The Queen of Tango, Linda Lee Thomas, is the next guest of the Comox Valley Piano Society when she performs April 1.
Thomas has been the principal pianist of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra since 1972 and for 17 years was the Artistic Director of Masterpiece Music, a very successful chamber music series. However, a few years ago Linda Lee began to explore the music and dance of Argentina — the tango — and she was hooked. She has performed and recorded with Argentine bandoneonists Daniel Binelli and Nestor Marconi.
She has her own Tango Trio, Tangissimo, featuring Ed Henderson on guitar and Miles Foxx Hill on bass. They have played to thousands in live concerts, broadcasts and recordings.
Their CD Tangissimo Live was chosen as one of the best releases of 2002. They were chosen by Infinity Films to shoot the documentary – Chasing The Tango High for Bravo TV.
Linda Lee also performs solo with a program of tango. The spring of 2008 saw the release of her first solo Piano Tango CD entitled Tango Magic. It is her solo tango concert that she brings to the valley.
Late April will find her back to Buenos Aires performing at the prestigious Teatro San Martin with Miles Foxx Hill and Franco Luciani, the tango harmonica player who is currently ‘taking the world by storm.’
While in the Valley, Thomas will be giving a workshop entitled, Breaking Out of the Straight Jacket where she will inspire participants to break the bonds that bind classical musicians.
This concert April 1 at 7:30 p.m. at the Stan Hagen Theatre at North Island College should be of interest to all both young and old who love the rhythms and music of South America, who love to dance. Tickets ($20 adults, $18 seniors, $10 students) are available at Laughing Oyster Bookstore, Blue Heron, and Videos ‘N More.
For more information about the concert, workshop or the Comox Valley Piano Society, see www.comoxvalleypianosociety.com or call 250-339-7782.
— Comox Valley Piano Society
