"Montoya is a show-stopper...heartfelt singing and merciless guitar with a wicked icy burn. He is one of the truly gifted blues artists of his generation." – Living Blues
"One of the most prodigious and gifted electric bluesmen on the planet - a deeply soulful singer and incendiary guitarist [with] a seemingly endless penchant for invention." – AllMusic
Coco Montoya, the award-winning guitar virtuoso and soul-deep singer, says "Albert Collins taught me to ’Just play what you feel, be real about it, and enjoy yourself.’ And the old Willie Dixon adage, "Blues is truth" also perfectly describes the sering contemporary blues-rock vibe of Coco's show-stopping intensity.
Coco earned his status as a master guitarist and soul-powered vocalist through years of paying his dues as a sideman with Albert Collins and then with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, before launching his solo career in 1993. Five years of constant touring with Collins and ten years with Mayall turned him into a monster player and dynamic performer.
Shawn Mullins is known for his expertly crafted folk rock, instrumental rock, and adult alternative music. His influences range from the power-pop groups such as the Violent Femmes and the Indigo Girls to singer-songwriters like James Taylor and Kris Kristofferson. After a series of indie releases and growing buzz in the Atlanta music scene, Shawn’s critical and commercial breakthrough came when 1998 Soul’s Core shot him to fame on the strength of Grammy-nominated No. 1 hit, “Lullaby” followed by AAA/Americana No. 1 hit “Beautiful Wreck” from 2006’s 9th Ward Pickin’ Parlor. His song, “Shimmer” was used in promotion of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney and was included on the Dawson’s Creek soundtrack. His co-write “All in My Head” from 2008’s Honeydew was featured in episode one of the hit TV sitcom “Scrubs.” Mullins also co-wrote the Zac Brown Band’s No. 1 country tune “Toes.”
A Groton Hill exclusive!
Hailed as “opera royalty” and “one of the leading mezzo-sopranos of her generation” (OperaWire), Grammy Award-winning J’Nai Bridges is a powerhouse of vocal artistry.
Celebrated for her mesmerizing portrayal of Nefertiti in Philip Glass’ Akhnaten at the Metropolitan Opera and as a definitive Carmen on two continents, Bridges captivates audiences with her sumptuous voice and commanding stage presence.
World renowned rock guitarist Gary Hoey's first break came in 1987 when Ozzy Osbourne liked Hoey’s tape enough to fly him to LA for an audition. Although Zakk Wylde wound up with the gig, Ozzy recommended Hoey move to LA where he was certain he would get noticed. So he did – thanks Ozzy – and it paid off. In 1992 Gary’s cover of “Hocus Pocus” rocketed into the Billboard’s Top 5 Rock Tracks.
New York-born and Boston-bred emerging saxophonist, composer, and educator Gregory Groover Jr has already left an indelible mark in the jazz world, in a short period. Saxophonist Walter Smith III describes him as a “thematic musician, who's playing very much relates to the song. He plays with a lot of energy, and he leads with that. The heart is the most important thing – the direction and motion of what he plays is where he really feels.” Groover’s artistry seamlessly marries genres as he continues to push the boundaries of jazz while honoring its deep legacy.
We’re kicking off the season with a trio of crowd-pleasers that will fill the hall with the Vista Philharmonic’s sound – big, dynamic, and impactful pieces our musicians love to play. We’ll open with a bright, bouncy, and energetic curtain raiser by one of Maestro Hangen’s favorite contemporary composers, Adolphus Hailstork. Saint-Saëns exquisite, rich, and romantic Cello Concerto follows, in the deft hands of concerto competition-winning cellist Nathaniel Taylor, who returns this season as a featured soloist. Rachmaninoff’s second Symphony closes out the program with a powerful, bold, and exceptionally romantic symphonic experience.
HAILSTORK An American Port of Call
SAINT-SAËNS Cello Concerto No. 1, Nathaniel Taylor, cello
RACHMANINOFF Symphony No.2, op.27, E minor
The Catnip Junkies are a talented group of musicians specializing in the iconic sounds of New Orleans jazz, swing and brass band music to create a truly unique and unforgettable experience. They are the happiest, tappiest, brassiest band you’ll ever see. Not merely skilled players, they are also passionate performers who know how to engage a crowd and create a lively, fun atmosphere. From classic tunes to modern hits, their repertoire has something for everyone - a band of clowns coming to your town on a mission to make laugh, swing, dance and sing!
