We’re proud to be a presenting partner of the 13th Gilmore Keyboard Festival in Kalamazoo, commissioning a new piece by legendary composer Michel Legrand and hosting two jazz concerts at the Eccentric Cafe.

 

“Kalamazoo has always been a great town for the arts — and having the Gilmore Keyboard Festival here is sort of our crown jewel,” said Larry Bell, founder and president of Bell’s Brewery.

 

The Gilmore Keyboard Festival is a three-week keyboard festival with nearly 100 concerts and more than 200 artists.

 

The finale will include the debut of our commissioned piece “Concerto for Piano and Orchestra.”  It will be performed by Legrand himself with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. 

 

Legrand has composed music for several films, and won Academy Awards, including for “The Windmills of Your Mind” from “The Thomas Crown Affair.”

 

“It’s really special to even be associated with somebody of his stature,” said Larry. 

 

As of May 2, tickets are still available for this event. Check to see if tickets are still available. 

 

Two concerts will take place at the Eccentric Cafe as part of the Thursday Jazz at Bell’s series. The Aaron Diehl Trio will perform May 5. and the Taylor Eigsti Trio on May 12. Both 6:30 and 9 p.m. sets for both artists are sold out.

 

“It’s great we’ve come so far as a company to host a couple of the events,” Larry said. “It thrills me to no end to participate in that and bring some jazz to Bell’s.”

 

The Legrand composition is the second piece we have commissioned as part of the Gilmore. In 2014, we commissioned with the Gilmore the piece “Ode to La Bruja, Hanon, Czerny Van Cliburn and little gold stars ... (or, To Everyone Who Made my Life Miserable, Thank You).” The tribute to piano teachers was composed by Michael Gordon for Grand Band.