Residents of Provo have a rare opportunity to hear not just one but two Grammy-nominated musicians perform live this weekend.
As part of the 2011- 2012 Mayor Series for the Arts, David Lanz and Kurt Bestor will take the stage together, for the first time ever — and it’s happening right here in Provo at the Covey Center for the Arts. In 2000, Lanz was nominated for the Best New Age Recording and in 2011 Emmy-Award-winning composer Kurt Bestor arranged and produced an album that landed violinist Jenny Baker Oaks a Grammy nomination.
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“It’s for the enrichment of the community, for the residents of Provo,” Duerden said.
The whole purpose of the series, Duerden said, is to make the cultural experience of the arts more readily available to locals by bringing in the highest-caliber performers in the business. In past seasons, Provo has played host to the likes of Kenny Loggins, the Beach Boys and BYU’s Vocal Point.
When asked what makes this particular performance so special, Duerden said it’s a once in a lifetime kind of show.
“This performance isn’t going to be done any place else,” Duerden said. “We’re trying to bring big things down here and we’re putting them on in little Provo, Utah.”
[pullquote]”This performance isn’t going to be done anyplace else,” Duerden said. “We’re trying to bring big things down here and we’re putting them on in little Provo, Utah.”[/pullquote]
Lanz, a Seattle native, has performed in Provo twice before as a part of the Mayor’s Series and said he’s always enjoyed his time here.
“I’ve always loved coming to Provo,” Lanz said. “The whole Salt Lake-Provo experience has been real positive.”
Though he’s performed in Salt Lake and Provo a number of times and is a long time friend of Bestor, Lanz said they’d never really had the opportunity to perform in a concert setting together.
Bestor and Lanz expressed respect for one another and said they’ve been looking forward to the opportunity to collaborate for quite some time. The performances will include both collaboration and solo sections that highlight each musician’s original works. The two said they have a few surprises up their sleeves.
Lanz said he is looking forward to sharing some of his recently released arrangements of The Beatles music, though covers aren’t a regular thing for him.
“I’ve done some cover songs in the past but I’m pretty well known as a composer in this genre,” Lanz said.
He said The Beatles have been a huge influence for him and he feels it’s important to share that with his listeners.
“I wanted to point out and pay tribute to the songwriters that I started in on,” he said.
Bestor, a resident of Salt Lake City, said those who attend are in for a treat that can only be enjoyed in a live music setting.
“What happens between notes will be interesting to people,” Bestor said, adding that he and Lanz both enjoy interacting with their audiences outside of song.
“One thing we both kind of enjoy is the banter between songs so there will be a lot of that,” Bestor said. “That’s something you don’t get when you listen to a CD. I really am looking forward to doing something with David. He’s someone that I respect and being on stage with him is a supreme compliment to me.”
Performances will take place Friday and Saturday, March 2-3, at 7:30 p.m. at the Covey Center in Provo. Tickets are available online at coveycenter.org or by calling 801-852-7007
