LISA BLEIL & Friends – CANCELLED re COVID-19

Lisa BleilVocalist
John BurghKeyboard
Eric DefadeSaxophone
Bob InskoBass
Dr. David GloverDrums

COVID-19 CANCELLATION Announcement 

The health and safety of our Members, Patrons, Guest artists and Red Brick Gallery customers are of paramount importance to us.  In the face of the current pandemic and in the best interest of everyone involved, ARCA’s Board has made the difficult decision to cancel or postpone all ARCA events through the end of May, including Red Brick Gallery and Gift Shop hours and exhibits.

The performances canceled include:

  • April 4 – Lisa Bleil and Friends – Jazz Ballads to 80’s Dance Songs
  • April 28 – FAST TRACK – Star-Studded Bluegrass Veteran “Super-Group”
  • May 3 – Deanna Witkowski – SoulSongs: Crossing Boundaries from Chopin to Cole Porter
  • May 17 – Ken Double & Tenor, Daniel Mata – Wurlitzer Organ DOUBLE Duo

We are deeply saddened not to be able to share these unique music and art experiences with you over the next two months. In mid-May, we will reevaluate recommendations from the Center for Disease Control, the President’s Task Force and Governor Tom Wolf’s office and proceed based on the best information available, regarding resuming ARCA’s Summer schedule of concerts and gallery exhibits.

We sincerely appreciate your understanding as we work through this uncharted territory together.  We look forward to sharing inspiring music and art with you again very soon as we emerge from this healthy and eager for the spiritual enrichment that live performances and art exhibits provide.

Sincere wishes for your protection, health and safety,
Allegheny RiverStone Center for the Arts Board of Directors

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Celebrate SPRING with your Sweetheart!  Get your dancing shoes out for a romantic evening of slow dance ballads, tasty jazz standards, Rock n Roll and 80’s dance music as LISA BLEIL & Friends open ARCA’s 2020 series of  “Foxburg Dance Nights” on Saturday, April 4 at 7:30 PM in Lincoln Hall.  

Allegheny RiverStone Center for the Arts is proud to welcome back by popular demand versatile vocalist Lisa Bleil as featured soloist with ARCA’s favorite – keyboardist, John Burgh – and some of Pittsburgh’s premiere instrumentalists, including Eric Defade, Saxophone; Bob Insko, Bass; and Dr. David Glover, Drums.  Lisa headlined for two years in ARCA’s outdoor concerts at RiverStone Farm in 2017 and 2018 and joined the John Burgh JAZZ ALL STARS in 2019 with Benny Benack Jr and Benny Benack III in Lincoln Hall.

LISA BLEIL is known for her performances on the Emmy-winning PBS series “Live From Studio A” and can also be seen on the nationally-televised PBS specials  “Rock, Rhythm & Doo-wop” and “Red, White & Rock” performing with Frankie Avalon, Frankie Valli, Connie Francis, Englebert Humperdink, among others.

LISA’s beautiful, romantic ballads are sure to charm and perhaps inspire you to enjoy a slow dance with your sweetheart at the back of Lincoln Hall. Many, however, may prefer to sit and enjoy her gorgeous voice and extraordinary musical variety – AND her musicians’ outrageous instrumental riffing… an entertainment delight!

For those of you wanting to dance to something a little more up tempo, you’ll love Lisa’s versions of Whitney Houston and others.  ARCA members attending the Outdoor concerts in 2017 and 2018 at RiverStone Farm will remember Lisa’s thrilling vocalism ranging from soft jazz ballads from the Great American Song Book to the 80’s anthem “I will survive”.

Here is Lisa singing Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5’s “I want you back” with the John Burgh Big Band at the 2018 ARCA Summer Outdoor Concert.

Adults $20 and Students $5.  Beer and wine available by donation.  Buy online here –  Call to Reserve 724 659-3153 – or cash or check at the door.

 

About the Musicians

Vocalist Lisa Bleil

Allegheny RiverStone Center for the Arts is proud to welcome back by popular demand versatile vocalist Lisa Bleil for the fourth time!  Lisa headlined for two years in ARCA’s outdoor concerts at RiverStone Farm in 2017 and 2018 and joined the John Burgh JAZZ ALL STARS in 2019 with Benny Benack Jr and Benny Benack III in Lincoln Hall.

LISA BLEIL is known for her performances on the Emmy-winning PBS series “Live From Studio A” and can also be seen on the nationally-televised PBS specials  “Rock, Rhythm & Doo-wop” and “Red, White & Rock” performing with Frankie Avalon, Frankie Valli, Connie Francis, Englebert Humperdink, among others.

This amazing and versatile vocalists was classically trained! LISA BLEIL has been singing professionally since she was 18. She attended Carnegie Mellon University where she majored in classical vocal performance, and since then she has performed in nearly every facet of the business. From jingles to theater to television to teaching…she even did singing telegrams in college!  

Lisa is currently teaching vocal jazz at West Virginia University and can be heard singing at events and clubs around the Pittsburgh area.  Lisa is a regular at Andy’s in the Fairmont Hotel and has fronted several local bands over the years, most recently Cityscape.

Enjoy Lisa Bleil singing with a big band including her sons Clint and and Adam in the jazz Christmas tune, “Cool Yule”.

Keyboardist John Burgh

John BurghJohn Burgh and his band have been so popular with ARCA Members over the years, performing for two summers at the Outdoor concerts at RiverStone Farm and last year in Lincoln Hall with a six piece band including BENNY BENACK JR, BENNY BENACK III and LISA BLEIL.

John Burgh was first introduced to the Pittsburgh music scene on 1982 when he joined the Harold Betters Band playing five nights a week at the South Hills Sheraton.  John graduated from IUP in 1981 as a piano performance major, and has returned there many times to play with nationally known artists such as Billy Crystal, Rita Moreno, and recently Doc Severinsen.

John played for many years with the Billy Price Band touring Europe in 2003. He has played and recorded 5 albums with the rock group Gathering Field, playing Hammond B3 organ. Besides filling in occasionally with CLO productions like Miss Saigon and Addams Family, he enjoys playing piano for local musical productions in Sewickley. A long time member of the Balcony Big Band (18 piece jazz band), playing monthly at the Jergels Rhythym Bar in Warrendale.

Many people will remember his performances over the last 30 years in the Oil City/Franklin and Foxburg area.  John grew up in the Harmony/Zelienople area playing piano accompanying his father, who played banjo, and helping his family in the tractor salvage yard business, which he continues to this day.

ARIVE EARLY & EXPLORE FOXBURG!

Plan to Make a Day of it in beautiful Foxburg!  

Before the concert stop by the Red Brick Gallery and Gift Shop to enjoy the offerings of talented Cooperative Artists from the region.

Enjoy a walk along the Allegheny River trail or rent bicycles with Foxburg Tours OR have a Segway tour of beautiful RiverStone Estate in the morning or early afternoon!  Have lunch at the Allegheny Grille with seating overlooking the Allegheny River, or for more casual fare, at Foxburg Pizza with salads, sandwiches and pizza.  Save time to enjoy wine tasting at Foxburg Wine Cellars and savor a gourmet coffee and hand made chocolate at Divani Chocolatier and Barrista.  Or spend the night in Foxburg in the lovely Foxburg Inn or up the river at Emlenton’s bed and breakfast,  The Barnard House.

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