The Melanthium Ensemble joins us for their 2nd annual program of all-original music set to actor Peter Coyote’s poems, along with the premier of several new pieces including “Savannah,” featuring percussionist Ward Spangler on marimba.
The Melanthium Ensemble is a group of five accomplished veterans of the Bay Area music scene. Led by Lew Richmond, its composer and pianist, the Ensemble plays an all-original repertoire of Lew’s compositions, an eclectic blend which they call “Chamber Fusion,” that includes elements of contemporary classical, jazz, and blues styles. The Ensemble also specializes in film scores, and is currently under contract to produce original music for two documentary films.
*Please note Peter Coyote regrets he will not be in attendance for the event – he has been called out of town.
ABOUT THE MUSICIANS
Craig Fry, Violin
Craig is a versatile violinist who has performed in numerous musical settings. His musical experiences include classical soloist, symphony orchestra, vintage jazz, klezmer and studio musician just to name a few. He was featured soloist with the Berkeley Symphony in the world premier of David Sheinfeld’s “The Earth is a Sounding Board.” Currently Craig works as Composer and Senior Sound Designer for Creativity, Inc.
Fred Randolph, String Bass
Fred has an impressive list of top-notch groups and venues for whom he has performed and recorded. He is well-seasoned artist who is often the ”go to guy” when bands need to do a studio recording. ” As well as playing on many recordings he has composed original music and performed on two of his own CDs, Learning Curve and New Day both of which have received high accolades in the music world.
Lew Richmond, Piano
Lew is the principal composer and pianist for Melanthium. A number of his works have been performed on public radio including his composition, Gabriel’s Trumpet, which was premiered in live performance on KQED’s “West Coast Weekend” by the California Brass Quintet. Lew is a classically trained pianist and composer. He studied composition with Leon Kirchner at Harvard University and piano with Russell Sherman and Edward Steuermann.
Jay Rizzetto, Trumpet
Jay has a Master of Music degree from New England Conservatory, a Bachelor of Music from the University of Massachusetts. As a postgraduate, he was a fellow at the Institute for Advanced Musical Studies in Switzerland and completed postgraduate studies in conducting at the Eastman School of Music. Jay has performed in many genres of music, from the “Three Degrees “ to original broadway musicals to thirty years with the San Francisco Ballet.He has performed with many of the world’s musical icons including Aaron Copland, Frank Sinatra, Luciano Pavarotti, Krysztof Penderecki, and Arturo Sandoval to name but a few.
Ward Spangler, Percussion
Ward is an active musician throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, performing diverse styles of music. He is Principal Percussionist with the Berkeley Symphony, Oakland East Bay Symphony, Fremont Symphony, and is a member of the Marin Symphony. Ward is also a member of the Cabrillo Music Festival of Contemporary Music, performing as Principal Percussionist with conductors Dennis Russell Davies, John Adams, and Marin Alsop. He has also performed with the San Francisco Symphony, California Symphony, and the Santa Rosa Symphony. Ward is currently on the faculty at the Oakland School for the Arts teaching drums and percussion to middle and high school students.
