Saffire brings contemporary program to UNLV

Friday, Nov. 4, 2005 | 7:49 a.m.

When Australian classical guitar quartet Saffire performs Thursday at UNLV's Doc Rando Recital Hall, don't expect traditional arrangements by J.S. Bach, Fernando Sor or Ferdinand Carulli.

The group, known for recording and performing mostly new music, will present works by Juan Martin, Nigel Westlake, Bela Bartok and the rock group Deep Purple.

The performance begins the Performing Arts Center's Classical Guitar Series, which will also include performances by Pepe Romero on March 5 and Carlos Bonell and Christopher McGuire, who will perform March 22.

Saffire is composed of guitarists Karin Schaupp, Slava Grigoryan, Antony Field and Gareth Koch and breaks from the traditional idiom associated with classical guitar by incorporating world music, jazz and folk with traditional sounds.

Adam Foster, UNLV professor of classical guitar, said he is more familiar with Schaupp and Grigoryan as soloists, but aligns the quartet with the Grammy Award-winning Los Angeles Guitar Quartet.

Saffire is on tour following the 2004 release of its second album, "Nostalgica."

Foster said the group is polished.

"Individually, they're all great players," he said. "They're all great soloists in their own right."

Tickets to Saffire are $25. Call 895-2787.

Local artists

Audiences interested in hearing a local classical guitar ensemble can head to the Las Vegas Academy of Performing Arts on Thursday for a 7 p.m. student recital of traditional ensemble and solo music. The concert is in the school's Performing Arts Center at Ninth Street and Clark Avenue. Tickets are $5. For more information, go to www.classroomguitar.com.

Big sound

Jiggs Whigham, jazz soloist and conductor of the BBC Big Band in Great Britain and artistic director of the Berlin Jazz Orchestra, will perform with more than 100 trombonists at 2 p.m. Sunday at Artemus Ham Hall.

The performance is part of the annual scholarship concert, "76 Trombones Plus 4," which this year honors the late bass trombonist Bill Rogers.

Joining Whigham onstage will be Hall Reynolds, professor of trombones at Ithaca College, N.Y., who in addition to performing will be one of two guest conductors Sunday.

Dennis Wick, president of the International Trombone Association and former principal trombonist of the London Symphony Orchestra, will also conduct.

Comic musician Pete Barbutti will emcee the event. Tickets are $10 in advance; $12 at the door. For more information, call 895-2787.

Death Valley legend

Death Valley Junction's Marta Becket, artist and dancer who performs a one-woman show at Amargosa Opera House, will be speaking and signing copies of her new book, "To Dance on Sands: The Art and Life of Death Valley's Marta Becket," at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. For more information, call 507-3400.

First Friday

This evening's First Friday will feature the usual eclectic mix of art, jewelry, poetry, antiques and music in the downtown Arts District from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Artist Marty Walsh will introduce her Mart-O-Matic, a vintage pink cigarette machine that will dispense limited-edition prints for $8 at the Trifecta gallery in the Arts Factory near Charleston Boulevard and Main Street.

Other major First-Friday intersections are Colorado Boulevard and Casino Center Drive, and Charleston Boulevard and Interstate 15, site of the Holsum Lofts. For more information, access the Web site www.firstfriday-lasvegas.org.

Vargas performs flamenco

Dancer, choreographer and actor Antonio Vargas will perform at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Community College of Southern Nevada's Nicholas J. Horn Theatre, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave., with Fiesta Flamenca, a 10-member Las Vegas ensemble that performs on the Strip. Tickets are $12.50; $10 for students and seniors. For more information, call 651-5483.

Kristen Peterson can be reached at 259-2317 or at kristen@lasvegassun.com.