Catskill Jazz Factory is thrilled to see our original commissions presented to audiences well beyond their world premiere! Dominick Farinacci’s Rhapsody in Blue was commissioned by the Catskill Jazz Factory for debut at the New York Botanical Garden in August 2018. See below for info on its upcoming Tri-C JazzFest premiere in Cleveland, OH.
Trumpeter Dominick Farinacci presents his newly commissioned arrangement of Rhapsody in Blue, George Gershwin’s groundbreaking masterwork from 1924. Farinacci built this interpretation around the cultural influences and events of both the time it was premiered as well as today, featuring accordionist Julien Labro witha multi-generational and multi-cultural ensemble.
Seventeen-year-old pianist Matthew Whitaker grew up surrounded by music. Since winning the Apollo Theatre’s amateur night at age nine, Whitaker has toured the world, played Carnegie Hall and become the youngest artist to be endorsed by Hammond in its 80+ year history. A prolific composer, he heads his own publishing company and names Dr. Lonnie Smith, Oscar Peterson and Chick Corea as artistic influences.