NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The musical ensemble, Soundview, will present a concert entitled “Jazz Meets Classical” on Sunday, April 19, at 3:00 pm, in the Ossie Davis Theater of the New Rochelle Public Library. The concert is made possible by the Lillian Robbins and Rick Englander Memorial Fund. A donation of $2.00 is suggested at the door.
Soundview is led by saxophonist and composer Alexander McCabe, of New Rochelle. The ensemble uses elements of Western Classical music and jazz to create a unique sound. The concert will open with standards from the traditional classical repertoire, followed by jazz selections from the American songbook. The finale will be a performance of an original composition by McCabe, which was influenced by these two styles of music and is based on interplay between the wind instruments and improvisation by McCabe and members of the rhythm section. Soundview is comprised of its founder, Alexander McCabe (composer and alto saxophone), Dominique Soucy- Piscetelli (flute), Susan Lafever (french horn), John Frisch (oboe and flute), Morrie Sherry (clarinet), Paul Odeh (piano), Chris Haney (bass), and Barbara Merjan (drums).
McCabe has been performing in and around New York City since the 1980s. He was a featured soloist with the Ray Charles Orchestra and was an original member, and toured with, the Chico O’Farril Afro-Cuban big band. McCabe has also played with George Coleman, Danny Aiello, Harold Mabern, Clifford Jordan, George Coleman Jr., Maurio Bauza, the Pointer Sisters and Nancie Banks. He has toured the UK and Europe, performing at the Edinburg and Cork festivals, the Pori Jazz Festival, the North Sea festival, The Vienne Music Festival and others. As a member and songwriter for the popular ska band Mephiskapheles, he performed and toured the US and Europe. He has recorded extensively with a variety of artists. He has released three CDs as a leader, including his latest, This is Not a Pipe, which was released in October, 2014.