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RAYMOND — The Raymond Arts Alliance will host the second presentation of “Short Set Concert Series” Saturday, June 16.
The concert, which offers a variety of international styles, is at 7 p.m. at Raymond Village Church, 27 Main St. There will be no admission charge to attend; however, a $10 donation is suggested for those who can give.
The series is designed to provide a sampling of music, in one setting, for the audience’s entertainment and enlightenment. The concert offers an evening of music with three different bands, each playing a short 25-minute set. This event features music from the Celtic, Latin and Middle Eastern traditions.
The Celtic group is the husband/wife duo of Sharon (guitar) and Perry (fiddle and more) Newman. They have been making beautiful music together for a long time. After dinner with friends one night, they formed an Irish band, Sligo Road, which took them down a much different path than their classical training intended. While the band is no longer performing, their music continues.
The Middle Eastern group, Zapion, performs music from the Turkish, Arab and Balkan traditions and has been active in Maine for eight years. A student of the late Udi Alan Shavarsh Bardezbanian, Eric LaPerna, formed Zapion in 2010. Zapion got its name from a Greek Tavern where Alan used to perform in the 1970s. Zapion keeps the music which Udi Alan loved, alive. Members include Eric LaPerna (darbuka), Sarah Mueller (violin), Maria Wagner (clarinet, nay) and Gary Wittner (seven-string guitar).
The Latin group consists of Rafael Freyre (bass/vocals), Eric Winter (vocals/congas) and Gary Wittner (guitar/vocals), all of whom have been performing Latin music locally and regionally for many years, with groups such as Dos Canosos, Primo Cubano, Grupo Mofongo, Sly Chi and more. They played at the first “Short Set Concert Series” hosted by the Raymond Arts Alliance.
