Monday, February 28, 2022
12 PM
Free concerts at noon every other Monday from fall through spring . . . no wonder the Mini-Concerts are the longest-running and one of the most popular classical music series at the library! This series was founded by Glenna Hazleton in 1970 at the Athenaeum, and has been going strong ever since. The concerts feature both local and touring musicians, prize-winning students, university music faculty members, local chamber ensembles. . . and the repertoire also includes jazz, folk and world music. There are no reservations, no tickets . . . just line up at the side door of the Athenaeum before noon. (Donations are always welcome!) Mini-Concerts take place every other Monday at noon and last about an hour.
NOTE: This concert was previously scheduled for Monday, January 17, 2022.
Peter Sprague—guitar
Tripp Sprague—sax, flute, and piano
Mack Leighton—bass
Peter’s jazz trio starts off with a brisk samba song, moves to a bebop classic, slows down to bask in the glow of an Americana ballad, and then ignites into a psychedelic version of The Beatles “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.” It’s an array of contrasting jazz stylings all executed with the spirit of joy in music. The trio improvises, plays simple, gets syncopated, plays fast, plays slow, and most of all, has a lot of fun!
About the Musicians:
Peter Sprague
Peter Sprague was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1955 into a musical family. They moved to Del Mar in 1963. He started playing guitar when he was 12 and attended a year of study at Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan. In 1976 he moved to Boston, where he studied with Pat Metheny and classical guitarist Albin Zak. Returning to California in 1978, he formed a group called The Dance of the Universe Orchestra, featuring vocalist Kevyn Lettau.
Peter has recorded over 30 of his own albums and has been part of over 300 others. In addition to performing and recording, he recorded 4 albums with Charles McPherson and later established a long-standing performing and recording relationship with Chick Corea. He organized Corea’s music in book form for publishing and published a book of his own transcriptions of Corea’s piano solos.
In 1985 he accepted teaching positions at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood and at CalArts in Los Angeles and has published several books of his pedagogy and compositions. Peter has a recording studio where he records, produces, and composes.
Tripp Sprague
If every man and instrument were meant for each other, Tripp Sprague and the saxophone are that match.
Tripp’s first professional gig came at the young age of 13 when he, his brother Peter, and three friends put together a quartet to play at the Golden Rollin’ Belly in Del Mar. From that beginning his repertoire has expanded from bebop, through Brazilian, blues, and standards, to fusion and pop; Tripp and his sax are fluent in all. He is one of the top players on the San Diego music scene. He performs regularly with groups led by Peter Sprague, Jaime Valle, Shep Myers, and others. His versatility has led to performances with such internationally renowned acts as Mose Allison, Kenny Loggins, The Little River Band, and Motown legends Smokey Robinson, the Four Tops, and The Temptations.
Tripp has recorded on numerous CDs with such highly regarded artists as Kim Carnes, Todd Rundgren, Willie & Lobo, and Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek. Tripp also co-produced and performed with the group Blurring the ,Edges on a CD by the same name, which won Best Pop-Jazz album at the San Diego Music Awards. He runs his own recording studio and has produced CDs for many artists.
Wall to Wall is Tripp’s first self-produced CD. Those who have heard the pieces on the album, all of which were arranged and written by Tripp, have unanimously declared it well worth the wait. It features some of San Diego’s top jazz musicians: his brother, Peter, pianist Rob Whitlock, Bob Magnusson, and drummer Duncan Moore.
Mackenzie Leighton
Bassist Mackenzie Leighton has been performing since a young age. While primarily a jazz musician, his musical experience extends to other styles, including blues, rock, Afro-Cuban, and folk. From 2011 to 2014, he traveled the world performing on cruise ships. He has performed with Sammy Figueroa, Nestor Torres, Sugar Blue, Geoffrey Keezer, and the San Diego Symphony. Currently, Mackenzie maintains an active performance schedule while pursuing a master’s degree in jazz studies at San Diego State University.
The concerts will be in person at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library. There are no physical tickets for these events. Doors open at 11:50 a.m. Seating is first-come; first-served. These events will be presented in compliance with State of California and County of San Diego health regulations as applicable at the time of each concert. Face coverings are required for attendees, regardless of vaccination status. Proof of vaccination or negative test within 48 hours of the event is required. Event capacity is limited to 70% for now.