The CotoBuzz Journal, Community Journalism

February 2010

Milne & Delbecq in Piano Duo at Saddleback

Posted By CotoBlogzz 01-30-2009 02:00 PM

Mission Viejo, CA - Saddleback College Jazz Studies is scheduled to present Canadian Andy Milne and Frenchman Benoît Delbecq to perform a piano duo in the McKinney Theatre on February 24th at 7 pm.

Canadian pianist and composer Andy Milne is considered one of the most distinctive voices at the heart of New York 's creative jazz scene, performing throughout the world in a range of settings, including collaborations with: Steve Coleman, Ravi Coltrane, Carlos Ward, Carla Cook, Sekou Sundiata, Avery Brooks, Ralph Alessi, Cassandra Wilson, and Sonny Greenwich. Milne’s genre-breaking band Dapp Theory is helping to re-draw and extend the boundaries of jazz.

Andy Milne & Benoît Delbecq, Photo courtesy Saddleback College

Described by The New York Times as "brilliant and unconventional", parisian pianist and composer Benoît Delbecq is acclaimed as one of France ’s indispensable pianists. He has been involved in numerous collaborations with French musicians, visual artists and poets, and with North American, European and African musicians. He has forged a personal style by drawing from jazz, ambient, contemporary classical and non-western music. Jazz Times calls him "one of the avatars of prepared piano" for the way he creates unusual harmonies, colors and phrases. He leads several projects, (including Kartet, Delbecq 5, The Recyclers, Ambitronix, PianoBook), which perform throughout Europe and North America .

Andy Milne and Benoît Delbecq met in 1990 at the Banff Jazz Workshop, when Steve Coleman was its artistic director. Their 2008 recording has been made possible with the help from Chamber Music America . It has been produced by Amandine Pras for Songlines recording.

Tickets are $10 general; $7 students/seniors. Call the ticket office at 949-582-4656 (Noon-4, Tues-Fri) or order your tickets online at www.saddleback.edu/arts.

Jazz Studies at Saddleback College emphasizes creativity through improvisation and ensemble performance. Focusing on the historical, theoretical and intuitive aspects of this American music, Director Joey Sellers and an outstanding cadre of nationally recognized musicians comprise the jazz faculty. Curricula include Improvisation, Jazz Composition and Arranging, Jazz History Syllabus, Jazz History Audio, Jazz History Podcast, Jazz Piano, Saddleback Big Band, Jazz Lab Ensemble, and Combos. Students in Jazz Studies at Saddleback College have transferred to prestigious institutions including University of Southern California , Eastman School of Music, Berkeley School of Music, Cal State Northridge, UCLA, Cal State Fullerton, University of California at San Diego , and other regional institutions. Some of our alumni have gone on to play professionally with Frank Zappa, Diana Ross, and other high-profile artists and organizations.

Saddleback College is located at 28000 Marguerite Pkwy in Mission Viejo , just east of Interstate 5 at the Avery Parkway exit. Complimentary parking is available in Lot 12 with over-flow parking in Lot 10.. Take Avery Parkway to Marguerite Parkway turn left to the third traffic light, which is Saddleback’s Marguerite entrance. Turn right into the campus and take the second left to “ Theatre Circle ,” turning right into Lot 12.

Located in Mission Viejo, Saddleback College provides quality higher education and training to the greater south Orange County community. Having served more than 500,000 students since 1968, Saddleback College offers over 300 degree and certificate programs to help students reach their personal, career, and educational goals. For more information, please visit www.saddleback.edu and for Fine Arts information, please visit