The Norris wraps up 40th season with guitar virtuoso Fareed Haque May 5
International guitar virtuoso Fareed Haque will appear in concert on Saturday, May 5, marking the conclusion of The Norris' 40th anniversary season. The performance will be at 7:30 p.m. in the theater of the Norris Cultural Arts Center, 1040 Dunham Road in St. Charles.
Steeped in classical and jazz traditions, Fareed Haque possesses a unique command of the guitar and multiple musical styles. His performances are characterized by a combination of tradition and fearless innovation. Haque has performed extensively around the globe, including long stays in Spain, France, Iran, Pakistan and Chile. The musical traditions that he encountered throughout his travels have contributed to Haque's natural eclecticism. He is also an accomplished composer in multiple genres.
Haque, whose ethnic heritage is Pakistani and Chilean, is a graduate of Northwestern University and since 1989 has been on the music faculty of Northern Illinois University where he teaches jazz and classical guitar.
Haque has performed and recorded with a virtual who's who of the jazz and classical music worlds. Television appearances have included WTTW's "Art Beat" and "Chicago Tonight," Ben Sidran's "New Visions," his own "Lonesome Pines" special on PBS, and on BET cable jazz programs. He is a multiple award winner from Downbeat Magazine, and in 2009 was voted Best World Guitarist by Guitar Player Magazine. His acclaimed 2009 release, "Flat Planet," was twice number one on the World Jazz Radio charts.
In his concert at The Norris, Haque will perform with his award-winning jazz quartet, and in a set by contemporary composer Franz Casseus, on classical guitar, bass and percussion.
Tickets are $18. For tickets, call (630) 584-7200 or visit www.NorrisCulturalArts.com for a link to online ticketing.
The Norris Cultural Arts Center is located on the Norris campus of St. Charles East High School.
"We are thrilled to present a musician of global stature such as Fareed Haque to cap off what has been a season of celebrations," said James L. Collins, chairman of Norris Cultural Arts Center. "We invite music lovers of all ages and tastes to enjoy this world-class performer in the grand finale of our 40th anniversary season."
Praise for Fareed Haque
Following are representative quotes from media reviews of Fareed Haque's performances and recordings.
"Classical and jazz, East and West, the future and the past, the brain and the booty all come together in glorious harmony via Fareed Haque's fleet fingers and freewheeling spirit." - Guitar Player Magazine
"A finely honed classical technique and a deep well of experience in pop music makes Haque a singular figure in music." - Chicago Tribune
"This show was incredible. The variation in sound over the course of the show was staggering." - Chicago Jam Scene
"I was kind of familiar with Fareed Haque and I got a chance to play with him at the High Sierra Festival. Man, he's my new hero. I'm going to Chicago and I'm going to call ahead so I can sit down and get a couple of lessons from Fareed." - Karl Denson, Blue Note Recording Artist.
"Fareed Haque lets loose with his considerable imagination as guitarist and composer. His songs on Beware My Ethnic Heart reach the ears in a terrific surge of well-played sitar, guitar, bass, drums and keyboards." - Downbeat Magazine
"Garaj Mahal (Haque's former band) has the X factor that wows audiences. They achieve this through a combination of powerful chops-laden instrumentation, collective groove and improvisational chance taking." - Jambase
"Garaj Mahal is a loose, rocking beast of a band … Labels and preconceived constrictions don't matter because now it's just the music." - Washington Post
"Modern jazz has never sounded so good." - Whistler This Week