Jazz pianist to star in next community concert

By For SVN

Paul Asaro is known as one of the finest among a select group of pianists who perform the demanding, two-handed piano styles – including the stride piano of Fats Waller, the New Orleans styles of Jelly Roll Morton, the ragtime of Scott Joplin and Eubie Blake, plus stomps, boogie-woogie and swing. (SVN News Service)

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STERLING – Paul Asaro, a pianist who performs two-handed styles of jazz – including stride, ragtime, blues, boogie-woogie and swing, will perform at 7 p.m. Nov. 30 in Sterling High School’s Centennial Auditorium.

Asaro’s performance is part of the 2009-2010 concert series sponsored by Sauk Valley Community Concert Association.

Asaro performs at jazz and ragtime festivals, clubs and theaters worldwide and has appeared on stage with musical legends such as Leon Redbone, Steve Allen, Marian McPartland, Orange Kellin and Duke Heitger. He was featured as The Professor in the award-winning Broadway production and national tour of “Jelly Roll! The Music and the Man,” performing alongside the show’s creator and star Vernel Bagneris. Asaro has had long runs as house pianist aboard the legendary New Orleans steamboat “Delta Queen,” in Chicago with Jim Beebe’s band and in Seattle as a regular solo pianist at “Julia’s in Wallingford.”

When on the road, Asaro tours with Leon Redbone, and with his own trio, and he recently paused to appear on Jim Cullum’s Riverwalk Jazz program for National Public Radio. When not touring, Asaro performs solo regularly at the Blind Pig, a club in his home base of Champaign.

In his program, you’ll hear such familiar favorites as “Ain’t Misbehavin,” “This Is So Nice It Must Be Illegal,” “Honeysuckle Rose,” “Tiger Rag,” “Original Jelly Roll Blues,” and “Maple Leaf Rag.”

The Sauk Valley Community Concert Association will present three more concerts in Dixon and Sterling. Admission to concerts is by membership only and it is not too late to join. Adult memberships are $40. Members are also able to attend concerts Ottawa and Freeport Concert Association performances at no extra charge.