WFMT: Live from NEIU

Jazz ensemble Felix Peikli and The Royal Flush perform live from the Northeastern Illinois University recital hall for the NEIU Jewel Box Series. Music Vagado Roots Gerad: Coral Peikli: Skyline Gershwin: Summer Time arr. Peikli Grolnick: Nothing Personal Peikli: Nocturnal Peikli: Royal Flush Encore

iAN&ANi, Ian Maksin, cello and Ani Gogova, piano, perform works of Shschedrin, Ravel, Maksin, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Medtner, Rachmaninoff and Ginastera live from the Northeastern Illinois University recital hall for the NEIU Jewel Box Series. Music Scchedrin, In the Style of Albeniz Ravel, Piece en forme de Habanera Maksin, Variations on a Russian Theme for Solo Cello Prokofiev, Sonata for Cello and Piano in C major, Op. 119 Shostakovich, Sonata for Cello and Piano in D minor, Op. 40 Shostakovich, Three Fantastic Dances, Op. 5 Medtner, Fairytale in F minor, Op. 26 No. 3 Rachmaninoff, Moment Musical in E minor, Op. 16 No. 4 Ginastera, Pampeana No. 2

Clarinet virtuoso Jorge Montilla closed the Jewel Box season at NEIU on April 19, 2013 with a program of mostly Latin-American music. With pianist Kay Kim, Jorge played music for B-Flat clarinet on the first half of the program: works by Carlos Guastavino, Astor Piazzolla, and Arturo Marquez. After intermission, he switched to E-Flat clarinet – an instrument that is his specialty – and opened with the Second Sonata by Alfred Prinz (a work composed for him). The rest of the program held music by Guastavino, Piazzolla and Alberto Ginastera, as well as a piece for solo E-Flat clarinet by Jorge Montilla himself.

Pianist Susan Tang’s recital was originally broadcast on January 18, 2013 from the Recital Hall at NEIU. Susan is a new faculty member in the Music Department, and earned her doctorate in piano performance from the Manhattan School of Music. On this program: movement No. 3 “The Alcotts” from the Concord Sonata by Charles Ives; Mozart’s Piano Sonata No. 10 in C Major, K. 330; Book 1 of Iberia by Álbeniz. Then after intermission, two Nocturnes by Chopin; and the complete Carnaval by Schumann.

Matt Ulery, the Chicago-based composer and jazz bassist, appeared with his group on December 21, 2012. The program, “By a Little Light: A Winter Solstice Concert,” featured mostly original works from Matt’s newest CD, By a Little Light. Matt was joined by some of Chicago’s finest jazz players: Rob Clearfield, piano; Jon Deitemyer, drums; Zach Brock and Chihsuan Yang, violins; Nicholas Photinos, cello; Michael Maccaferri, clarinets; and James Davis, trumpet.

One of the highlights of the 2012-2013 Jewel Box series was the November performance by CALEFAX Reed Quintet from Amsterdam. Their program included a work written for them in 2007 - Libro de glosas, by José Maria Sánchez-Verdú - as well as arrangements made by members of CALEFAX.

The Manasse/Nakamatsu Duo’s 2004 debut in Boston immediately established the Duo as one of the great chamber music ensemble in the United States. They have toured to great acclaim throughout the United States. The Duo is dedicated to expanding the repertoire for clarinet and piano by commissioning new works, including the recent “Four Rags for Two Jons,” which is on this program. They also have several recordings, including the 2008 CD of Brahms’s Clarinet Sonatas and the 2010 All-American CD. Jon Nakamatsu was the Gold Medalist in the 10th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition; Jon Manasse has served as the principal clarinet of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and also teaches at The Juilliard School.

Bluegrass band "par excellence" John Reischman and the Jaybirds gave a stand-out performance of original songs, instrumentals and newly arranged traditional material. Band members are John Reischman, mandolin, Jim Nunally, guitar, Greg Spatz, fiddle, Nick Hornbuckle, banjo and Trisha Gagnon, bass...with all but Greg taking vocals as well.

Carolyn Paulin welcomes The Spanish Brass Quintet.

The April Verch Band joins host Rich Warren from WFMT's The Midnight Special.