South Pasadena Library Community Room
Tuesday, December 5, 2023
Time: 7:00 pm
Free parking
1115 El Centro Street
South Pasadena, CA 91030
Children: Free
Students with ID: $10.00
Admission: $20.00 per person
A Spark of Joy is a program of great music that brings the sultry voice
of jazz singer Sherry Williams
and the Fresh sounds of Speakeasy of Citrus College. This program offers the pleasure of straight up jazz by
Ms. Williams, and the great groves and moves of Speakeasy. Expect this to be a joyful night of
great singing that includes some holiday song favorites.
Just what is needed now!
Sherry Williams, Vocalist
Sherry Williams, singer has had the good fortune to rarely be out of work since becoming a professional singer. At UCLA, she joined the acappella choir and worked with the famous Roger Wagner and the UCLA Choir, both in Los Angeles and Europe. She has also toured with Debbie Reynolds, Andy Gibb, and the legendary Johnnie Ray, to name a few. Sherry toured with the late Eddie Kendricks former member of the Temptations but left the tour and struck out on her own, touring Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Bangkok. Since returning to the United States after her last Asian tour, Sherry has acted in films and on television, has worked extensively in and around the Los Angeles and Denver areas in important jazz venues, nightclubs, and festivals, and has recorded three solo CDs and two ensemble CDs.
In 1997, she released her first CD, “The Way, You Love Me”, to rave reviews. Her second release, “A Taste of Sherry”, was on the 2003 Grammy ballot and one of the songs was used in the soundtrack of the film THE CORE. After that came “You Must Believe in Spring”, again rave reviews. During 2010-2013, Sherry toured Germany and Italy with Markus Burger and Jim Linahon, again working in important concert halls and jazz clubs, including the famed Birdland in Hamburg. These tours have yielded one acclaimed ensemble CD, and two big band CDs, recorded with the Café Nerly Big Band. Sherry has worked with a multitude of jazz greats... Buddy Collette, Herbie Mann, Plas Johnson, “Sweets” Edison, Ann Patterson, Gerald “Wig” Wiggins, Al Viola, Herman Riley, Dave Pike, Eddie Cano, Lanny Morgan, Ross Tompkins, Earl Palmer, Bill Cunliffe, Andy Simpkins, Roy McCurdy, John Leitham, Jennifer Leitham, Ray Pizzi, Jim DeJulio, Paul Smith, Art Hillery, Terry Harrington, John Hammond, Roger Kellaway, Dave Benoit, Llew Matthews, John B. Williams, Tom Ranier, Patrice Rushen, Ralph Penland, Bob Magnusson, Joe LaBarbera....(& many more) Sherry Williams is first and foremost a singer - the 14-karat variety.
Theo Saunders, Jazz Piano
Theo (Ted) Saunders, a native New Yorker, has lived in California since 1985, but his musical career remains international in scope. Saunders' musical odyssey has taken him to Five continents and more than twenty-Five countries. He has performed in many of the world's most prestigious jazz festivals, concert halls and night clubs, with distinguished jazz artists including:Freddie Hubbard, Carla Bley, Charles Lloyd, Bob Brookmeyer, Sonny Fortune, Azar Lawrence, John Klemmer, Buddy Collette, Eddie Harris,Ted Curson, James Moody, Bobby Hutcherson, Teddy Edwards, Jack Dejohnette, Joe Lovano, Jimmy Garrison, Pharoah Sanders, Harold Land, John Scofield, Slam Stewart, Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, Jon Lucien, Reggie Workman, Curtis Fuller, Rashied Ali, Mike Stern, Benny Powell, Valery Ponomarev, David Schnitter, Hiram Bullock, Chris Conners, Morgana King, Roseanna Vitro, David "Fathead" Newman, J.R. Montrose, Brew Moore, Sonny Greenwich, Mark Egan, Wilbur Ware , Steve Khan, Henry Franklin, Carl Burnett, Jack Wilkins, Steve Slagle, Dennis Irwin, Roy McCurdy, Eddie Gomez, Cecil McBee, Rick Laird, Herschel Dwellingham, John Heard, Al Grey, Barbara Morrison, Lanny Morgan, Mike Mantler, Horacee Arnold, Jerry Bergonzi, Harvey Wainapel, Herbie Lewis, Sal Marquez, Hadley Caliman, Putter Smith, Gary Foster, Beaver Harris, Alphonse Mouzon, Benn Clatworthy, Dick Berk, Richie Cole, Garnett Brown, Dwight Trible, Justo Almario, Kamasi Washington, Mike Richmond, Bob Sheppard, Bennie Maupin, Dave Binney, Bobby Bradford, Kamasi Washington, Frank Morgan, Harvie Swartz, Tierney Sutton, Judi Silvano, Roberta Gambarini, Chip White, Phil Grenadier, Tom Harrell, Rich Perry, Clifford Jarvis, Carl Allen, Phil Ranelin, Oscar Brashear, Pat Britt, Tony Dumas, Steve Swallow, Victor Lewis, John Abercrombie, Bruce Ditmas, Joe Diorio, J.R. Mitchell, Calvin Hill, Charles Owens, Richard Reid, , Adam Rodgers, John B. Williams, Ed Neumeister, Terrell Stafford, Wycliffe Gordon, Larry Koonse, Darek Oles, Dave Stryker, Steve Marcus, Don Menza, Gilbert Castellanos, Bill Watrous, Mon David, George Bohanon, Gary Bartz, Charles Mcpherson, Kenneth Nash, Ray Drummond, Akira Tana, Juini Booth, Calvin Keys, Mel Martin, Ralph Moore, Teodross Avery.
Sean Fitzpatrick, Musical Director of Speakeasy
He is a freelance studio singer (SAG-AFTRA), drummer, vocal percussionist, sound engineer, and educator in Los Angeles, CA. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in vocal performance, and a Master of Arts degree in jazz studies from California Institute of the Arts. Sean has over 11 years of professional vocal and instrumental ensemble experience including the Pacific Chorale, Clarion Singers, and various contemporary and acappella ensembles. He is also the Director of Concert Production and lead sound.
Speakeasy, Jazz Ensemble of Citrus College
This dynamic ensemble performs a wide range of jazz and contemporary repertoire with an emphasis on lush vocal harmony. With 12 to 16 voices and a rhythm section we offer a diverse experience with both large and small group numbers in the same performance. The Speakeasy vocal jazz ensemble performs throughout Southern California for corporate events, festivals, fairs, country clubs, and more! This group of amazing young professionals is dedicated to sharing their passion for music and uplifting their audiences. They would love to leave a lasting impact on your event!
Introducing Summer Villaverde, Pianist
Summer is 10 years old is currently studying piano at the Yamaha School of Music. She started playing piano when she was 6 years old. She first started in a group class then after a few months she preferred to study privately. After two years, she began composing short pieces and since Yamaha School of Music offered composition classes. So far, Summer is happy composing music and learning new pieces of music by many different composers.