Ray Charles gets the good times rollin’
By Glenda Robinson, June 30, 2006 

Jazz-funk group Mo’ Ritmo headlines a jazz tribute to Ray Charles to be held at Teatro Ángela Peralta. Known for their playful originals like “Aldama Mama,” this quartet of Doug Robinson, Ken Basman, Antonio Lozoya and Victor Monterrubio put their soulful spin on the music of Brother Ray.

The Mo’ Ritmo musicians are joined by several vocalists, including R& B powerhouse Abe Zimmerman and Robert “Bobby” Kaplan. 

The group plays classic Ray Charles hits plus some of the more obscure tracks from his catalog. Expect several exciting twists on the more familiar tunes. “You may never hear “Georgia On My Mind” the same once award-winning piano virtuoso Ken Bichel gets through with it,” says arranger Robinson. “We’re not trying to imitate Ray note for note—it’s all about bringing something new to his music.” 

There will be more musical firepower from Paul Duffy on trumpet, Julian Mendieta on percussion and a special guest saxophonist, Tripp Sprague. “Tripp is an outstanding musician who has blown audiences away playing with Kenny Loggins, Smokey Robinson and Mose Allison. He’s going to make a huge contribution to this concert on sax and harmonica,” says Robinson. In fact, the concert was timed to coincide with his family’s second month-long visit to San Miguel.

And, since you can’t really have a Ray Charles tribute without Raylettes (those fiery backup singers), look for Kirsten Dehner, Wendy Bichel and Glenda Robinson (yours truly) to do the honors. 

The concert kicks off at 7:30pm on July 7. Tickets are on sale at the box office for 200, 150 and 100 pesos. Come check out the beautifully renovated Ángela Peralta Theater, treat yourself to a now-very-cushy luneta seat, and spend a musical evening with Mo’ Ritmo and friends and the Genius of Soul.

Jazz Tribute to Ray Charles
Friday, July 7, 7:30pm, Teatro Ángela Peralta, Mesones & Hernández Macías
200/150/100 pesos



Canadian choir stops in town
By B. K. Lake

The Mount Royal Youth Choir from Calgary, Canada, will give a free concert July 7 in Las Monjas Church as part of its first Mexican tour.

The choir has earned nine National Music Festival Awards in Canada and has won critical acclaim during tours of Canada, Great Britain, Europe and Australia. 

Formed by well-known Calgary conductor David Ferguson and now directed by Arlie Langager, the choir performs a wide, challenging repertoire spanning five centuries. “We hope to do two things on our tour through Mexico,” Langager said. “We hope to express our love and artistry for the music we sing, and perform for many diverse audiences who may not have heard music sung with our Canadian flavor. We also hope to learn from and experience music and culture from different places, meet people and use the touring experience to continue to help us bond and grow as a musical group.”

San Miguel el Grande Pro Musica, A.C., and the AnYél School of Music are sponsoring the concert, which starts at 7:30pm. Silvia Grosso, executive director of Festival de Música de Cámara, and Martín Reyna of the festival staff, have assisted with the promotion. A free-will offering will be taken, and the proceeds will help to defray promotional costs. Net proceeds will be divided among the sponsoring organizations.

Mount Royal Youth Choir
Friday, July 7, 7:30pm, Las Monjas Church, Canal and Hernández Macías, Donations accepted



“Singing to Mexico” choral concert

Music from Canada, England, Russia, France and Mexico will be featured during the central Mexican tour of Vancouver’s Christ Church Cathedral Choir, recognized as one of the finest church choirs in Canada.

Their Mexican tour includes performances in San Miguel de Allende, Querétaro, and Guanajuato, where they will participate in services and give concerts featuring a wide range of liturgical choral works ranging from Rachmaninov and Byrd to those of their conductor, Rupert Lang. 

The 25 to 40 skilled amateurs perform a large and varied repertoire of hymns, mass settings, motets and psalms in the regular worship services of the Cathedral. Uniquely, the Choir presents major choral works of Bach, Byrd, Durufle, Kodaly, Palestrina and Pärt within the context of Cathedral liturgies. In addition, the Choir often leads civic events and plays a major role in the larger choral community of Vancouver. 
The choir of Christ Church Cathedral (Vancouver) is one of Canada’s best choirs. In San Miguel, the Choir performs Monday, July 3, at 7:30pm in the Teatro Santa Ana.