or visit our Tumblr: soundwaveswestport.tumblr.com

Concert lineup continues as follows:

8/14 Michael Chorney & Hollar General – featuring Brett Lanier, pedal steel; Magic City the songs of Sun Ra – 8 piece ensemble – featuring Miriam Bernardo (double bill)
8/21 Jason Lindner’s ‘Super Future Griot’ – featuring Nate Smith and Gilmar Gomes
8/28 Rebecca Martin & Larry Grenadier

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