Friday, May 28, 2010 from 6:30 to 10:00 pm –  John Sawoski plays piano, arranges, and music directs for Emmy Award-winning actor and vocalist Gregg Marx at Maggiano’s Little Italy at The Grove. The group features veteran jazz bassist Nedra Wheeler. http://www.reviewplays.comsays: Anyone who wants to feel the sounds of love should bring his/her significant other for a significant evening of song. Few singers have the magic in the voice that Gregg brings, and even fewer can reach through to your heart and play the love strings like a harp. The musical platter is full and rich, and everyone gets a little something they like. Maggiano’s Little Italy at The Grove is located at 189 The Grove Drive Z80, Los Angeles, CA 90036 (323-965-9665). No cover charge or reservations necessary. |
 July-August 2010 – Pageant of the MastersJohn Sawoski plays first keyboard with the orchestra in all performances of the Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach, CA. For more information about the Pageant of the Masters, please click on http://www.PageantOfTheMasters.com
Pictured here is a glimpse of John Sawoski’s complex keyboard rig as used on Pageant of the Masters: Keyboard Wizard software by Paul Nahay, triggering EastWest Quantum Leap Pianos and Orchestra, and a Roland RD-700GX Stage Piano. |
News Update:
 An Officer and A Gentleman John Sawoski is doing the initial music preparation (copying, transcribing, adapting, and some arranging) for the new musical based upon the film An Officer and a Gentleman Words and Music by Robin Lerner and Ken Hirsch. In May, John Sawoski’s keyboard, vocal, and drum parts were performed at an invitation-only “backers” presentation, at New York City’s New 42nd Street Studios. An article about this presentation appeared on the Broadway World Web site. More performances are being scheduled worldwide. Click here and here for news reports, and here for more information. |
 April 21 – May 2, 2010 – Dreamgirls – John Sawoski played keyboards in the orchestra pit as Dreamgirls came to the Orange County Performing Arts Center in a brand new, sensational stage production, direct from the world famous Apollo Theatre in New York City. Full of onstage joy and backstage drama, Dreamgirls tells the rags-to-riches story of a 1960s Motown girl group and the triumphs and tribulations that come with fame and fortune. Dreamgirls features the unforgettable hits “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” “One Night Only,” and “Listen.”
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March 20, 2010 – Tonia Bern-Campbell cabaret show, Palm Springs (click for flyer)
- March 6, 2010 – Academy Award Cinematography Nominees Event
- February 16-21, 2010 – The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber
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| New Flute CDs Feature John Sawoski |
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Masterworks for Flute features flutist Zachary Valenzuela accompanied by John Sawoski, performing three of the most demanding compositions for flute: The Ibert Concerto, Bach Orchestral Suite, and Prokofieff Sonata. Recorded and edited in April 2009 by John Sawoski at John Sawoski Studio
Click for a free excerpt:
Jacques Ibert Flute Concerto Excerpt (mp3) |
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Below features flutist Peter Sheridan playing new works for alto, bass, contra-bass, and sub-contrasbass flutes, accompanied by Australian pianist Claire Cooper, electronics, and John Sawoski on one track – Phillipe Gaubert’s Madrigal (which was also transcribed and adapted for alto flute by John Sawoski). BuyWell Just Classical calls the album, released in 2009 on Australia’s Move Records label, “A charming and rare recording of new chamber music showcasing the atmospheric sound of the lower members of the flute family.” |
- During the process of beginning to record Below in Los Angeles in 2008, Peter Sheridan and John Sawoski also recorded several other pieces of music, which they have performed together in concert, and which may appear on future recordings. See below for samples, or see John Sawoski’s updated MP3/Audio page
- Gary Schocker: Small Sonata for a Large Flute (Bass Flute)
- (P. Sheridan, Bass Flute/ J. Sawoski, Piano)
- Sidney Lanier: Melody (Arr. Sheridan & Sawoski)
- (P. Sheridan, Contra Bass Flute/ J. Sawoski, Piano)
- Gabriel Faure: Piece
- (P. Sheridan/ Bass Flute, J. Sawoski/ Piano)
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 February 16-21, 2010 The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber
Segerstrom Hall, Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 (map)
John Sawoski played keyboards in this grand showcase of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s music featuring a cast of Broadway veterans, backed by an onstage symphony, performing Andrew Lloyd Webber’s biggest and most memorable hits from such musicals as The Phantom of the Opera, Whistle Down the Wind, Starlight Express, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Cats, Jesus Christ Superstar, Sunset Boulevard, Evita, and more.
Howard McGillin, best known for his record-setting 2,500+ Broadway performances as The Phantom, was joined by David Josefsberg (Les Misérables, Grease); Laurie Gayle Stephenson (Phantom, The Secret Garden); Kathy Voytko (Oklahoma!, Nine); Kevin Kern (Wicked, Next to Normal) and Deone Zanotta (A Chorus Line, Dirty Dancing).
Click here for information: http://www.ocpac.org/home/Events/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=890
News Article / Reviews here, here, here, here, and here
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John Sawoski Musical Directs for Academy Award Cinematography Nominees EventSaturday, March 6, 2010 – John Sawoski supervised, arranged, played piano, and conducted the music for the Kodak Cinematography Awards Ceremonies (private event for cinematographers nominated for Academy Awards, featuring musical excerpts from the nominated films/TV shows).
