GERSHWIN! Prudence Johnson & Dan Chouinard with violinist Randy Sabien

No other composer captured the spirit and energy of 20th-century America better than George Gershwin. In his tragically short lifetime, he gave us masterpieces like Rhapsody in Blue, An American in Paris, Porgy and Bess and beloved songs—“Summertime,” “Lady Be Good,” “Someone to Watch Over Me”--that have become part of the fabric of our culture. Gershwin’s music is in good hands with pianist Dan Chouinard, violinist Randy Sabien and vocalist Prudence Johnson, who bring gentle virtuosity and playful invention to the stage. Toes can’t help tapping when Randy starts swinging, hearts melt when Prudence wraps her velvet voice around a Gershwin love song, and Dan’s version of Rhapsody in Blue is an absolute show stopper!

Dan Chouinard: Piano, Accordion

Prudence Johnson: Voice

Randy Sabien: Violin

For three decades, singer Prudence Johnson and pianist Dan Chouinard have enjoyed a musical friendship, performing and touring the country together, and they can be seen individually on theater and concert stages with many and diverse musical projects. Each has appeared on the other’s recordings but their collection of Gershwin songs (titled, of course, Gershwin) features the duo in the pure simplicity of one piano and one voice.Prudence and Dan share a love of history and have written several shows together that highlight the music of an era and a place, usually Minnesota, in the context of the times in which it was created. The Golden Age of Radio, Tiptoe Through the 60’s: Songs and Stories from a Revolutionary Decade, and Flappers, Miners and Moonshiners: Minnesota in the ‘20s were all performed extensively throughout the state with support from the MN State Arts Board and the MN Historical Society.They express their love for classic country music in the band Lush Country, and they look forward to semi-annual performances with storyteller Kevin Kling, such as Valentine’s Day favorite The Love Show. Dan and Prudence have recently taken a deep dive into the music of a true American original, Randy Newman, and perform songs from his solo albums and award-winning film scores.Now they return to the timeless music of George Gershwin with special guest violinist Randy Sabien. The show features music from the beloved opera Porgy and Bess, Rhapsody in Blue, and many other Gershwin classics.

“(Johnson’s) lush, precise, expressive voice, with its pearls of vibrato, is best unadorned. A smart, sensitive pianist – like Chouinard, an in-demand accompanist – is all she needs.” Pamela Espeland, MinnPost

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