Bach and Vivaldi violin concertos played with a jazz combo plus songs based on classical favorites like Für Elise and others! Features Mark Landson (violin) and Damon Clark (vocals) with some of the top jazz players in DFW.
Past Events
Open Classical takes classical music favorites and reimagines them as virtuoso Jazz pieces. With a combo of the top classical and jazz musicians in DFW, the effect is a fusion of Bach and Gershwin, an eclectic and vibrant experience like no other!
Inspired by a little known recorded collaboration in the 1930’s by greats Eddie South, Stephane Grapelli and Django Reinhart, Bach and Vivaldi violin concertos are swung and played violinist/composer Mark Landson with a jazz combo. Then, great melodies from Beethoven’s Fur Elise and Mozart’s Symphony in G minor are used as the melodies for jazz songs, performed by the stunning artistry of Damon K Clark, voted as best jazz vocalist in the Dallas Observer Music Awards.
Reviews of the initial performances have been stellar. TheaterJones said “Mark Landson and his Open Classical group have done it again—they’ve made classical music both innovative and fun”, calling it a “delightful performance” with “consistently excellent musicians.” CraveDFW said “Always innovative, Open Classical just raised the bar.”
Jazz Standards
Damon Clark and the Open Classical Jazz Quintet
Bach Suites and Two Feet Beats
Mark Landson, viola, and Abi Abel, tap dancer
2. Allemande (from Suite #4)
3. Courante (from Suite #1)
6. Gigue (from Suite #3)
INTERMISSION
Violin Concerto in A minor, Op.3 No.6
Composer: Antonio Vivaldi
Arranged by Mark Landson and Michael Nesuda
Violin Soloist: Mark Landson
1. Allegro
2. Largo
3. Presto
The Mirror
Based on: Symphony in G minor by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Lyrics by Mark Landson
Vocalist: Damon Clark
Rocketship to Mars
Based on: Für Elise by Ludwig van Beethoven
Lyrics by Mark Landson
Vocalist: Damon Clark
Beau Soir
Based on: Beau Soir by Claude Debussy
Lyrics by Paul Bourget
Vocalist: Damon Clark
Star
Based on: Intermezzo by Mascagni
Lyrics by Mark Landson
Vocalist: Damon Clark
Violin Concerto in D minor, BWV 1043
Composer: JS Bach
Arranged by Mark Landson and Michael Nesuda
Violin Soloist: Mark Landson
1. Allegro
Musicians:
Mark Landson, violin
Damon K Clark, vocals
Michael Nesuda, guitar
Thiago Nascimento, piano
Jonathan Fisher, bass
Andrew Griffith, drums
Abi Abel, tap dancer