Pianist-composer, 5 time Grammy® Award-winner Billy Childs returns to The Blue Whale for 2 nights (Friday & Saturday) with another very special concert with his Jazz/Chamber Ensemble. This show will feature guest vocalist Judith Hill (Michael Jackson, "20 Feet From Stardom", Stevie Wonder, Prince, Josh Groban), the Lyris Quartet, and recitation of poetry by actor Wren Brown.

This concert combines a dramatic & theatrical presentation of music & spoken word and will include a number of instrumental jazz/chamber compositions and more. 

The Jazz/Chamber ensemble is the logical continuation of Billy Childs’ musical work from his career….an organic blend of disparate genres of music - in this case, Jazz & European Classical music. This is done through the prism of chamber music. Billy has released two recordings of this music: Lyric, Vol. 1 and Autumn: In Moving Pictures, Vol. 2. Combined, these recordings have garnered 5 Grammy nominations and 3 wins. The orchestration consists of 10 instruments, 8 of which are string instruments, giving the group a unique and impressionistic sonic palette. 

Fascinated with the dramatic power of the spoken word, especially poetry, Billy combines these disciplines into an organic whole that is quite satisfying. The subjects of the poetry are dramatically set to music, and range from racial exclusion, the need for love and forgiveness, sensuality, and urban alienation. Billy's last Jazz/Chamber concert was a big success, and he is very excited to return to perform again at The Blue Whale for two nights. With the combination of instrumental music, singing, and poetry this event promises to be a concert for the ages. Don’t miss it. www.billychilds.com

Billy Childs - piano, composer

Larry Koonse - guitar

Carol Robbins - harp

Josh Johnson- alto & soprano sax

Pamela Vliek Martchev - flute

Alex Boneham - bass

Marvin “Smitty” Smith - drums

Judith Hill - guest vocals

Jimmy Traum - guest vocals

Wren Brown - recitation of poetry

Lyris Quartet:

Sarah Thornblade - violin (Fri) 

Alyssa Park - violin (Sat) 

Shalini Vijayan - violin

Luke Maurer - viola

Timothy Loo - cello

Blue Whale 

123 Astronaut E S Onizuka St #301 

Downtown Los Angeles, CA 90012

(213) 620-0908

www.bluewhalemusic.com