Paul Marinaro & Metropolitan Jazz Octet Play David Bowie Songs Feb. 10

Evanston, Ill. — Studio5 is pleased to present two artists this February who are favorites on the Chicago jazz scene: vocalist Paul Marinaro on Feb. 10 and vocalist Dee Alexander on Feb. 3.

At the Feb. 10 show, Marinaro will be singing with the Metropolitan Jazz Octet, where they will be performing music from their new album, The Bowie Project, which will be released by Origin Records on Jan. 20.

The album reinterprets many of Bowie’s classic songs, including “Let’s Dance,” “Changes,” and “Space Oddity,” into fluid, fully orchestrated jazz pieces, honoring Bowie's lyrics and melodic/harmonic complexity while using the octet palette to paint with intimate, nuanced colors.

The idea for the project began a few days after Bowie’s death in 2016, when both Marinaro and Jim Gailloreto, co-founder of the Metropolitan Jazz Octet, each began listening to Blackstar, an album showcasing Bowie’s back catalogue of songs.

“It stopped me in my tracks,” Marinaro says of the Blackstar album.

By 2018, Marinaro began to occasionally perform Bowie’s evocative lament, “5:15 The Angels Have Gone,” in an arrangement crafted by guitarist Mike Allemana. At the same time, Marinaro and Gailloreto began discussing working on a joint project together, and Marinaro suggested his “probably crazy idea” of tackling Bowie’s repertoire. Gailloreto agreed, saying he was excited to both have the chance to work with Marinaro and to adapt Bowie’s well-known songs to the Metropolitan Jazz Octet’s soundscape.

According to the album’s liner notes, written by Chicago jazz writer Neil Tesser, “In the arrangements and orchestrations, Gailloreto, [MJO co-founder John] Kornegay, and their team of arrangers steer clear of what came before; for his part, Marinaro hasn’t tried to emulate Bowie at all. Pretend you’ve never heard these songs in the first place and allow these artists — modern masters of the genre Bowie once studied, and always respected — to recast his repertoire, illuminating even his darker songs in light of recent events.”

In addition to the Marinaro concert, Studio5 will also welcome back local jazz favorite Dee Alexander on Feb. 3, who will be joined by her piano trio, featuring Steve Million on piano, Jeremiah Hunt on bass and Charles Heath on drums. A versatile singer who can perform everything from a soft, sultry ballad to a swinging, scat-filled romp, Alexander has received many accolades over the years, including being voted Best Singer by Chicago Magazine, Jazz Entertainer of the Year at the Chicago Music Awards, and named winner of the Chicagoan of the Year in Jazz Award by the Chicago Tribune.

Tickets to both shows are $35 for general admission and $45 for cabaret seating. For tickets, please visit http://studio5.dance/.

STUDIO5 SPRING EVENTS

Feb. 3 — Dee Alexander Quartet

8 p.m.

Popular jazz vocalist Dee Alexander is joined by her amazing piano trio — featuring Steve Million on piano, Jeremiah Hunt on bass and Charles Heath on drums — for a melodious evening of both intimacy and power. This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.

Tickets: $35 for general admission, $40 for cabaret seating

Feb. 10 — The Bowie Project: The Metropolitan Jazz Octet Featuring Paul Marinaro

8 p.m.

Stellar vocalist Paul Marinaro and the Metropolitan Jazz Octet, under the direction of Jim Gailloreto, team up to explore the music of David Bowie. Both artists aim to reinterpret Bowie’s music without replicating it, honoring Bowie's lyrics and melodic/harmonic complexity while using the nimble octet palette to paint with intimate, nuanced colors. This concert will celebrate the release of their new recording and will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.

Tickets: $35 for general admission, $45 for cabaret seating

Tickets are now on sale at http://studio5.dance/.

Studio5

Where: 1934 Dempster St., Evanston, IL 60202

Info: 847-328-6683 or http://studio5.dance/

About Studio5

Studio5 is a performing arts venue that opened in Evanston in 2016, bringing professional dance, music, and spoken word events to a 123-seat theater. Founded and curated by Dance Center Evanston director Béa Rashid and Emmy-award winning composer and jazz musician Steve Rashid, Studio5 provides North Shore arts-goers with a venue that is both state-of-the-art and intimate, connecting audiences and artists. Studio5 boasts great sight lines; comfortable seats; excellent sound; ample, free parking; and a cash bar that opens a half an hour before each performance.