This Weekend at The Buttonwood Tree Jazz Trio and an Evening of Folk Music

The Buttonwood Tree hosts events every night this week - from Tai chi to Middlesex Drum Circle.

Matt Dwonszyk CD Release Party "Wonderful World" feat. vocalist Shenel Johns

May 24 @ 8-10 pm | $12

Joining Matt will be Taber Gable on piano and Jonathan Barber on drums along with vocalist, Shenel Johns, this CD Release Party will sure be a winner!!  Reservations suggested. A bargain at only $12!!!

Born in Hartford CT, Dwonszyk started playing the electric bass at the age eleven. In high school, he picked up the upright bass while attending the Greater Hartford Academy of Performing Arts and soon started attending the Artist Collective after school program founded by the legendary Jazz Saxophonist/Composer, Jackie McLean. Dwonszyk continued his collegiate studies at the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz studying with world-renowned bassist Nat Reeves. He graduate and continued his studies at Suny Purchase where he received a Masters in Music in 2015. Dwonszyk currently lives in Brooklyn and is an active bassist in New York.

He has performed at the JVC Jazz Festival in NYC, the Baikal Jazz Festival (Yakutsk, Siberia), the NYC Winter Jazz Festival, Litchfield Jazz Festival, Hartford Jazz Festival, Jazz & Colors Festival (Metropolitan Museum of Art), The Kennedy Center, Smalls Jazz Club, Dizzy’s Coca Cola Club, The Blue Note, Smoke Jazz Club and the Fat Cat. Dwonszyk has performed with Harold Mabern, Larry Willis, David Hazeltine, Anthony Wonsey, Rick Germanson, Pete Malinverni, Steve Wilson, Abraham Burton, Javon Jackson, Gary Smulyan, Bennie Wallace, Wayne Escoffery, Mike Diruboo, Myron Walden, John Farnsworth, Joe Farnsworth, Winard Harper, Joe Strasser, Eddie Henderson, Jumaane Smith, Wallace Roney, Terell Stafford, Steve Davis, Steve Turre, Freddie Hendrix and Duane Eubanks.

The trio consists of musicians whom Matt Dwonszyk went to school with and played with over the past ten years. The music that the trio plays has hints of Hard Bop, Latin Jazz, Bossa Nova, Funk and Modern Jazz. Details/Reserve here

Aligned with Source: A Personal Development Workshop & Meditation

May 25 @ 10:30-12 pm

Topic: Tapping into Higher Frequencies
A time to connect, and allow those aspects of your energy speak to you & guide.

Details here 
Official Facebook Page
Suggested Donation: $10 (Give what you can)

Music Workshop

May 25 @ 1-4 pm | $10

Bassist and Musician for 48 years, Rob DeSorbo began on the Connecticut music scene in the mid 70’s. He started playing Rock and Blues, grew into Jazz and Jazz Fusion. Blue Mountain Band (BMB) started 1971 (Rock / Blues) then (Fusion and Jazz) originals and continued until 1981. He spent the next 40+ years recording and doing Live Shows. He studied Music at the college level courses for 3 years in Simsbury High School. Music composition, theory and orchestral studies. Rob then continued his studies for 2 years at Hartt School of Music West Hartford, CT in Upright Bass studies and method, Additional Theory and Composition courses.

We will engage in music discussions, ear training, scales, modes, arpeggios, Circle of fifths and Fourth and practice methods. Chord structure and harmonic values in and around chords. All Instruments, vocals and skill levels welcome. Come enhance or add to your current education in music. Music is a never-ending study and accomplishment.

Check Out Rob’s Official Facebook Page!

Each session is $10 non-members, $5 members

The Buttonwood Tree is not bar it is a Cultural center to enlighten and educate.
Details here/Reserve seats

An Evening with Rupert Wates opened by Andrew Biagiarelli

May 25 @ 8-10 pm | $20 Reservations Suggested

Live at The Buttonwood Tree: Rupert Wates with Opening Act Andrew Biagiarelli

In the last couple of years, Rupert’s won the coveted ‘Artist Of The Year‘ award twice on the international house concert network Concerts In Your Home(www.concertsinyourhome.com). Additionally, he’s performed as a finalist in the New Folk Song Contest at Kerrville, and played a showcase set as an Emerging Artist at Falconridge.  25 of his songs have been covered by other artists in the last three years alone, and two tribute albums to his material have been recorded by independent performers in Nashville and Los Angeles (details at www.rupertwatesmusic.com/covers.)  Rupert has recorded his 9th solo Cd, ‘The Lights Of Paris‘, with two string players who have played previously with Alicia Keyes, Philip Glass and the New York Metropolitan Opera.  The album has since been extensively reviewed in the international online press (www.rupertwatesmusic.com/buy-music).

He averages 120 live shows a year, in every state in the US, in Canada and in Europe.

One of them will be live at Middletown’s North End – Buttonwood.

His Story:

Rupert Wates was born in London and studied at Oxford University. He has been a full time songwriter since the late 1990s, when he signed a publishing contract with Eaton Music Limited. His contract required him to write material in all kinds of styles and genres, for all kinds of artists including jazz vocalist Liz Fletcher. Moving in 2001 to Paris, Wates formed his own quartet and began playing live regularly. In fall 2006 he came to the US. He is now based in New York City and Colorado.

His music is an eclectic mix of acoustic, melodic art/folk, with flavors of jazz, vaudeville and cabaret.

Despite Wates’ British background, and underpinning the universality of his music’s appeal, Folk And Acoustic Music Exchange has called him “a prime figure in American music” (www.acousticmusic.com) and goes on: “This is one gifted sonofabitch… If you’re not hip to this guy yet you’re missing out.”

“What a performance… It was a sheer delight to hear him…” (The Forwardian Arts Society)

“[His] narrative storytelling is superb — even by the highest folk music standards.”
(Jim Abbott, Orlando Sentinel)

“Truly gripping lyrics with great themes and troubling, witty messages. An inspirational artist.”
(Leith FM Radio 98.8 FM Scotland

ABOUT THE OPENING ACT, ANDREW BIAGIARELLI

Andrew Biagiarelli spent his early 20s traveling the American West with just a backpack and a guitar. Jamming around bonfires from Alaska to Colorado, he absorbed all the varied influences of his friends on the road. With a sound ranging in style from folk and blues to jazz-infused, his music is as varied as the landscapes of the American West. While living on a sailboat in the Caribbean, he assimilated reggae and calypso rhythms into his approach to songwriting. A natural storyteller, he weaves a tapestry of songs and tales of his travels into his live performances.

The Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts Center is located at 605 Main Street, Middletown. There is ample, free parking behind It's Only Natural market. Refreshments, viewing of Buttonwood's Art show, the bookstore and refreshments are all open and available. Call for info: (860) 347-4957. If you want to see what events we have lined up for the month check our website's event calendar here.