George Cole, James Hicks conclude Manitou Music Festival
From staff reports
The Manitou Music Festival is celebrating its 22nd season of diverse concerts featuring jazz, classical, blues, folk, country, celtic, bluegrass and world music in some of Michigan’s most idyllic settings. The festival showcases regionally and nationally known artists performing in beautiful Glen Arbor.
On Sunday, Aug. 12 at 8 p.m. the Jazz/Swing guitarist George Cole will perform along with his trio outdoors at the Studio Stage, located behind Lake Street Studios in Glen Arbor. The rain location is the Glen Arbor Town Hall.
“Eurocana” is descriptive of George Cole’s musical genre. It is a celebration of the great American Songbook with inspiration from the Gypsy fueled jazz of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. The George Cole Trio includes the George Cole on lead vocals and lead guitar, the classically-trained talent of Echae Kang on violin, and Kaile Earle on bass and vocals.
Internationally renowned acoustic guitar virtuoso, Cole brought audiences to their feet a when he toured theatres in the Midwest and East Coast this past winter. Not a hint of halting the momentum as George and his new band bring music, style and outstanding musicianship to the Bay Area and West Coast this spring and work their way to Michigan and the East Coast for summer and fall 2012.
Cole, guitarist, vocalist and composer, is a consummate performer; bringing experience and talent to each show he plays. He is an unforgettable entertainer, musician, song writer and storyteller. Spanning genres and decades, Cole’s distinctive career path has been quite a journey. He has toured with Joe Walsh, recorded with producer Roy Thomas Baker (Queen and Paul McCartney), performed, played guitar and sang duets with jazz legend Keely Smith.
Violin player Echae Kang was born in South Korea to a music loving family. She was six when she began playing violin and studied classical music. She loves jazz — gypsy and straight-ahead styles — and it influenced her playing. After years of classical violin training she enrolled in the Seoul Jazz Academy, and then went on to audition and graduate from Berkelee College of Music. While at Berklee, she expanded her reach while still respecting her classical roots. She’s played with string virtuoso Mark O’Connor, legendary bassist Ron Carter, Grammy nominated vocalist Lalah Hathaway, and Academy Award nominated composer Alan Silvestri.
On Wednesday, Aug. 15 at 8 p.m. the blues man James Hicks will perform with this band outdoors on the Leelanau School Green, at the private boarding school one mile north of Glen Arbor. The rain location is the Leelanau School Student Center next door.
Quite simply, James Hicks is Michigan’s answer to BB King, Wes Montgomery and Albert King … James Hicks is a warm, versatile guitar/vocalist who guides you and the band through a lighthearted evening of blues, Funk, soul, jazz, Motown and R & B.
Please visit the Manitou Music Festival’s Website for information and tickets: www. Manitoumusicfestival.com. All Tickets are $15 (Children 18 and under are free). Tickets may be purchased at concert venues or by calling the Glen Arbor Art Association (231) 334-6112 or Lake Street Studios (231) 334-3179. The Manitou Music Festival is a presentation of the Glen Arbor Art Association, a nonprofit (501(c) 3) organization.
