CAROL SUDHALTER GRANT AWARDEE QUEENS WOMEN COMPOSERS

Carol Sudhalter, multi-reeds player and director of the Astoria Jazz Band, received a grant from Queens Council on the Arts this year to collect (by interview), arrange, and present the music of women composers of Queens.
The venue for the concert will be Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning, and the date Nov.18, 2005.
She is avidly pursuing this project, and plans to include the very gifted pianist/vocalist/composer Emme Kemp, whose tunes and lyrics are most captivating; organist Sarah McLawler; Lil Hardin Armstrong; the late (pianist) Jutta Hipp, composer of the tune "Horacio"; and many more.
Sudhalter herself just returned from a 3-week stint in Rome, Italy where she did an exceptional performance: the Aula Giulio Cesare at Campidoglio, a beautiful structure designed by Michelangelo, serving as Rome City Hall. The only previous jazz concert held in this hall was that of Woody Allen, last year. At Aula Giulio Cesare, a major agreement between European countries was signed some months ago. The beauty and prestige of the hall led to Sudhalter being covered by every major newspaper in Rome, with photos.
On the same tour she recorded with Alfa Music, and performed at Alexanderplatz and New Orleans Cafe.
The history-making Campidoglio concert, however, was the focal point. Her accompanists in this concert were Roman pianist Silvia Manco, soon to visit New York; and bassist Guido Giacomini. Opposite Sudhalter's group was a sextet led by vocalist Simona Bedini, playing music from various film scores including that of "Schindler's List". This made a good contrast to the trio's more traditional selection of standard tunes, including "Ghost of a Chance", Cole Porter's "I Love You", and Franz Lehar's romantic "Yours is My Heart Alone" (which won the hearts of the audience).

FF Kraft, February 10, 2005