Fusion Ensemble Debuts 2018-2019 Concerts On Sunday

Fusion -- the unique music collaborative between Karin Banks’ Aida Chamber Ensemble and Gerald Freeman’s Jazz Ensemble –- will present its seventh major concert to the Atlanta community on Sunday, October 7, at 5 p.m., at the Emory University Performing Arts Center.

The concert will debut Fusion’s 2018-2019 season, depicting an “Expressions of Life” theme through three successive productions. The first is entitled Metamorphosis, reflecting the constant change faced by all life.

The 'Metamorphosis' concert will offer an unusual opportunity to hear a diverse body of music: classical pieces by Schobert and Faurè and popular jazz standards; and original compositions by Ms. Banks and special improvisations by Mr. Freeman. A Spoken word performance by actor and singer Bradley Raymond will further diversify the concert program.

Now in its third year as a formal partnership, Fusion brings together a gifted core of two musical ensembles: classical pianist Karin Banks and contemporary jazz pianist Gerald Freeman and their respective musical groups.

Jazz and chamber music are two very different genres of music; but Mr. Freeman and I often found ourselves working together on Black History concerts and other musical projects,” Ms. Banks explains. “Over three to four years, we often performed with some of the same artists, such that, we became a tight knit group of musicians.

The classically-trained troupe presented its first joint concert on May 21, 2016 at the Unitarian Universalist

Church in Atlanta. That premier concert was so well received that it prompted the demand for additional

performances and other musicians’ requests to join the ensemble. Plans moved forward for formalizing this

musical collaborative as "Fusion."

Ms. Banks' Aida Chamber Ensemble members (ACE) includes two violinists, a cellist, a viola player and a pianist. Mr. Freeman's Jazz Ensemble entails a saxophonist/flautist, a trumpeter, a percussionist, a bass player and a pianist. Violinist Chris Moseley serves as artistic consultant for the total Fusion ensemble.

Tickets for Fusion’s Metamorphosis concert are $20 for general admission and $15 for children under 12. Tickets may be purchased online @fusionconcertatl.com; or at eventbrite.com.