Dick Durham 84 A Sunday Afternoon Jazz Celebration

Dick Durham Quartet

Dick Durham 84: A Sunday Afternoon Jazz Celebration

Some performers simply become part of the fabric of a place, and Dick Durham is certainly one of those performers at The Mainstay. His history with our stage stretches all the way back to The Mainstay’s beginnings, and through the years he has remained one of our most requested, most entertaining and most remarkable musical friends. The Mainstay’s own historical roster places Dick among the distinguished jazz artists who have helped define the venue over the years.

On Sunday, October 25 at 4:00 PM, we’ll continue a favorite Mainstay tradition by celebrating Dick’s 84th birthday with an afternoon of great jazz, good humor and the kind of musical spontaneity that has made his concerts so memorable.

Dick is a true jazz piano virtuoso whose influences include Erroll Garner, Oscar Peterson and Teddy Wilson. His career has included opening for the Count Basie Orchestra and sharing bills with such greats as Stanley Turrentine, Grover Washington Jr. and Billy Cobham. A pianist, composer and arranger, he has twice received Maryland Governor’s Citations for excellence in the performing arts.

For this birthday celebration, Dick will be surrounded by some very good musical company. Max Murray returns on upright bass, a longtime Durham collaborator and highly respected veteran whose career includes service with the U.S. Naval Academy Band. Greg Burrows brings his signature drive and swing to the drums; Greg is a bandleader and recording artist in his own right whose résumé includes New York sessions, television and film work, international performances and the Blue Man Group. Rounding out the quartet is guitarist Shawn Qaissaunee, adding another musical voice to what promises to be a particularly lively afternoon.

This won't simply be another jazz concert. It’s a birthday party, a reunion and a celebration of one of the musicians who has helped make The Mainstay what it is. Expect swing, improvisation, musical surprises, a few stories and plenty of Dick Durham personality along the way.

Come spend a Sunday afternoon with an old friend and four terrific musicians as we raise a musical toast to Dick Durham at 84.

Sunday, October 25 • 4:00 PM • Tickets $25