House Concerts

NEXT HOUSE CONCERT: Saturday, July 17th, with doors opening at 7:30 p.m. and music starting at 8:00 sharp.  Featured artists are Jennifer Lee, Pat Smith, and Rich Wagor (complete bios appear at the end of this page).  To reserve your seat for the best jazz in the Cedar Rapids area, contact jill@riferecording.com.

AUGUST HOUSE CONCERT: Sunday, August 1st, with doors opening at 7:00 p.m. and music starting at 7:30 sharp. Featured artist is Carol Montag, folk singer/songwriter.   From Carol’s LinkedIn: When Arlo Guthrie asks you to open for him for two additional shows, you find the time. This is exactly what happened to Carol Montag upon opening for Guthrie at Iowa State’s Maintenance Shop. He was taken by her crystal clear voice, stage presence, and ability to engage the audience while making each performance unique. So taken that he invited her to open for his remaining shows. She didn’t think twice. The next day’s Tribune review raved about Arlo’s and Carol’s performances: ”…It would be a sin not to mention Carol Montag who has a voice that rivals Joan Baez and leaves one wondering… ‘what is she doing here?’”

Upon seeing Carol perform at the Grant Wood Festival in Stone City, Tom Paxton declared, “Carol Montag is a genuine discovery! The best to come out of Iowa since Bonnie Kolac!” Upon hearing her latest release he wrote: “Montag’s ‘Marigolds’ is comparable to Beth Nielsen Chapman’s ‘Sand and Water’ in songwriting style, performance, and production. Excellent!” Contact jill@riferecording.com to attend.

What is a House Concert? A house concert features one artist in the intimate setting of our home.  It is similar to seeing an artist at a coffeehouse because of the relaxed atmosphere, but is like a concert in that the audience is there to listen, socializing only before and after the performance.

What does a House Concert cost? During the performance, the audience will have an opportunity to pay the artist.  There is no set admission fee.  As a guide, tickets for live music at CSPS/Legion Arts, Red Cedar Chamber, the Cedar Rapids Symphony, and Theater Cedar Rapids are usually $15-$20.

Why a House Concert? For the artist, the chance to perform for an audience that’s there to listen, and to receive all proceeds instead of getting a portion of the “door”, are important drivers.  For the audience, the opportunity to see and hear absolutely everything at a live performance, and meet the performer, is a rare treat.

What kind of music is performed at a house concert? Any genre that doesn’t involve pyrotechnics is a candidate.

What can I expect if I attend? Authentic, original music in a warm setting at the price you determine.  The decibel level will be appropriate for the size of the room.  Smoking is only permitted outside.  Non-alcoholic beverages will be provided.

What does the host, Rife Recording, get out of this? Joy.

Can I get on the invitation list for House Concerts? Sure.  Send us an email at jill@riferecording.com.  If you are only interested in particular genres, let us know that too.

Next House Concert:

Jennifer Lee

A provocative blend of innocence and sophistication — that’s Jennifer Lee. While presenting herself with great style and class, Jennifer maintains a warm and unpretentious demeanor, which enables her to connect deeply with her audience. “Connection is what it’s all about,” says Jennifer. “Connection with my band and connection with the listener. That’s what creates the magic. The deeper the connection, the more magical the experience for everyone involved.” And connect she does, with sincerity and a perpetual sense of wonder.

Rooted in the straight-ahead jazz tradition, this San Francisco Bay Area-based vocalist/pianist/guitarist has developed a style all her own. With her warm, lovely voice, extraordinary musicality and hip sense of time, Jennifer brings each song uniquely to life. On an up-tempo tune, she really swings. On a ballad, she sings with a depth of emotion that pays homage to the music and the lyric. Whether on guitar or piano, Jennifer accompanies herself with a simple elegance and sweetness, while maintaining a deep and thrilling in-the-pocket groove. “Lee knows how to drop a jaw with her rhythm ease on guitar,” says Jean Bartlett of the Pacifica Tribune.

In addition to her love of straight-ahead jazz, Jennifer has a strong affinity for the music of Brazil.  When she sings bossa nova and samba (in Portuguese with a near-perfect Brazilian accent) and accompanies herself on guitar, you can almost feel the warm sands of Ipanema beneath your feet. With her band Doce Brazil, Jennifer has been featured at the SFJazz Summerfest and has played to sold out concert venues throughout the Bay Area. Her straight-ahead quartet has been featured in the San Jose Jazz Society summer concert series.

“Connection is
what it’s all about,” says Jennifer. “Connection with my band and connection with the listener. That’s what creates the magic.”

Jennifer discovered her passion for music as a child, playing piano and guitar. She was the pianist in her college jazz band and accompanied other singers before realizing her own gift for vocal interpretation. Her extensive experience as an instrumentalist affords Jennifer a thorough understanding of the harmonic intricacies of the music she sings. This knowledge, along with her natural aptitude for musical expression, makes for a remarkable talent.

Jennifer’s newest recording, Quiet Joy, while currently available on her website, isn’t due for official release until the spring of 2009.  Recorded at Spragueland Studios in Encinitas, California, this CD features Jennifer on all three of her primary instruments – vocals, guitar and piano… as well as on finger snaps, bells and wind chimes.  This disc is an exciting mix of originals, standards and Brazilian songs.  Jennifer’s superb arrangements here are interesting and unique, but never gratuitously so – always musical and always in the service of heartfelt expression.  Drummer / Grammy-nominated producer Bud Spangler says of Quiet Joy, “It’s a joy from start to finish… Nothing but praise and respect for Jennifer Lee and her cohorts on Quiet Joy.  Excellent work by all involved.”

Jaywalkin’, also recorded at Spragueland Studios and released in 2003, was Jennifer’s debut release as featured vocalist. While incorporating many elements of straight-ahead jazz, this recording takes several wide steps outside of that realm. The collection includes Brazilian songs, originals, a heavily funkified arrangement of Frank Loesser’s “The Inchworm” and a spoken-word piece, among other things.  Dan McClenaghan of All About Jazz called Jaywalkin’ “The finest debut of the year, big label or small.”

Both Quiet Joy and Jaywalkin’ are collaborations with San Diego-based guitarist Peter Sprague, Jennifer’s co-arranger/co-producer and founder of SBE Records, the label on which these recordings are released. Peter is the winner of numerous San Diego music awards; he’s performed with such players as Chick Corea, Eddie Harris, Dori Caymmi and Al Jarreau.  In 2008, Peter joined 4-time Grammy winning vocalist Dianne Reeves on her US and European tours.

Jennifer’s first released recordings were part of a compilation entitled Quint-Essential, a collection that is unique in both content and form. “Five wonderfully unique, distinctive voices. Fifteen marvelous songs. One remarkable CD,” says Wayne Saroyan of JazzWest. “These five women have crafted a singular work of music that celebrates the intrinsic beauty of each song, transcending the familiar and illuminating the sublime. A quintessential CD for lovers of jazz.”

Pat Smith – Guitar

I’m a Guitar player. I started in 1969 when I finally got the guitar I had wanted since seeing the Beatles on Ed Sullivan. Meanwhile I had gone through tap dancing, Piano, Clarinet and Bassoon lessons which, at the time weren’t what I was interested in. I played in garage bands through high school in Evanston Il. I also played in the E.T.H.S Jazz band my senior year. In the summer of 1975 I was sent off to Coe College in Cedar Rapids Iowa where I played in the Jazz Band the first year and in Collage (show choir) the second year. Like many youthful bums, I was more interested in playing guitar and girls than I was in studying. It was during this time that I started my main vocation of playing in dive bars, I still consider myself a “Bar Guitarist.” So, after two years I went back to Evanston. I pursued assorted things, more school, Guitar building, and teaching. I have been very lucky to have studied with some wonderful and inspiring pickers, I have taken seminars or lessons with Ken Bloom, David Bloom, Howard Roberts, Pat Martino, Joe Pass, Lenny Breau, Ron Eschete, Ted Greene, Joe Diorio, Jethro Burns, Guy Van Duser, and John Stowell. I also spent some time taking Sitar lessons with Som Mujumdar. I have played in many styles which has been both good and bad. Good because it’s fun to try on different hats and bad because I never really got down to one style. In 1987 we moved to California and I started to concentrate on Jazz. I played with a fusion band called Io and some assorted Blues bands. Then, around 1994, my hearing having faded a bit, I started having bad headaches after I would play a gig and had to give up loud music. I started a band called The Penguin Jazz Quartet to play quiet Jazz. The PJQ disbanded in 1999 and I formed a Brazilian band called Nossa Bossa. I also played in an Organ Trio with Bill Walker and Keith Wald. In 2008 I moved back to Cedar Rapids and shortly after started playing duets with Bassist Rich Wagor.

Rich Wagor – Bass

Richard Wagor, is a double bassist and recently has relocated to Cedar Rapids after having worked as a freelance bassist in the Memphis metropolitan area.  He has studied bass at the University of Iowa , holds a Masters of Music from Manhattan School of Music, and most recently studied with Robert Kassinger at DePaul University in Chicago .  Richard is the current interim principal bass in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony and has served as interim principal bass in the Dubuque Symphony and interim assistant-principal bass of the Memphis Symphony.  Additionally, he has been a section member of the Memphis Symphony, principal bass in the Waterloo Cedar Falls Symphony, and assistant principal bass in the Dubuque Symphony.  Mr. Wagor has also performed with the Arkansas Symphony, Austin Symphony, Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra, Cedar Rapids Symphony, Clinton Symphony, Delta Symphony, Illinois Symphony, Kankakee Symphony, Kenosha Symphony, Illinois Symphony, Quad Cities Symphony, and Wartburg symphony as well as the Manhattan Virtuosi, the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra, and the Yale Repertory Theater.  Richard has held teaching positions at UNI, Cornell College , and the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and maintains a studio in Cedar Rapids .  His chamber music credits include participation in and establishment of the Five Seasons Chamber Music Festival with performances at the Hot Springs Music Festival and personal performances with the Memphis Chamber Music Society. Richard’s other musical endeavors have led him to play upright and electric bass with  Now!s, Organ Thief, The John Lake Band, Stephanie Wright, Jobu Babin, Leni Stern, and soprano Callen Esperian.  Currently Richard is working with jazz guitarist Pat Smith in the Cedar Rapids area.

Past House Concerts:

Jazz Quartet on 10.17.09 -