MVCAF Brings Free Concert to Valley View

The Moreno Valley Cultural Arts Foundation (MVCAF) and the Moreno Valley Unified School District brought a free concert to the community recently at the Valley View High School Theater in Moreno Valley. The two talented performers were a husband and wife team: jazz pianist phenom Stephanie Trick, from St. Louis, and Paolo Alderighi, from Italy. Vanguard Art Gallery Director and President/CEO of MVCAF Richard Archer described the night as a success. “Their performance was filled with humor, entertainment, and positively precise piano playing at its finest,” he said. The husband and wife team had recently returned from their successful European Tour and Moreno Valley was be their first stop once back in the States. They played four-hand piano most of the night, in which they both play the piano at the same time. According to Archer, Trick also did some renditions from some of James P. Johnson’s stride piano works, including “After You’ve Gone” and “St. Louis Blues." Not only did they both offer an unforgettable musical performance to the audience, but they even shared the history of jazz and its many different styles, and that's not including their humorous commentary in between songs. After the couple's performance and a couple standing ovations, a reception was held at the Vanguard Art Gallery where everyone was welcome to join Trick and Alderighi to enjoy some light refreshments and talk about music. Archer mentioned that about half of the people that attended the performance piled over to the Vanguard to attend the reception, as well. Everyone at the reception had a chance to meet and talk to the husband and wife duo. According to Archer, they explained briefly what it’s like to be a jazz musician on a daily basis. Their schedules are jam packed with events and performances. Not only do they have many events to perform as a team, but they also separate to perform individual shows. These performances vary from many different places all over the globe anywhere from $50 to $75 a ticket, according to Archer. In 2014, they played for the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall at the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival. Trick was the 2012 recipient of the prestigious Kobe-Breda Jazz Friendship Award, and has performed in many parts of the United States as well as in Europe in a variety of venues. “People that have talent of that caliber performing in Moreno Valley for free is just amazing,” he shared. MVCAF plans to hold more events like these in the future. Archer extended his regards to the Vanguard Art Gallery’s Facebook page. “MVCAF is immensely thankful to Paolo and Stephanie for a masterful performance. We also extend our thanks to Greg Solomon, from (the Moreno Valley Unified School District), for his hard work in helping us pull the venue together, MVUSD for their support and cooperation, and Barry Glover/108th Avenue Entertainment Group, for bringing Paolo and Stephanie to Moreno Valley.” [END] What a fun night!!!!! Stephanie Trick and her husband, Paolo Alderighi were brilliant tonight at the Valley View HS theater. Their performance was filled with humor, entertainment, and positively precise piano playing at its finest. Most of the evening was piano for four hands that was breathtaking. Stephanie Trick also did some masterful renditions of some of James P Johnson's stride piano works. It was an excellent mix of jazz standards including "After You've Gone" and the "St. Louis Blues". Paolo, who is Italian, and Stephanie, who is from St. Louis, provided explanations about different styles of jazz, its evolution, along with the difference between jazz in the US versus Europe & Japan. They received two standing "O"s from a very appreciative audience. After, at our reception at the Vanguard, Paolo and Stephanie gave us a glimpse of what life is like as a jazz musician and their grueling schedule. They perform as a husband and wife team, then split up and perform separately as well. They are booked solid with performances all over the world, often criss-crossing the Atlantic several times in the span of a few months. MVCAF is immensely thankful to Paolo and Stephanie for a masterful performance tonight. We also extend our thanks to Greg Solomon, from MVUSD for his hard work in helping us pull the venue together, MVUSD for their support and cooperation, and Barry Glover/108th Avenue Entertainment Group, for bringing Paolo and Stephanie to Moreno Valley. I have attached video from tonight's performance - sorry for the quality, but it effectively conveys the great talent we got to enjoy tonight. MVCAF will continue to bring you great artistic endeavors all year long. Remember, tonight's show, like most everything we do, was totally free to the public. Of course, you can see Stephanie and Paolo in Woodside or San Diego, later this year where tickets are going for about $70 per person. Tuesday at 6:00 PM, you will be treated to an incredible jazz concert at the Valley View High School. Stephanie and Paolo are simply amazing together. You'll have a chance to meet them later at our reception at the Vanguard, right after the performance. It's a free concert so don't miss out. Trick also did some masterful renditions of some of James P Johnson's stride piano works. It was an excellent mix of jazz standards including "After You've Gone" and the "St. Louis Blues". Paolo, who is Italian, and Stephanie, who is from St. Louis, provided explanations about different styles of jazz, its evolution, along with the difference between jazz in the US versus Europe & Japan. They received two standing "O"s from a very appreciative audience. We are less than a week away for Stephanie Trick and Paolo Alderighi to perform at the Valley View High School (13135 Nason St), Tuesday, May 19 at 6:00 PM. The concert is free and open to everyone. There is a free reception to meet Stephanie and Paolo right after the concert that will be held at the Vanguard (free soda, beverages, and snacks). You can check out Stephanie and Paolo on YouTube to get a sampling of their performance. We are honored to have such incredible music talent coming to Moreno Valley. This is more high quality arts programming brought to the people of Moreno Valley for FREE - zero dollars and zero cents.