AMERICAN EXPRESS HERITAGE SERIES
Great Classics Rediscovered and Reinvented

Battle of the Sexes by DW Griffith (1928)
Saturday, May 3
PALACE THEATER
7:00pm
Admission: $15 / $12 seniors and students

In collaboration with Larry Luttinger and the CNY Jazz Arts Foundation:

Battle of the Sexes by DW Griffith (1928) 88 minutes (USA) fiction with an original score composed by Cuong Vu  and performed by the Cuong Vu Trio, Cuong Vu (trumpet), Stomu Takeishi (bass) and Ted Poor (drums)

The Film
One of the greatest filmmakers of all time, Griffith creates a sophisticated film about a golddigger, Marie Skinner who contrives to gain the fortunes of a middle-aged real estate tycoon, William Judson. When his loyal wife (and their two children) see him with Marie at a nightclub they are all devastated. Now they all must determine the consequences of William’s betrayal.

The Music
Cuong Vu (composer/trumpet), born in Vietnam, is recognized by jazz critics as a leader of a generation of innovative musicians. A truly unique musical voice, he has played with Pat Metheny, Laurie Anderson, David Bowie, Dave Douglas, Myra Melford, Cibo Matto, Mitchell Froom, and Chris Speed, among others. He has released four recordings, Bound (OmniTone), Pure (Knitting Factory Records), Come Play With Me (Knitting Factory Records) and It's Mostly Residual (ArtistShare) to critical acclaim, each having been considered among the best recordings of their respective years. He has carved out a distinctive sonic territory on the trumpet while blurring all stylistic borders. Cuong graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music in Jazz. He won the Colbert Award for Excellence: The Downtown Arts Project Emerging Artist Award. In 2002 and 2006, Cuong won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Jazz Album as a member of the Pat Metheny Group. In 2006 he was named the Best International Jazz Artist by the Italian Jazz Critics’ Society. Cuong teaches at the University of Washington’s School of Music.

Stomu Takeishi (bass) was born in Japan. He began as a koto player. In the United States he graduated from the Berkley College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. In the 1990s he began to achieve prominence as an innovative New York jazz bass player, and critics have noted both his adventurous playing and sensitivity to sound and timbre. He has played in many international jazz festivals and often performs at major venues in New York, the United States,and Europe. He has performed and/or recorded with Don Cherry, Henry Threadgill, Butch Morris, Dave Liebman, Randy Brecker, Wynton Marsalis, Paul Motian, Myra Melford, Cuong Vu, Badal Roy, David Tronzo, Erik Friedlander, Satoko Fujii, and Andy Laster.

Ted Poor (drums). Jazz Review writes, “[Ted] has an uncanny ability to shape the music and a refreshingly unique, organic approach to playing the drums.” He is a regular member of the Ben Monder Quartet, the Cuong Vu Trio, the David Berkman Quartet and the Jeromoe Sabbagh Quartet. In addition, Ted has recently worked as a sideman with Chris Potter, Bill Frisell, Maria Schneider, Kermit Driscoll, Kate McGary, Marc Ducret, David Fiuczynski, Rich Perry, Joe Locke, Wycliffe Gordon and John McNeil. His degree is from the Eastman School of Music. As a leader, Ted has released a CD entitled All Around (Trier 2003). Most recently he has formed Third Wheel, a trio featuring Ben Monder and Ralph Alessi. Ted is also a founding member of the Brooklyn Jazz Underground.
 
Sponsors:
Corporate: American Express
Community: A New York State Grant secured by Senator John A DeFrancisco
Media: WAER
or by calling the festival office: 315-443-8826