Detroit Free Press Mark Stryker Section

COMMENTARY AND CRITICISM /
Mark Stryker

Pianist Leif Ove Andsnes will perform Saturday in a recital for the Chamber Music Society of Detroit. Simon Fowler

Chamber society recital to feature 2 stellar artists

The Chamber Music Society of Detroit presents a dream-team art-song recital on Saturday featuring two of the world's finest musicians in the idiom, baritone Matthias Goerne and pianist Leif Ove Andsnes. Moreover, the program consists of an unusual -- and unusually thoughtful -- selection of songs by Gustav Mahler and Dmitri Shostakovich, composers who might seem to inhabit very different worlds of emotion and sound, but should find heightened meaning for being paired together.

Apr. 26, 2012

COMMENTARY AND CRITICISM /
Mark Stryker

William Bolcom’s ominous ‘Prometheus’ proves riveting next to little-heard Beethoven piece

Beethoven’s “Choral Fantasy” for piano, chorus and orchestra doesn’t get performed much. But the enterprising pianist Jeffrey Biegel came up with a creative idea.

Apr. 21, 2012

COMMENTARY AND CRITICISM /
Mark Stryker

Azar Lawrence will perform tonight and Friday at Jazz Café at Music Hall. His career includes work with Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner and Marvin Gaye. Music Hall

Saxophonist Azar Lawrence to lead quintet at Jazz Café

For a long time, tenor saxophonist Azar Lawrence, who leads a quintet at the Jazz Café at Music Hall tonight and Friday, was one of those musicians whose name prompted the question: "Whatever happened to?"

Apr. 19, 2012

COMMENTARY AND CRITICISM /
Mark Stryker

Pianist Matthew Shipp will perform Friday as part of a trio with bassist Michael Bisio and drummer Whit Dickey. Lena Adasheva

Pianist Matthew Shipp to play Friday at N'Namdi Center

Vanguard pianist Matthew Shipp arrives in Detroit this week with bassist Michael Bisio and drummer Whit Dickey in tow, the same simpatico partners who contribute to his new trio recording, "Elastic Aspects" (Thirsty Ear).

Apr. 12, 2012

COMMENTARY AND CRITICISM /
Mark Stryker

The Knights, led by conductor Eric Jacobsen, will kick off a new classical concert series called Mix @ the Max at the Max M. Fisher Music Center.

New Mix @ the Max classical concert series takes a more casual approach

When the Max M. Fisher Music Center opened in 2003, the DSO promised to ramp up a full menu of activity in the new recital hall called the Music Box. The idea was that performances there would encompass contemporary classical music, chamber ensembles, jazz, world music and all sorts of other alternative programming, including spoken word.

Apr. 5, 2012

COMMENTARY AND CRITICISM /
Mark Stryker

Neeme Järvi, music director emeritus of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, returns to the podium for concerts tonight through Sunday. Simon van Boxtel

Former DSO music director Neeme Järvi to lead orchestra in offbeat program

Can it really be four years since Neeme Järvi last conducted the Detroit Symphony Orchestra? Apparently so. The DSO's beloved music director emeritus last appeared at Orchestra Hall in March 2008.

Mar. 29, 2012

COMMENTARY AND CRITICISM /
Mark Stryker

Pianist and teacher James Tatum's foundation, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, awards scholarships in the arts. A benefit concert on Sunday will feature his compositions. Tatum Foundation

Gala concert will benefit James Tatum's arts foundation

Pianist and educator James Tatum has a unique way of summarizing his place in the world: "I'm still vibrating," he says.

Mar. 22, 2012

COMMENTARY AND CRITICISM /
Mark Stryker

André Raphel will lead the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in this week's Classical Roots concerts. Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Detroit Symphony Orchestra's Classical Roots concerts to draw on spirituals

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra's annual Classical Roots concerts are designed to celebrate the achievements of black composers and performers in classical music. But this year's program appears to have a theme-within-a-theme: African-American spirituals.

Mar. 15, 2012

COMMENTARY AND CRITICISM /
Mark Stryker

Pianist Robert Glasper and his band will perform Friday at the Wright Museum. Mike Schreiber

Mark Stryker: Robert Glasper Experiment brings jazz fusion to Wright Museum

While there is no single answer to the question of what's happening in jazz right now, the Robert Glasper Experiment is a pretty good place to start. The group is more concerned with a grand synthesis in which jazz elements finds themselves channeled through the populist rhythms and vibe of today's urban vernacular idioms.

Mar. 8, 2012

Mark Stryker

Detroit Metromix

Click-worthy

With video

NFL DRAFT

GLORY DAYS

Pics of the Week

Buy & Sell

Odd news from USA TODAY and Associated Press

More: Cartoons | Animations

FOLLOW US