Allentown Symphony Hall | Frank's Photography Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Allentown Symphony Hall

Feb

Simon Mulligan Trio

By Frank T. Smith Closed

Categories: Photography
Tags: Allentown, Allentown Symphony Hall, Jazz, jazz cabaret, Miller Symphony Hall, Olympus, OM-D E-M1, PA, Photo, Photograph, Photography, Simon Mulligan, Symphony Hall, Winter

Last year, around this time, I had the opportunity to listen and photograph this amazing trio at the Jazz Cabaret upstairs from the Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown PA. Acclaimed pianist Simon Mulligan has played with everyone from The Royal Philharmonic to Sting. Mr. Mulligan returns to Allentown for an evening of standards, jazz classics, and original music from his CD “Playlist.” Joining Simon will be bassist Gene Perla, who has performed with Elvin Jones, Sarah Vaughan, Nina Simone, Sonny Rollins, and other jazz luminaries. Rounding out the rhythm section will be my good friend, Dave Willard on drums. Expect to hear the Simon Mulligan Trio’s sophisticated take on your favorite timeless melodies and Simon’s own compositions. They will be playing again this Friday, February 19th at 7:30PM. For more info and tickets click here. The following are images from last year’s performance and were shot with the Olympus OM-D E-M1.

Sep

TEDx Lehigh River 2015

By Frank T. Smith Closed

Categories: Photography
Tags: Allentown Symphony Hall, Miller Symphony Hall, Olympus, OM-D E-M1, Photo, Photograph, Photography, Symphony Hall, TED Talks, TEDx, TEDx Lehigh River

Theme: Why Not?

TEDxLehighRiver 2015 will bring together a diverse group of speakers and audience members from the Lehigh Valley and beyond for a program of engaging and thought-provoking presentations and conversation reflecting the quotation from George Bernard Shaw: “You see things and say, Why? But I dream things that never were and say, WHY NOT?”

The event was held this past Saturday at Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown, PA to an audience in excess of a couple hundred people. I love the concept of TED talks. I have had the opportunity to photograph this local event since it started in 2013 and I was one of the original presenters also.

This year’s cast of presenters (see the images below) did not disappoint. They included:

Dr. Catherine Moore
English Teacher, English Literature and Theatre

George Hrab
Multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, producer, composer, and heliocentrist

Joyce Marin
Executive Director of Renew Lehigh Valley

Lauren Villaverde
Engineer and entrepreneur

Liz Jordon
Certified yoga instructor trained in Trauma Sensitive Yoga

Michael Brolly
Wood turning artist, teacher, environmentalist

Sep

TEDx 2014

By Frank T. Smith Closed

Categories: Photography
Tags: Allentown, Allentown Symphony Hall, OM-D E-M10, PA, Photo, Photograph, Photography, Symphony Hall, TED, TEDx, TEDx Lehigh River

Yesterday I had the pleasure to attend the 2nd annual TEDx Lehigh River presentation. TEDx Lehigh River is an independently organized TED event that brings together a diverse group of speakers and audience members to participate in a program of engaging and thought-provoking presentations and conversation. The first TEDx Lehigh River was held in April 2013 with the Allentown Symphony Association, Lehigh University, and PBS39 as the founding partners. I had the honor of being one of the speakers at last year’s event. This year’s speakers include Kevin Bahler, Rick Boulay, M.D., Robert M. Gordon, Zack Gray, Tim Lytle, Rebecca Einstein Schorr, Bryan Tuk, Katy C Worriloow. The following are a few snaps from the event.

Sep

Jazz Cabaret – Hot Bijouxx

By Frank T. Smith Closed

Categories: Photography
Tags: Allentown, Allentown Symphony Hall, Bijouxx, Hot Bijouxx, Jazz, jazz cabaret, Jazz Upstairs, Miller Symphony Hall, Najwa Parkins, Olympus, OM-D E-M1, PA, Photo, Photograph, Photography, Symphony Hall

On Friday night, August 15th I was once again given the pleasure of capturing the evening through photography at the Jazz Upstairs. Hot Bijouxx performed an energetic mélange of Prohibition-era jazz, brilliantly combining story telling with the music. The 4 piece jazz band was complimented by the vocals of Najwa Parkins. Another great night of great jazz on the 3rd floor of Miller Symphony.

Aug

Jazz Cabaret – Eric Mintel Quartet

By Frank T. Smith Closed

Categories: Photography
Tags: Allentown, Allentown Symphony Hall, Eric Mintel, Eric Mintel Quartet, Jazz, jazz cabaret, Olympus, OM-D E-M1, PA, Photo, Photograph, Photography, Quartet, Summer, Symphony Hall

Last month’s Jazz Cabaret was another sellout. The Eric Mintel Quartet mastered the balance of the acoustics in Miller Symphony’s Hall’s Rodale Room on Friday July 18th. I had the pleasure of photographing the Quartet while they played songs from Coldplay, Sting, Aerosmith and others as well as many of their own originals. Their performance was enticing and audience engaging.

Jul

Jazz Cabaret – Go Trio with Gene Perla featuring Viktorija Gecyte

By Frank T. Smith Closed

Categories: Photography
Tags: Allentown, Allentown Symphony Hall, Gene Perla, Go Trio, Jazz, jazz cabaret, Olympus, OM-D E-M1, OM-D EM-5, Photo, Photograph, Photography, Symphony Hall, Viktorija Gecyte

May’s Jazz Cabaret at Miller Symphony was another great evening! Paris based vocalist Viktorija Gecyte graced the audience with her alluring themes,accompanied by Go Trio with Gene Perla. Other band members included Sean Gough on piano, Gene Perla on bass, Colby Inszer on drums and special guest trumpeter Joe Magnarelli. The band kept the audience entertained for the entire performance.

May

Bill Goodwin Quartet

By Frank T. Smith Closed

Categories: Photography
Tags: Allentown, Allentown Symphony Hall, Bill Goodwin, Jazz, jazz cabaret, Miller Symphony Hall, Olympus, OM-D E-M1, Photo, Photograph, Photography, Symphony Hall

A few weeks back I had the privilege of photographing Bill Goodwin, a professional drummer with an extended list of past performances and bands. Goodwin played with his quartet at Miller Symphony Hall- Jazz Cabaret. The quartet performed selections from Goodwin’s new CD “Raise Four”. The evening was great fun and always enjoyable in the “best listening room in the Lehigh Valley”- 3rd floor Jazz Cabaret. For future Jazz Cabaret Series schedule and tickets, Click Here .

Apr

Funk Xpress with Gene Perla

By Frank T. Smith Closed

Categories: Photography
Tags: Allentown, Allentown Symphony Hall, Funk Xpress, Gene Perla, Jazz, jazz cabaret, Jazz Cabaret Series, Miller Symphony Hall, Olympus, OM-D E-M1, OM-D EM-5, Photo, Photograph, Photography, Symphony Hall

A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure of seeing Gene Perla with his newly formed group, Funk Xpress, play upstairs at the Miller Symphony Hall, Jazz Cabaret Series. The performance was highly energizing and extremely entertaining. The band consists of renowned talent that successfully captivated the audience with a variety of music choices. During the evening, there were hints of future Jazz Cabaret performances. Let’s keep our fingers crossed! For future Jazz Cabaret Series schedule and tickets, Click Here .

Mar

Simon Mulligan: Love Songs

By Frank T. Smith Closed

Categories: Photography
Tags: Allentown, Allentown Symphony Hall, David Willard, Jazz, jazz cabaret, Miller Symphony Hall, Olympus, OM-D E-M1, OM-D EM-5, Photo, Photograph, Photography, Simon Mulligan, Steven Liu, Symphony Hall, Valentine, Winter

A couple of weeks ago, Valentine’s Day to be exact, I photographed Simon Mulligan and company at the Jazz Cabaret upstairs at the Miller Symphony Hall. The company part consisted of Steven Liu, the Director El Sistema Youth Music Education Program and my very good friend, David Willard on drums. The trio created an evening of absolutely amazing music. You could hear and feel the passion of classically trained pianist, Simon Mulligan. I am already looking forward to his next performance.

Jan

Expansions: The Dave Liebman Group

By Frank T. Smith 2 Comments

Categories: Photography
Tags: Allentown, Allentown Symphony Hall, Dave Liebman, Expansions, Jazz, jazz cabaret, Olympus, OM-D E-M1, OM-D EM-5, Photo, Photograph, Photography, Symphony Hall, The Dave Liebman Group, Winter

A few weeks back I was again privileged to be the photographer for the Jazz Cabaret at Miller Symphony. The group we enjoyed was led by Dave Liebman and was called Expansions – The Dave Liebman Group. Liebman is a renowned jazz musician and has played with many of the masters including Miles Davis, Elvin Jones, Chick Corea and others and having been recorded in over 300 pieces. Liebman has also authored books and instructional DVDs which are acknowledged as classics in the jazz field. Liebman has begun to introduce new younger generation musicians to his band, hence the name “The Expansions”. These newcomers are being inspired and taught by Liebman. The music we enjoyed ranged from classical, free and traditional jazz.