Événement

A Simple Heart

A Simple Heart will return to Tompkins Corners Cultural Center, following their sold-out performance last summer. The duo, singer-songwriter and pianist Janice Hardgrove and guitarist Timothy E. Pitt, blend soulful originals and elegant interpretations of songs by everyone from Joni Mitchell to Robin Batteau, Suzanne Vega, and George and Ira Gershwin. Janice and Timothy have opened shows for artists ranging from jazz great Don Byron to folk icon John Gorka, and released their debut CD last year. Theyll become a quintet again for this special evening, joined once more by keyboardist Pete Levin, drummer Tim Griffin, and bassist Mark Dann.

Janice and Timothy first met in the 1980s through Fast Folk, the famed singer-songwriter cooperative. Janice was a much-sought-after jingle singer, doing national TV commercials for everything from McDonald's to Diet Coke. As co-owner of a 24-track recording studio, she scored corporate videos and was the co-producer, arranger, backup singer, and keyboardist on many albums. Timothy was accompanying folksingers who opened for artists such as John Hartford & Norman Blake, Steve Goodman, and guitarist Joe Walsh's Barnstorm band, and playing in old-timey, country, and rock n roll bands.

Janice invited Timothy to her studio to play guitar and collaborate on arrangements for albums by John Gorka, Christine Lavin, and Lucy Kaplansky, among others. After going their separate ways, in 2015 Janice stumbled across Timothy's phone number and gave him a call. They soon discovered that their musical collaboration was better than ever, and they formed A Simple Heart.

Pete Levin has performed and recorded with musicians from all over the musical landscape, including Gil Evans, Jimmy Giuffre, Jaco Pastorius, Judy Collins, Robbie Robertson, Annie Lennox, and Paul Simon.

Tim Griffin's resumé includes stints with The Shirelles, The Temptations, Chuck Berry, Tom Rush, Bonnie Raitt, Christine Lavin, and revered Massachussetts bands Bold and Clean Living.

Mark Dann's performance and studio credits (as both recording engineer and session player) include Eric Andersen, Richard Shindell, David Massengill, Dar Williams, Christine Lavin, and Rob MacDonald.