Special Guests
Saturday, January 25, 1997

The Ensemble Singers of the Plymouth Music Series first sang together in 1991, part of the Plymouth Music Series-which, under the direction of world-renowned conductor, choral scholar, and performer Philip Brunelle-has grown over the past 28 years into one of the premier music organizations in Minnesota. The Ensemble Singers are known for innovative exploration of music for voices and instruments. Commissions and world premiere performances have included works of Dominick Argento, Conrad Susa, Stephen Paulus, Libby Larsen, Paul Schoenfield, Dan Kallman, Joseph Jennings, Carol Barnett, and David Baker. The Ensemble Singers made their European debut in 1994 and are heard on the Angel, Collins Classics, and RCA labels. Their third Witness recording, Toward the Future, (Collins Classics) will be released January 30. The Ensemble Singers have been asked to sing at this year's Prague Spring Festival-they're the first U.S. professional chorus invited by the festival. Performing with the Ensemble Singers tonight: soprano: Lisa Habeck, Kathleen Hanson, Barbara Nelson, Andrea Schussler, Ruth Spiegel, Linda Zelig; alto: Suzanne Buenning, Rosita Elhardt, Barbara Kastens, Karen Lovgren Kennedy, Marita J. Link, Patricia Thompson; tenor: Claude Cassagne, David O. Henderson, Thomas Larson, James P. Miller, J. David Moore, Rick Penning; bass: Michael Jorgenson, Brad Runyan, Douglas Shambo, Robert Smith, Frank Steen; pianist: Charles Kemper.

Robin and Linda Williams have been frequent guests on A Prairie Home Companion since 1976. They performed on the second and third Prairie Home Companion Reunion Tours and on A Prairie Home Companion's broadcasts from Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, and the Universal Amphitheater. Beyond A Prairie Home Companion, the Williamses have made numerous television appearances: on the Nashville Network's Fire on the Mountain, Nashville Now, and Music City Tonight. And the duo has been heard on other nationwide radio programs: the Grand Ole Opry has welcomed Robin and Linda Williams as guests, as have Mountain Stage and NPR's All Things Considered. With 12 recordings and three musicals to their credit, they are considered to be among the finest songwriters in the folk-country tradition. Their most recent albums include: Sugar for Sugar, on the Sugar Hill label; and Robin and Linda Williams and Their Fine Group-Live, Sugar Hill's re-release of Strictly Country Records' recording, Live in Holland. Last year, Robin and Linda Williams released a new gospel album, Good News (Sugar Hill). The pair's harmonies can be also heard on Mary Chapin Carpenter's album, Stones in the Road, and on Iris DeMent's Warner Bros. recording, My Life. As part of the Hopeful Gospel Quartet, the duo recorded a live album from Carnegie Hall (produced by Chet Atkins, on Sony Records), toured across the United States and Europe, and been featured on PBS' Austin City Limits. Joining them tonight are Kevin Maul on dobro and Jim Watson on bass.

St. Paul native and jazz pianist Dave Frishberg is best known for wry lyrics and memorable melodies. Four of his albums have earned Grammy nominations. And his songs have been performed by some of America's best-known voices, including Rosemary Clooney and Michael Feinstein. Frishberg's genius is apparent to anyone who grew up in the '70s hearing his Schoolhouse Rock segments, including the popular "I'm Just a Bill." Frishberg grew up right here in St. Paul, attended journalism school at the University of Minnesota and then moved to the East Coast. He spent the '60s in New York City, playing in the rhythm section of jazz greats-Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, Ben Webster, and Gene Krupa-and accompanying singers such as Carmen McRae. In 1971, he moved to Los Angeles, where he became a sought-after studio musician, recording with Susannah McCorkle, Manhattan Transfer, Herb Alpert, Bill Berry's L.A. Band, and others. His most recent vocal CD is Quality Time (Sterling). His instrumental recordings are found on the Arbors Jazz label.