Ted Rosenthal Trio Jazz at the Library

The cool strains of the Ted Rosenthal Trio will emanate from Wilton Library during the Hot & Cool: Jazz at the Brubeck Room concert on Saturday evening, Nov. 6 beginning at 7:30.  The group is comprised of jazz pianist Ted Rosenthal, bassist Thomson Kneeland and Matt Wilson on drums.  

Rosenthal has performed worldwide as a soloist, leader and sideman with many jazz greats, including Gerry Mulligan, Art Farmer, Phil Woods, Bob Brookmeyer, James Moody and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Winner of the 1988 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition, Rosenthal has released twelve CDs as a leader; his latest, "Impromptu," features jazz reimaginings of classical themes. His solo album, The 3 B's received four stars from DownBeat magazine. He has also been a featured soloist with orchestras including the Detroit and Fort Worth Symphonies, and the Boston Pops. Rosenthal is Artistic Director of Jazz at Dicapo, a faculty member at Manhattan School of Music and The Juilliard School, and a published author.  A recipient of three NEA grants, Rosenthal composes jazz tunes and large-scale works, including music for Uptown for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

Acoustic bassist and composer Thomson Kneeland brings a variety of musical interests to the table from classical counterpoint and 20th century chamber music, to Indian Karnatic music, heavy metal, and more. Growing up in New England, he began his formal musical studies with the clarinet and piano at age 7.  Studying classical and jazz guitar in high school, Kneeland was inspired to also pick up the electric bass. Approximately 40 of his compositions have been released on various albums with Kneeland as a leader or sideman and have been featured on NPR's "All Things Considered" and more.  Kneeland also recently completed two tango arrangements for the Sherman Chamber Ensemble, premiered in fall of 2009.

Matt Wilson became interested in playing the drums in the third grade after seeing Buddy Rich on the Lucy Show. His parents fostered his interest at this early age with a lean set of drums, playing music with his brother, and finally learning to read music in high school, but it wasn't until college that he found a real mentor, Dr. J.C. Combs.

The Hot & Cool concert series is made possible by a generous grant from the William and Karen Tell Foundation, with special thanks to Catherine and Ed Romer, and Tish and Chris Brubeck.  The suggested donation for the concert is $10 per person.  Registration is encouraged as this concert series is very popular.  Pre-registrants are asked to arrive no later than 7:20 p.m. to be guaranteed seating; waitlisted and walk-ins will be admitted after 7:20 if seats are available.  Wilton Library is located at 137 Old Ridgefield Road in the heart of Wilton Center.  For information, directions and registration, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org or call 203-762-3950 ext. 213.