Monday, November 26, 2012

Buttonwood Hosts Extraordinary Jazz Quartet Saturday: From Middletown to the White House and Back Again!

Eric Mintel Quartet  
 
Dec 1, 2012      8 pm
 $20 in advance; $25 at the door

Eric Mintel - Piano, composer, band leader
Nelson Hill - Alto Sax, soprano Sax, flute
Dave Mohn - Drums
Jack Hegyi - Electric Bass


Join us for one of our favorite groups, the Eric Mintel Quartet, for a very special, one time only performance! Last year we sold out the room twice, once before they played at the White House and once after! This engaging, fun and extremely talented band plays your favorite jazz tunes and originals. We are very fortunate and grateful to be able to offer this show again this year - don't wait to reserve your seat!


Pianist and composer Eric Mintel was born on October 8, 1967. As early as age three he could be found sitting at the piano creating his own melodies. Music, especially classical and jazz, was always part of the Mintel household. In 1982 when his piano teacher was trying to teach Eric the basics, Eric was already playing compositions like Blue Rondo a la Turk, Take Five and other demanding pieces. Eric graduated from Pennridge High School in Perkasie, PA in 1985
 
In 1993 he formed the Eric Mintel Quartet. Additionally a composer of orchestral and choral music, Eric performs his composition "Millennium Suite" (for orchestra and jazz quartet) with various symphonies throughout the country incorporating jazz and classical music. The quartet's choral concerts feature the rarely heard sacred choral music of Duke Ellington performed with various choirs throughout the country combining jazz and choral music.

Eric has performed at the White House for President Clinton in 1998, Eric has been interviewed and featured in Down Beat Jazz Magazine, in June 2005 Eric was the featured guest on Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz on NPR and recently the quartet opened for Dave Brubeck at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, PA. In November 2005, Eric released a 3 CD Boxed set of his jazz on the QVC Television network. In June 2006, the Eric Mintel Quartet was invited to XM Satellite Radio's World Headquarters' in Washington, DC to perform in XM's Live Performance Theater. The quartet's one hour show aired to the XM Nation on August 12, 2006 on Real Jazz XM 70.  Eric and the quartet have also been interviewed on WGBH in Boston with legendary jazz DJ Eric Jackson.

In August 2010, the Eric Mintel Quartet performed by invitation at the United Nations in New York City for UNESCO head of operations Eric Falt.  On December 14 2011, the Eric Mintel Quartet returned once again to the White House, this time performing for the Obama's for a holiday dinner reception.  A note from President Obama stated that the quartet's music set the mood for the entire evening.

In July 2012, Eric released his 10th CD, this time of all original music titled "Just Around The Corner".  The quartet is currently touring and promoting the new CD.
 
With over ten concerts at the Kennedy Center and Eric's willingness to bring jazz to different regions this exciting performer continues to connect and communicate with audiences of all ages throughout the country and the world.

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