What: Liz Barnes and Barbara Martin
When: Friday, June 13 at 8:00pm
Where: 329 W. Main St., Waynesboro, Va
Tickets: $10 (in advance) | $12 (at the door)
WTA’s Gateway, labeled “the best intimate musical venue in the Valley,” has scheduled an engagement with Barbara Martin and Liz Barnes. The Friday, June 13 performance will begin at 8:00 pm at 329 W. Main St., downtown Waynesboro.
The Barnes and Martin Duo is a favorite of the Gateway audiences. Individually the two performers have made significant names for themselves in more than 20 years of composing, touring, recording and teaching. In 2012, they met at a party and formed the Liz Barnes and Barbara Martin duo, melding their considerable talents in a seamless evening of musical entertainment. “We love gigs where we can play off each other’s energetic stage presence and showcase our original work,” says Barbara about working with Liz. “We believe our audiences thoroughly enjoy the way we mix playfulness with skillful musicianship. And it’s great fun for us.”
The June 13 performance is a special occasion as Liz currently lives in Arizona making this one of the few times the duo will be able to play together in 2014.
Jazz pianist Liz Barnes has been teaching and performing for 20 years. She quickly made a name for herself in the 80’s performing with well-known regional acts and opening for acclaimed blues artists such as Anson Funderburgh and Sam Meyers, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Delbert McClinton, the Nighthawks and Sapphire, just to name a few.
While Liz’s piano style is firmly rooted in the blues, it reflects the whole jazz tradition from bebop to modernism. She has performed extensively as a solo jazz pianist as well as with small ensembles and big bands.
Barbara Martin is a musician known for being an accomplished vocal interpreter of the great jazz and blues standards yet brave enough to stretch the boundaries of the female jazz and blues singer stereotype. Chanteuse, girl-next-door and perceptive poet all rolled into one, the Washington Post calls Barbara Martin’s music “… as American in style as it is universal in emotional intelligence.”
In describing Barbara’s evolution, Portfolio Magazine stated, “Her voice has become lilting and uplifting, giving off an aura of happiness, similar in register and tone to that of Ella Fitzgerald. It’s a joy to hear.”
Advance tickets for the performance are $10 and are available online at www.wtagateway.com or by calling the box office (540-943-9999). Remaining tickets will be available at the door on the evening of the performances for $12. WTA’s Gateway box office opens thirty minutes prior to the performance start time. Seating is limited so advanced reservations are suggested. The June 13 performance will start at 8:00 pm at WTA’s Gateway at 329 W. Main St. downtown Waynesboro, VA.