FerryMusic Presents Denny Zeitlin “Solo Vogage” on July 22 and Eric Zivian on July 29
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 17, 2006
Media Contact: Jason Arnold
Theme Productions
510-326-4353
jason@themeproductions.com
http://www.ferrymusic.org
FERRYMUSIC PRESENTS DENNY ZEITLIN “SOLO VOYAGE” ON JULY 22 AND ERIC ZIVIAN PERFORMING DEBUSSY & RAVEL WITH MELISSA KLEINBART & TANYA TOMKINS ON JULY 29
REMAINDER OF CONCERT SEASON ONBOARD FERRYBOAT “SANTA ROSA” STRAINED DUE TO FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES
PATRONS ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND JULY EVENTS TO CATCH A GLIMPSE OF SAN FRANCISCO’S FINEST MUSICIANS IN THE INNOVATIVE CONCERT SPACE
San Francisco, California; July 13, 2006; FerryMusic, one of San Francisco’s newest and most promising nonprofit performing arts presenters, may be sailing away after it presents its last two jazz and classical concerts on Saturdays July 22 and 29.
The concept of FerryMusic – a floating concert series presented on a boat set against the backdrop of the breathtaking San Francisco Bay – has been the sparkling vision of the organization’s Founder and President, Jane MacLean, for the past two years. The idea was originally based on Bargemusic, a successful venture launched in New York by classical arts maven Olga Bloom, a friend of MacLean’s.
MacLean fell in love with an under-utilized space onboard the historic 1927 ferryboat “Santa Rosa,” which has been owned and operated by Hornblower Yachts as its corporate offices. After favorable meetings with Hornblower, MacLean incorporated her new business as a 501c3 nonprofit organization to include concert presentation and educational programming activities, and quickly enticed many of San Francisco’s art patrons to participate on its Advisory Board and Board of Directors. FerryMusic presented a phenomenally successful classical and jazz trial concert in October 2005 and scheduled concerts April through October 2006.
To date, FerryMusic has presented the San Francisco String Trio and the Ives Quartet on April 30, jazz vocalist Clairdee on May 26, and Pulitzer Prize award-winning classical composer Paul Moravec on June 22. The concerts have been laudable successes for the new nonprofit, earning praise from audiences and critics alike. “It worked well, this first time off the dock,” wrote legendary classical music critic Robert Commanday after the April 30 performance. “San Francisco’s start-up offers a light, cheery space, as scenic as the passing boat traffic and glorious weather like Sunday’s can make it. Most important, the performance space is acoustically sound. . . So far so good.” FerryMusic also prompted Cheryl North, classical music reviewer for ANG Newspapers, to exclaim, “WOW! What a great idea! Why hasn’t this been done before?”
But while FerryMusic has remained a good idea, FerryMusic’s use of the Santa Rosa has remained questionable. Hornblower enjoyed earnings from food and beverage service during FerryMusic’s first concerts in lieu of rental compensation. However, after a year since MacLean initiated negotiations and received consistently encouraging promises, Hornblower executives observed the packed houses for FerryMusic’s concerts and requested a rental agreement, in addition to food and beverage services, that the start-up nonprofit could not meet.
“It is with profound sadness and no small amount of frustration,” says FerryMusic Executive Director Jane MacLean. “You can’t consciously present the world’s finest classical and jazz musicians in an small, intimate environment, keep the cost for admission affordable for the public and expect enormous financial results. We had hoped that Hornblower would be a significant partner with FerryMusic to revitalize the Waterfront District and infuse a terrific arts program along the Embarcadero. To our dismay, they have proved to be less cooperative than we expected.”
MacLean now plans to conclude FerryMusic’s concert series on the Santa Rosa with two concerts planned for late July. World-renowned pianist Denny Zeitlin will present “Solo Voyage,” an evening of solo jazz piano with standards and original music, on Saturday, July 22. The following weekend on Saturday, July 29, FerryMusic will feature Eric Zivian performing selections from Debussy’s Preludes and Ravel’s Piano Trio in A Minor with Melissa Kleinbart, Principal Violinist for the San Francisco Symphony, and Tanya Tomkins, Co-Principal Cellist for the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra.
Those involved with FerryMusic hope that enough music patrons in San Francisco will attend the two July concerts to recoup their expenses and break even. Future concerts scheduled with such artists as Jamie Davis, Natasha Miller, and The Tilden Trio have been postponed until further notice.
Although MacLean seems dismayed by the situation, the gleam in her eye doesn’t disappear. “I can’t wait to hear two of my favorite musicians, Denny Zeitlin and Eric Zivian, on a 9’4″ concert grand piano, and Debussy’s Preludes are some of my favorite pieces!”
Whether the organization fades away, occupies another space, or receives funding to return to the Santa Rosa, one thing is certain: the concerts on July 22 and 29 will be two extraordinary events that won’t be soon forgotten by Jane MacLean or any of FerryMusic’s supporters.
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