Tracy Silverman Project and Bach to the Future featuring Billy Barnett and Kendrick Smith
Tracy Silverman Project:
A pioneer of the electric violin and an architect of contemporary string playing, Tracy Silverman is a legend in the string world. Former first violinist with the groundbreaking Turtle Island String Quartet and hailed as “the greatest living exponent of the electric violin” by the BBC, Silverman’s solo looping shows have earned him a loyal fan base and an NPR Tiny Desk Concert. His longstanding duo with 5-time Grammy winner Roy “Futureman” Wooten resulted in their “Live From the Matthews Opera House” album and Wooten is featured in the newly assembled Tracy Silverman Project, which also features Silverman’s son Toby on guitar.
Solo, duo or with his quartet, Tracy Silverman’s genre-blending creativity and virtuosity dips into creative reworkings of Stevie Wonder, Miles Davis, Pharrell, Santana, Jimi Hendrix and electric violin legend Jean Luc Ponty as well as an accessible mix of Silverman’s own rock and jazz-leaning compositions.
Bach to the Future:
The Classics - Electrified! Imagine the classics - Bach, Beethoven, Mozart - performed in exciting new ways... modern jazz, African, and Latin rhythms. Bach to the Future brings an exciting, whimsical approach to the most beloved music of all time, and some of the most interesting cutting-edge instruments you'll ever see. How about a Drum-itar? Or a 6 string electric violin that sounds like Jimi Hendrix? All four players are world renowned performers, best-selling authors, and highly acclaimed composers.
Billy Barnett:
Billy studied Jazz and Classical at SIUE, He toured with St. Louis’ legendary band Streetcorner Symphony, and produced 14 solo records. Billy opened for Chuck Berry, Yngwie Malsteem, Victor Wooten, The Rippingtons, Earth, Wind & Fire, Billy Ray Cyrus, Robert Randolph and The John Schofield band.
Kendrick Smith:
Saxophonist, composer, and educator Kendrick Smith was born and raised in East St. Louis. His love and gift for music was realized as a child during his grade school years, where a whirlwind musical career would begin. Kendrick attended Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (SIUE) on scholarship, where he began studying Jazz Performance under soulful pianist and educator Reggie Thomas. Kendrick has played as a solo act, and with his group, the Kendrick Smith Trio, all over the St. Louis Metropolitan Area. His first residency was at the Premier Lounge in St. Louis, where he played a weekly jazz matinee. As indication of his growing notoriety, he was featured and compared to jazz giant Charlie Parker in local newspaper, The St. Louis American, in an entitled, “Baby Bird Stretches Jazz Wings”. Other stages and venues he has graced include The Fat Cat and Smalls, both of New York City, Jazz at the Bistro, Sheldon Concert Hall, and Blueberry Hill, and Thurman’s Bar and Grill.
