BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center, the longest operating performance venue in lower Manhattan, proudly presents The Christine Spero Group, performing “Spero Plays Nero,” part of the Tribeca Spotlight “Next Voice You Hear” Series, on Friday, December 18 at 8PM. Tickets are $15.
A heartfelt tribute and celebration of the music of Laura Nyro, one of the greatest pop songwriters of the 20th century featuring Christine Spero (piano & vocal), Elliot Spero (saxes & percussion), Scott Petito (bass) and Peter O’Brien (drums). In the new, one-of-a-kind show, “Spero Plays Nyro,” the Christine Spero Group maintains the integrity of Laura Nyro’s music while infusing it with their own unique personality. Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame member Laura Nyro’s groundbreaking music crossed the genres of folk, rock, and jazz. She became one of the most covered artists in the 1960’s and 1970’s with such songs as “Eli’s Coming “and “Wedding Bell Blues,” to name a few. Christine has loved Laura’s music from a young age when she was given a promotional copy of Eli and the Thirteenth Confession by a radio DJ friend. She was inspired by Laura’s music to be bold in writing, singing, and playing piano.
Even before Christine Spero began recording with her dynamic quartet, she was earning numerous accolades for her melodic, emotionally powerful and soulful songwriting and was Winner of the USA Songwriting Competition/Jazz category with her song, “He Wasn’t Always That Way.” Christine and the group have been written about in USA Today, Billboard, JazzTimes, JAZZIZ, Keyboard and Recording Magazines, Time Out New York, The Village Voice and ASCAP Playback. They have shared the stage with Kevin Eubanks, Felicia Collins, Doc Gibbs, Steve Katz, John Sebastian, Blood Sweat and Tears, Kim Waters, Walter Beasley, Ray Vega, The Woody Herman Orchestra, Bobby Mattos, and Melanie.
Christine has a musical heritage, her grandmother and great-aunt were classical, ragtime and silent movie pianists. She is first, last, and always a songwriter. Since her start in the music business as a teen with legendary producer Don Kirschner and Neil Sedaka, she has honed the sound of piano, percussion, and saxophone into rich grooves and memorable melodies. As a teen she entered the RCA recording studio with producers Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield and her first group, 7th House recorded several original songs. The first single recorded, entitled “Ode To Freedom” was written by Christine Spero along with the B-side, a song entitled River Queen which was written by Neil Sedaka. She has performed with her own quartets and sextets over the years and now lives in the Catskill Mountains of New York, where she continues to write, record, and perform with her band.
“Christine Spero blew away any elitest music critic prejudices I may have had about a singer/songwriter devoting an entire evening’s performance to covers of another artist. Christine Spero took the works of one of her early mentors, Laura Nyro, and recreated them in her own image. And what an image it was. This woman has a lover’s touch on piano, a jazz master’s vocabulary and a vocal splendor perfectly matched by a band that is nothing short of breathtaking.” – Don Wilcock (The Saratogian, Troy Record, Nippertown)
To purchase tickets, call Ticketing Services at (212) 220-1460. Tickets can also be purchased by visiting our website at http://tribecapac.org/spero-plays-nyro-christine-spero-group-dec18/ or by visiting the Box Office at 199 Chambers Street, Tues-Sat from 12PM – 6PM.
BMCC Tribeca PAC is Downtown Manhattan’s premier presenter of the arts, reaching audiences from the college community, downtown residential and business communities, local schools, families, and audiences of all ages. BMCC Tribeca PAC strives to present a broad global perspective through the presentation of high-quality artistic work in music, theatre, dance, film and visual arts. BMCC Tribeca PAC is located on the Borough of Manhattan Community College campus, 199 Chambers Street (between Greenwich Avenue & West Street) and is convenient to the 2/3, A/C/E and R subway lines and the New Jersey Path Train. For more information please visit our website, www.tribecapac.org.
