The Blues Trail with Vaneese Thomas & Pete Malinverni

The library is pleased and proud to present “The Blues Trail” featuring Vaneese Thomas and Pete Malinverni, both internationlly acclaimed Pound Ridge artists. The concert also features Al Orlo on guitar. In musical preformance and some historical perspective, you will understand how the African-American experience gave birth to this unique musical form, which migrated across the US with the people who created it, and then to the world. The artists will perform the works of some of the greats, from Robert Johnson to Bessie Smith from Louis Jordan to BB King. A unique, unforgettable musical experience in celebration of Black History Month!

Vaneese Thomas was born in Memphis, Tennessee, the daughter of legendary R&B musician Rufus Thomas. Today, Vaneese’s mission is to continue the legacy set by her influential father and carry on the heritage of Memphis music and traditional R&B that touches generations and crosses divides. Vaneese has cultivated her own style by blending all the influences of her background — R&B, gospel, blues and jazz, and her voice has led her to numerous countries, genres, performers and audiences. Highly regarded by industry insiders, Vaneese’s talents as an accomplished performer, songwriter, producer, and actress, have helped place her as a sought-after solo performer as well as a desired vocalist contributing to other top-name performers. Vaneese has worked with an array of internationally known performers including Luciano Pavarotti, Sting, Stevie Wonder, Natalie Cole, B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Luther Vandross, Michael Jackson, Chaka Kahn, Joe Cocker, Celine Dion, Annie Lennox, Patti LaBelle and many others. She has performed in Europe, Asia, and in the U.S. at concerts and festivals, including the Pavarotti & Friends 2002 for Angola concerts in Modena, Italy; the Porretta Soul Festival; the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland; the Michael Jackson & Friends concert with Luther Vandross in Seoul, Korea and Munich, Germany; and with Japanese Jazz Saxophonist Sadao Watanabe; as well as working with the Norwegian musical group, Dance with a Stranger. In September 2006, Vaneese will perform at the Narni Soul Festival in Italy. Vaneese has also produced recordings, created vocal arrangements, and has written songs for Patti Austin, Freddie Jackson, Bob James, Larry Coryell and Melba Moore, as well as working with renowned producer Phil Ramone. In 1995, Diana Ross scored a Top Ten hit in the UK with “One Shining Moment,” a song written by Vaneese. In 1987 Geffen Records released Vaneese, which included the Top Ten R&B hit, “Let’s Talk it Over”. In 1999, Vaneese’s “When My Back Is Against The Wall”, a gospel/crossover record, was released on her own Peaceful Waters Music label. Billboard Magazine hailed the record as, as “a small label masterpiece that begs for attention from savvy majors.” In 2003, Vaneese released A Woman Love – an R&B record that included a smooth jazz single accompanied with Vaneese’s silky vocals.

In addition to her concert and studio work, Vaneese also lends her voice to characters, movie soundtracks and television, which credits include Disney’s Hercules as the voice of Clio the Muse, Goddess of History (1997); Anastasia (1997); Mighty Aphrodite (1995); The First Wives Club (1996); Everyone Says I Love You (1996); and the Oscar-nominated Seraglio (2000), among others. From 1990 to 1996, Vaneese appeared as Grace the Bass on the PBS series Shining Time Station. Her other TV appearances include The Late Show with David Letterman and NBC’s Today.
Vaneese is currently recording and performing in the Blues world. She has released six blues albums which have garnered her 8 nominations for the Blues Awards. Her most recent album, “Stories in Blue” is being played internationally and can be found on any digital music format.

Pete Malinverni is well known internationally as well as locally as a pianist, composer and educator. We know him as a Steinway Artist, Professor at SUNY Jazz Studies, Pianist/Conductor, Westchester Reform Temple and Director of Music, Pound Ridge Community Church. However, among his myriad accomplishments, Pete has established performing, recording and inspirational contact with a host of masters on the scene including Joe Lovano, Vernel Fournier, Charles Davis, Mel Lewis, Dennis Irwin, Karrin Allyson, Steve Wilson and many, many others. These collaborations have happened in studios and on stages including the Carnegie Recital Hall and the Caramoor Festival, the Piccolo Spoleto Festival, the Rome Music and Image Festival, the Santiago (Chile) Jazz Festival and others, as well as in New York’s great clubs, such as the Village Vanguard, Birdland, the Blue Note, the Village Gate, Bradley’s, Smalls and Mezzrow. Pete has recorded multiple times as a leader, including in solo piano, piano/violin duet, trio, quartet, quintet, big band and choral contexts. All  his recordings have been highly praised by critics and the public alike and have seen heavy airplay on all platforms, from the radio to the internet. Pete feels music must be treated as a sacred gift, to be passed on freely to fellow musicians and listeners, with passionate control.
Register below. Registration guarantees a spot in the program. Registration does not guarantee a parking spot. The library encourages carpooling as much as possible.