The Underground Concert Series opens Feb. 15th

[Lazaro Vega]

The Underground Concert Series debuts with “Contemplating the Heavens.”

The LaFontsee Galleries in conjunction with Adventuremusic.org presents a new series of improvised music concerts, “The Underground Concert Series,” starting Sunday, February 15^th at 3 p.m. with Grand Rapids first poet Laureate Linda Nemec Foster accompanied by music from composer/pianist Steve Talaga’s Nonet. Together they’ll perform Linda Nemec Foster’s poem cycle “Contemplating the Heavens.”

A string quartet plus jazz quintet join Linda Nemec Foster as she reads from her 2001 chapbook “Contemplating the Heavens” published by Ridgeway Press, in the unique surroundings of LaFontsee Galleries, 833 Lake Dr SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506;

(616) 451-9820.

In collaboration with Adventuremusic.org -- “Dedicated to the exploration of unique live music” -- the LaFontsee Gallery recalls their halcyon days of presenting live music in the 1990’s at their former gallery, The Underground Studio. Roscoe Mitchell, Reggie Workman, Nels Cline, Regina Carter, Ken Vandermark and the late great Fred Anderson are some of the stellar improvising artists who appeared there.

The “Underground Concert Series” will present a concert each October, then February, March and April. The second concert in this inaugural season takes place Sunday, March 22^nd at 3 p.m. with Charlie Kohlhase's Chicago Explorers Club featuring the Boston/Cambridge area leader Charlie Kohlhase on alto, tenor & baritone saxophones; James Falzone, clarinet; Aaron Darrell, bass; Tim Daisy, drums; and Russ Johnson, trumpet.

Recorded in 2006, “Contemplating the Heavens” unites music and poetry in a spiritual reflection on our place in the cosmos and the cosmos place inside each of us. The original studio recording, however, did not include Linda Nemec Foster reading, making this concert event a unique opportunity to experience the highly creative fusion of poetry and music.

Ticket are $20 in advance, $10 for students with a student I.D. and $25 at the door. Advance tickets available only from www.adventuremusic.org. The phone number at the LaFontsee Galleries is (616) 451 – 9820. The LaFontsee Galleries are wheel chair accessible.

This concert series is curated, in part, by Lazaro Vega, Jazz Director, Blue Lake Public Radio.

For more information about Linda Nemec Foster, www.lindanemecfoster.com

For more about Steve Talaga, www.stevetalaga.com

And to find LaFontsee Galleries please see, www.lafontsee.us/

Edited January 14, 2015 by Lazaro Vega