Eric Mintel Quartet to Jazz up Center  Quartet Captures Brubeck Beat

Concert Friday evening, July 14, 2000 at 8pm

Come get jazzed up with the Eric Mintel Quartet!

The Eric Mintel Quartet will perform an entire evening of jazz composer Dave Brubeck’s compositions at the arts center on Friday, July 14 at 8 p.m. This fabulous foursome has worked tirelessly to develop their own unique sound. The quartet’s material recalls the smooth jazz of the 1950s, an era when Brubeck was still at the top of the charts despite the inroads being made by rock and roll. The quartet is so noted for capturing the mellow jazz stylings of Brubeck’s works, that even Brubeck himself is counted as an admirer. "This is a quartet with ambition and drive, and we can expect to continue to be surprised by their innovations,” stated the famed jazz innovator Dave Brubeck about the Eric Mintel Quartet.

A respected jazz magazine agreed with Brubeck’s assessment of the quartet. “The quartet shows especially inventive uses of Brubeck's influence," observed Cadence Jazz magazine in a recent review. "Mintel shows more than promise."

The quartet itself consists of Dave Mintel, Harvey Orkin, Nick Roberti and George Hrab. Mintel is the group’s pianist, so the art center’s Altenburg grand is sure to be put to good use. Orkin, whose mastery of three saxophones plus the flute is impressive, supplies the essential reed sound. Roberti keeps the beat on the bass and George Hrab provides the percussion on the drums. The quartet is quickly gaining a loyal audience. They recently played to a packed house at New York City’s Kennedy Center. The group is trying to lure young fans back to jazz as well, having toured numerous college campuses this spring in this effort. The quartet’s efforts have paid off. At one college campus site, with a 14-year track record for presenting jazz, the quartet set an all-time attendance record.

Although this is the quartet’s first appearance for the decade-old art center jazz series, their following is already so strong, that a full room is expected. Seats are only $12, including refreshments! So come enjoy hot jazz with us this sizzling summer! Reservations are recommended. Reserve your seats today by calling the arts center at 0(908)-753-0190.