Beetcafe.com - The Rockford Illinois Area Entertainment Guide
September 08, 2010
Concerts
Date: 02/15/2010 Eclectica's 'Virtuoso Groove' with Beloit's own Tracy Silverman Comes to Rockford on Feb 27th.
by Gregory C. Johnson gregor@beetcafe.com
A concert and clinic will be held at the Mendelssohn PAC in Rockford on February 27th featuring Eclectica. The group is comprised of three outstanding musicians: Kyle Whalen on bass, Roy “Futureman” Wooten on drums and Beloit’s own Tracy Silverman, one of the great talents that grew up in the local area, on his custom made 6-string electric violin. Eclectica has been described as a “Virtuoso Groove Event.”
I had the pleasure of seeing Tracy Silverman live for the first time at the Jim Brickman concert at the Coronado Theater in November. I was amazed with the music he can make with a violin. Brickman and Silverman did a duo together that night in which Silverman had a solo part. I have never seen nor heard anyone play a segment of Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” on an electric violin or any violin for that matter. Silverman has a talent rarely seen with the ability to effortlessly move from one style of music to another with finesse. It made me want to go out and learn a new instrument: the electric violin.
To say that Eclectica is a “genre-defying band” is an understatement. These three musicians take you on a musical journey that winds its way through funk, jazz, classical, rock and world music styles with competent flair. I think their band bio says it best; “Eclectica weaves sound-pieces together with a groove that is alive from the first note to the last encore, with sing-along choruses and creative jams that can lead in any direction.”
This is a concert that you do not want to miss.
Eclectica will be hosting a special Technique and Improv clinic from 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. before the concert. The clinic is open for all instruments and orchestras. Topics will include:
Beginning improv, improv games and the blues
Jazz arrangements and the improvising orchestra – rehearsal sessions
Getting your ensemble to swing – coaching session(s)
Jazz for classical players – the ABC’s of jazz style
Electric violin techniques and equipment
How to coach your jazz string ensembles – coaching session(s)
Improv games and how to teach jazz to young students
Grooving – rhythm and the chop technique
Those attending the clinic will get to have dinner with the band before the concert.
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