Jazz Guitarist Eric Essix to Perform April 6 at A Novel Tasting, BPL's Fundraiser
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| Jazz guitarist Eric Essix will be musical guest at BPL's A Novel Tasting on April 6. |
Accompanied by his keyboardist, Eric will begin playing at 5:00 p.m. for VIP guests and will continue playing for the main event, set to take place between 6:00 and 8:30 p.m. A Novel Tasting will feature a tasting of fine wines, locally crafted beers, and handcrafted spirits. Guests will enjoy elegant catered food, a silent auction, complimentary drinks, a 360 photo booth, and an outside cigar bar.
About Eric Essix
Over a period of more than 34 years and 28 full length album releases, Eric Essix has maintained a steady flow of new music that continues to push the boundaries of contemporary urban jazz. Gospel music and jazz have each played influential roles in shaping Eric’s musical career.
Growing up in Birmingham, he played for years in quartet gospel groups at the Ephesus Seventh Day Adventist church. As his gospel-driven recordings attest, he will always have an affinity for sacred music but can trace his passion for contemporary jazz back to his late teens, when he saw Jaco Pastorius and Weather Report perform.
“This was the kind of music I wanted to play,” Eric says. “My style has evolved since then, but I just loved the freedom of that style of music and the way those guys expressed themselves.”
Legendary guitarist Wes Montgomery was another major influence. Upon hearing Montgomery’s 1966 album California Dreaming, Eric says, “I had never heard anyone play jazz interpretations of pop melodies until then. I could hear that the guitar was actually ‘singing the melody. That's when I realized jazz was the natural style of music for an instrument to achieve the same emotions that a vocal could. I started playing guitar two years later and right from the start tried to make the guitar sing.”
In the late 2000s Erik Essix’ deep connections to the urban contemporary jazz genre inspired him to launch the Preserve Jazz Festival, the only festival in Birmingham exclusively devoted to jazz performers. As founder and executive producer for ten years, Eric invited headliners like Brian Culbertson, Kirk Whalum, Boney James, and Jeff Lorber to perform.
In 2010, Eric was offered a position at UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, a premier 1300-seat venue that hosts performances by top musical artists in a multitude of genres and from other creative disciplines. As Director of Programming, he has booked everyone from Herbie Hancock, Branford and Wynton Marsalis, and Pat Metheny to Diana Krall, Yo-Yo Ma, and Emmylou Harris.
In 2013, he was concurrently appointed Artist in Residence at UAB and continues to serve in this capacity, performing, teaching, and conducting workshops for college students and children.
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| Eric Essix just released a new album, STRiDE |
About STRiDE
Eric's recently released STRiDE features nine original compositions and a lush arrangement of the Bill Withers' classic, "Ain't No Sunshine," featuring Birmingham native and 2003 "American Idol" winner Ruben Studdard. Released as a single, the song has done well on smooth jazz radio, maintaining a solid presence on several charts and syndicated programs. To listen to the song, click here.
Although not in the forefront, the influence and sound or Eric's Southern upbringing are still essential ingredients in STRiDE. "Some things will always be buried in every note I play and those down-home elements that are inherent in my playing, are never going away."
Participation in A Novel Tasting will help the Birmingham Public Library provide the community with the highest-quality experience of lifelong learning, cultural enrichment, and enjoyment. Proceeds from the event will fund programs and services at all BPL locations.
SPONSORSHIPS: To become a sponsor of A Novel Tasting, please click here.
For additional information about sponsorships, please contact Catherine Frey at 205-226-3613 or send a message to catherine.frey@cobpl.org.
DONATIONS: To donate an item to the silent auction or to participate in the tasting, contact Margaret Splane at 205-226-3728 or margaret.splane@cobpl.org.
By Margaret Splane, Library Assistant, Development Department
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