Sunday, March 25th at 3 p.m. please join Adventure Music for a very special appearance in the Underground Series celebrating guitarist Gene Bertoncini’s 80th Birthday during his 25th year collaborating with Western Michigan University faculty member, bassist Tom Knific. The duo will be joined by the virtuosic vocalist Sunny Wilkinson who just released the album “Into the Light.” This performance is held at LaFontsee Galleries, 833 Lake Drive SE, Grand Rapids
In January the University of Notre Dame Alumni Association recognized Gene Bertonicini’s outstanding accomplishments as a practicing performing artist with the prestigious Rev. Arthur S. Harvey C.S.C. Award.
This New York native graduated from Notre Dame in 1959 with a degree in architecture, then went on to become one of the world’s preeminent jazz guitarist. Notre Dame writes, “His technique and lyricism have won him international praise and accolades as the ‘Segovia of jazz.’ An eloquent and versatile improviser, Bertoncini has been heard with an extraordinary range of jazz greats, including performances and recordings with Benny Goodman, Buddy Rich, Wayne Shorter, Hubert Laws, and Paul Desmond, among others, as well as such distinguished singers and Tony Bennett, Lena Horne, Nancy Wilson, Vic Damone and Eydie Gorme.
“A prolific and popular studio musician, Bertoncini honed his professional chops as a member of the Tonight Show band during Johnny Carson’s tenure, and he has worked with composers and arrangers such as Lalo Schifrin and Michel Legrand and has performed with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. In addition to an active performing and recording schedule, Bertoncini teaches at the Eastman School of Music and Williams Patterson University.”
“It seems only beautiful sounds emanate from Gene Bertoncini’s guitar,” wrote New Yorker.
More information at genebertoncini.com.
Take a listen here: Gene Bertoncini “A Medley of Standards”
