September 15, 2008

•To view the complete program, visit www.AlysStephens.org

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Alys Stephens Center and the Birmingham Music Club will present Turtle Island String Quartet and the Assad Brothers in "String Theory," at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, at the Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave. S., Birmingham. Enjoy a free Prelude musical discussion at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75, $55, $45 and $35; students $20. Call 205-975-2787 or visit www.AlysStephens.org for more information.

These two ensembles create something altogether different with "String Theory," an evening of wild celebration as they perform the works of Chick Corea, Egberto Gismonti, Astor Piazzolla, Ralph Towner and more. Think of it as around the world in one evening of wild celebration, with astounding virtuosity and deep beauty. From the lands of Africa and India to the Appalachian Mountains, from the rhythmic poetry of the Balkans to the warmth and passion of Brazil, this show covers it all, including the hard-swinging elegance of Gypsy jazz, a la Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli, and everything in between. Join the Assad Brothers and the Grammy-winning Turtle Island Quartet as they postulate a new unified string theory of their own design.

The Los Angeles Times said of Turtle Island Quartet: "...a sterling example of first-rate jazz music-making. ..." The Washington Post declared the Assad Brothers are "... the best two-guitar team in existence, maybe even in history... no amount of anticipation could have prepared me for the Brazilian brothers' daringly flexible, eerily unanimous ensemble playing - it was as if they could see inside each other's heads."

This show is part of the Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt Rushton Haskell Birmingham Music Club Classically Inclined Series. Sponsors are Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt Rushton Haskell, WBHM, The Birmingham News, UAB and Viva Health. This program is possible through the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.