ADA, Okla. – Grammy Award winners John Daversa and Tal Cohen bring The Art of Duo to East Central University on April 2 at 7:30 p.m. in the Ataloa Theatre, located inside the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center.
Daversa returns to ECU after two years away, this time accompanied by a fellow world-renowned musician in Cohen.
“I am thrilled to come back to Ada any opportunity I can.” said Daversa.
The Art of Duo brings multi-Grammy award winning trumpeter John Daversa together with acclaimed jazz pianist Tal Cohen, “creating an open vessel of musical imagination and creativity within a modern duo setting.”
Cohen is a Grammy award winning pianist, currently located in Miami. He has received much acclaim including, but not limited to, winning the Barry Harris National Piano Competition and was the recipient of the Freedman Fellowship and has performed to a sold-out crowd at the Sydney Opera House.
According to talcohenmusic.com, “Cohen [has] become one of the most in demand pianists as he continues to tour the globe with his unique blend of Jewish melodies, traditional jazz Harmony and an impeccable rhythmic pallet forging a path to be remembered.”
Daversa is a distinguished trumpet-player, composer, arranger, producer, bandleader and educator. He is a multiple Grammy Award winner and nominee and the recipient of many other awards and honors. He has performed and recorded with many artists, from Glen Campbell to Dr. Dre. He is currently professor and chair of Studio Music and Jazz at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music.
Daversa was born in Los Angeles Calif., and has lived in such places as Las Vegas Nev., Sacramento Calif., Miami Fla. And toured Europe for three years. However, it was Ada, Okla. where Daversa first explored his roots in music.
“My dad [Jay Daversa] was a trumpet player, too, and played in all the films and TV shows in Los Angeles and I think he got to a point he had enough of the big city living,” Daversa said. “My parents decided to move back to where my mom was from –Ada– and they just kind of started over when I was seven. I got to meet my grandparents and another side of the family.”
Daversa’s grandfather was Austin Kidwell, who taught band and coached football at Ada High School and Ada Middle School. His mom, Mary Ann Daversa, also taught choir at Ada schools.
It was in Ada, while surrounded by these influences, that Daversa began his journey with the trumpet at the age of 11.
Daversa and his family returned to California when he was 14 where he attended Hamilton Academy of Music for his final years of high school but has never forgotten his time in Ada.
While speaking of his return to Ada, Daversa said, “My roots are here. I grew up on 17th street, just around the corner from ECU! I learned how to be a musician in Ada School Bands and Choirs, and it is truly a joy to now return and work with the ECU students and perform my music here in my home town. As my mom, Mary Ann (Kidwell) Daversa, says, I’m an "Ada Potata”.
The Art of Duo offers the opportunity for Daversa to return to his roots while introducing Ada, firsthand, to a new world-renowned talent in Cohen.
Tickets to the event are $25 for general admission, $15 for senior patrons as well as high school age and below.
ECU students and faculty will receive free admission with their ECU ID.
Tickets are available for purchase at ecok.edu/hbffac-box-office.