Kimberly Norris
The Americus Times-Recorder
AMERICUS —
The Eric Mintel Quartet will be performing Sept. 22-23 at the Rylander Theatre, and they will be in Georgia for the entirety of that week.
“I love jazz because it’s always different,” said Mintel, the group’s piano artist. “Jazz allows the expression of new ideas all the time. The Americus concert will be straight jazz.”
Music to be featured in Sept. 22nd’s concert will include the group’s original albums Groundbreaker and 50 Years After ... A Tribute to Dave Brubeck, as well as newer music.
In the past, the quartet have performed with students from Georgia Southwestern State University’s (GSW’s) music department. Though the upcoming Rylander performance will not be a collaborative effort with GSW’s music department, the quartet will still be visiting the campus as musical guests for a clinic on Wednesday, allowing them the chance to interact again with the university’s students.
“Whenever we go on the road, we try to do workshops and clinics. We try to get the jazz education out there as well.” said Mintel.
The quartet have been performing together for the past seven years, and for ten years they have been coming to Georgia to perform their music.
“We really like the Rylander. The acoustics are incredible,” Mintel said. The Sept. 23rd performance will be the group’s fourth time performing in the Rylander.
The Eric Mintel Quartet will open their full week performing in Georgia with a visit to Darton College in Albany on Monday, and Tuesday they will go to Valdosta State University. On Wednesday, they will arrive on GSW’s campus and on Thursday, the band will perform downtown in the Rylander Theatre. Next, the group will travel to Savannah to perform Friday, and, lastly, they will perform in Savannah’s Jazz Festival on Saturday.
“Joining me will be Nelson Hill on alto and soprano saxes and flute, Dave Antonow on electric bass, and Dave Mohn on drums.”
Mintel stated that he and fellow jazz musician Nelson Hill are Yamaha artists.
“Yamaha provides instruments for us at certain concerts.” Mintel said. Yamaha provides the two artists with instruments, whether for advertising purposes or to promote music education.
The jazz quartet have provided special performances from churches to universities, and their music is diversified. They play either jazz, jazz and choral music or jazz and symphonic concerts, and they connect with their listeners on so many levels, from the classroom to performance halls and the personal space where one might listen to a radio or personal sound system. XM and Sirius radios, as well as other radio stations that broadcast jazz music, have featured the quartet’s jazz, and the group have also been featured in such publications as Jazz Times and Down Beat Jazz. In 1998, they performed in the White House during the Clinton Administration. The quartet are scheduled to perform during a private function for the United Nations in New York City for world leaders in music, culture and education this year.
Mintel shared a quote made by jazz musician Dave Brubeck: “As long as the music attracts dedicated young musicians like Eric Mintel and the Eric Mintel Quartet, jazz will continue to thrive and progress as a voice of freedom.”
Mintel added, “It’s basically what we’re all about as jazz musicians: making it accessible, making it fun and really opening people’s minds to this music.”
Mintel encourages everyone to attend the band’s performance 7 p.m. Sept. 23 in the Rylander Theatre. For more information about the Eric Mintel Quartet, visit their official Web site at ericmintelquartet.com.
