WINTER SOLSTICE CONCERT, with Philip Aaberg, Barbara Higbie & the Modern Mandolin Quartet, Abravanel Hall, Jan. 15; also Fine Arts Center, USU, Logan, Jan. 16.
In their fourth Winter Solstice concert, Windham Hill artists proved they have become an appreciated winter tradition in Utah.
When the weather gets chilly and the snow begins to fall, Windham Hill fans consistently turn out to enjoy music that celebrates the winter season - not just the Christmas holiday.
Featuring music of the season, pianist Philip Aaberg, singer and multi-instrumentalist Barbara Higbie and the Modern Mandolin Quartet provided an entertaining evening of music ranging from folk songs to classical at Abravanel Hall Friday night.
The Modern Mandolin Quartet offered a delightful repertoire of music originally written for piano, guitar, string quartet or orchestra - as well as works by contemporary American composers. Their interpretations from "The Nutcracker" are particularly charming because of the unique sound of the mandolins. The energy and technical brilliance of this group keep the audience on the edge of their seats. It's impossible to anticipate where the music is leading. Their rapport as a group is engaging. Adding piano to the ensemble enhanced the texture and overall impact of the music.
Especially pleasing to the crowd was the medley of sounds dedicated to changes in Eastern Europe. From Bernstein to Bach, this group's eclectic charm consistently pleases Utah crowds.
Philip Aaberg was introduced at the concert as the "Piano Wizard" - and the title aptly applies. He somehow manages to dance at the piano while playing - legs stomping to the beat as he hammers the piano with passion. His vigorous playing does not compromise his technical precision. His vitality and humor on the keyboard set him apart as . . . a "Piano Wizard."
Aaberg dedicated his rousing piece "St. Anytime" - appropriately - to Martin Luther King Jr.
When composer, singer, instrumentalist Barbara Higbie sat down at the piano after Aaberg, she jokingly observed that the keyboard "was sweaty" after Aaberg had finished his number.
"Idiot glee" is one of her favorite emotions, she explained, as she performed an original, fun-filled piano solo.
Higbie also is a gifted pianist, but her singing added immensely to the success of the concert.
She has a natural ability to communicate well with the crowd. She told the audience that when she was young, she only wanted one thing in life - to become a cheerleader at her school in Indiana. But fate did not grant Higbie her childhood wish. Instead, her family moved to Africa, where her father participated in Peace Corps activities.
However, fate turned out to be kind in the end, because it was in Africa that she studied under a master drummer and began her love for music.
She studied African music and pursued her music career further in France. Music, she has realized, is her talent in life.
She thrilled the audience with pieces from her debut vocal album "Signs of Life." The sensitive lyrics and her clear voice received enthusiastic applause from the crowd.