“ . . . powerful and passionate . . . dazzling.” —Downbeat
One-of-a-kind piano virtuoso Elew presents his acclaimed show, “Elew Plays Sting,” in the intimate setting of Classic Pianos. This stunning program will be entirely on acoustic grand piano, and will showcase his formidable technique and blazing musical intelligence as he reinterprets the timeless songs of Sting. Known for his self-titled approach called Rockjazz,
Elew was recently tapped by Sting himself to open for him on a major North American tour. Before his crossover success, the pianist built a towering reputation in the jazz world, performing and recording with giants like Wynton Marsalis, Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove, Elvin Jones, Cassandra Wilson, and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Elew draws on this rich history, channeling the harmonic sophistication of jazz into Sting’s repertoire to create an unforgettable, thrilling, and deeply personal solo performance. Don’t miss this chance to hear a rising star put his stamp on two genres in one night.
Elew Plays Sting
Sat, April 11
|
2:00 PM
&
5:00 PM
Presented by Denver Jazz Fest
PERSONNEL
Elew: piano
Ticket prices: $30
PERSONNEL
Elew: piano
Ticket prices: $30
Gimme 5
Five questions with Elew
Don Lucoff: How did the idea of doing Sting’s music come about?
Elew: I had the pleasure of opening 30 concerts for Sting during his 2024 3.0 Tour. It was such a unique and euphoric experience that I chose to make Sting the subject of my next portraiture project, the last one having been Kurt Rosenwinkel.
DL: You have been engaging with pop artists such as the tones, The Roots and countless others over the years since starting out as solely a jazz pianist. What has been the takeaway from that as a musician?
E: The study and execution of rock music has broadened my piano technique in radical ways. Expressively, physically, dynamically, and commercially. Also it provided such a needed catharsis during the time following my hiatus from jazz performance after my membership in the Wynton Marsalis organization.
DL: Your celebrity status is impressive especially among politicians and actors. What do you attribute that to and who among them has left an indelible mark on you?
E: I have found that many celebrities and politicians were intrigued by my reinterpretations and dazzling musical portraits of songs and bands they love. By using this material, I collapsed the gap between myself and them in a very effective way which allowed me to more directly infuse their ears and minds with variations of their cherished pieces which they could easily follow and be thrilled by.
DL: Besides your solo work, what are some of the other group configurations and projects you are engaged in of late?
E: I have a multi-instrumental project that will come out following the solo piano heavy Elew Plays Sting album which is coming soon. It’s called Protect The Swing. It’s a sci-fi adventure which I am looking at as a jazz version of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine, in concept, not actual music. It follows the saga of the first jazz superhero who must protect the swing, which is a secret forcefield encircling the Earth, a concept I came up with during Covid lockdown. It’s also a video game and urban coding curriculum. The album features Christian McBride, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Theo Croker, the late Miles Griffith, and many others!
DL: You are from the Philly area, a city with a rich jazz history and that has been a sustaining force over the decades including programs offered by the Clef Club, High School for the Arts, and the Settlement Music School. How has coming up there shaped your musical approach to jazz and popular music?
E: Growing up in the Philly area afforded me the opportunity to play with the young Christian McBride, Joey DeFrancesco, Ahmir Questlove Thompson, Lil’ John Roberts, and a plethora of other great musicians that impacted me in my formative years as a young classical pianist excitedly transitioning into the vast and wondrous world of jazz.