The Shawn Megorden Quartet will join Evenings of Intimate Jazz on Saturday, November 15th.  Shawn has performed in Gainesville twice, once with the South City Voices/Northwinds Symphonic Band Concert as a part of the 2005-2006 Evenings of Intimate Jazz season.  She has also performed with the Gainesville Symphony Orchestra.  Shawn will be joined by Robert Strickland, piano and Mark Bynum, bass, and Paul Fallat on drums.

Robert Strickland has accompanied countless Atlanta chanteuses and chanteurs for more than 25-years.  Robert has played in the Atlanta Pops Orchestra, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Alabama Symphony.  He has performed in concerts featuring Joni Mitchell, Lena Horne, Diane Schuur, Fred Travellion, Brian Wilson, Lionel Hampton and others.  Robert served as mc and led Mac Frampton’s “Hollywood Hills Orchestra” on tour across the US from 1999 to 2001.  He has recorded, along with numerous classical recordings, a Scott Joplin CD two original new age CD’s, and has plans for an album of original compositions entitles “Joyride” in the near future.  Strickland was a co-producer of and provided orchestrations on Shawn’s cd “Cover Girl.” 

Mark attended Berkely Conservatory in Boston and has played with The Robert Ray Orchestra, Col. Bruce Hampton, and Blueground Undergrass. 

During the course of a month Paul Fallat may rock out in a nightclub, play jazz in restaurants, hotels (or at Evenings of Intimate Jazz), perform in the pit orchestra for a musical theater production, or be a member of a praise band at a church.  Paul has performed with several groups over the years at Evenings of Intimate Jazz and has also played with the likes of Sandy Duncan, Joel Grey, Tommy Tune and the Smothers Brothers.  He has been in opening acts sharing the stage with Herbie Hancock, John Scofield, Glen Campbell and Sypro Gyra and others.  Paul has credits as drummer and/or drum programming on numerous CD’s ranging in style from Jazz to Country to Rock, to R&B.

Shawn has opened for Diane Schuur and has been a featured vocalist at the Fox Theatre, the Ford Theatre in Washington , DC , Spivey Hall, the Alliance Theatre and the 14th Street Playhouse.  Shawn  recently signed a contract with Vivid Sound Corporation in Japan to manufacture her solo jazz cd “Cover Girl,”  which has been receiving air play around the world.

2008-2009 Evenings of Intimate Jazz individual tickets are $25 per person.  You may purchase tickets online at www.theartscouncil.net and click on Evenings of Intimate Jazz or you may call us at 770-534-2787.  As always complimentary glasses, ice, set-ups, coffee and light snacks are included in the indoor events. 

For Artists contact information, please call Gladys Wyant or Dwight Hutchins at The Arts Council 770-534-2787.

Directions to Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center

From Atlanta:  Take I-85 north to Exit 113 bearing left onto I-985 north to Exit 20 GA Highway 60 (Queen City Pkwy/Candler Rd).  Turn left onto GA 60 and proceed approximately 2 miles to intersection with GA Hwy 369 (Jesse Jewell Pkwy), turn right onto GA 369 and proceed approximately 1/2 mile to intersection with W. Academy St (poultry monument/railroad museum on left, BB&T on right) turn left onto W. Academy and proceed 2 blocks and the Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center will be on the right at the intersection of W. Academy and Spring Streets.