Wed Nov 20
WPFW Fundraiser - "DC's Great Guitars"
7PM / $50 | $7 Fees Get Tickets
DC's Great Guitars
“DC’s Great Guitars” w/Anthony Pirog/David W. Chappell and Rick Whitehead
All ticketing proceeds to benefit WPFW and its capital relocation campaign
3 generations of D.C.’s Best, playing solos, duets and all together w/bassist John Previti and drummer Mike Kuhl, harkening back to the original Great Guitars of Charlie Byrd, Herb Ellis and Barney Kessel … with a contemporary twist.
Anthony Pirog w/his wife & collaborator, cellist Janel Leppin
Anthony Pirog is the youngest of the three. Growing up in Northern Virginia, he absorbed D.C.’s long tradition of great guitar players and came up with a distinctive, unique sound. He takes that sound to each different group with which he’s played, from the tender acoustic duets on the first Janel & Anthony record to the intense electric punk jazz of the Messthetics. He can also play straight ahead, making each tune his own.
David W. Chappell
David W. Chappell, a Washington, DC native, is one of the most sought after and respected musicians in the area. He has won Washington Area Music Association Awards (WAMMIES) for 'Musician of the Year', 'Rock Instrumentalist of the Year', and 'Roots Rock Instrumentalist of the Year'.
He has performed with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legends Jerry Lee Lewis, Percy Sledge, and Johnny Johnson. But Dave is much more than a rocker – he’s a soulful and imaginative improvising guitarist who can play Horace Silver as well as he can play Santo & Johnny. And, of course, he played with – and learned from the great Danny Gatton, who could play it all. So can Dave.
Rick Whitehead
Rick Whitehead is the elder statesman of the group. For 22 years, he was a featured soloist with the U.S. Air Force’s jazz big band, the Airmen of Note. To be one of those musicians, you’ve got to have chops and in that role, he got to play with guitar legend Johnny Smith as well as backing Joe Williams and Sarah Vaughn. He’s worked with Dianne Schuur and Dr. Billy Taylor and he performed and recorded with Charlie Byrd. He carries the history of the guitar in his case, from gorgeous ballads to lightning-fast bebop to fierce rock ‘n’ roll. And he continues to impart that knowledge to students at the Shenandoah Conservatory, as well as to anyone who hears him.
7PM / $50 | $7 Fees Get Tickets
1. Final sale, no refunds, not transferable.
2. $15 food/beverage minimum per person not included in ticket price.
3. Seating first come at the door. Doors open 6 PM & 8:45 PM respectively.
4. Photography or Recording of any kind is prohibited during the performance.
5. Keep conversation to a minimum during the performance.