In October, the popular ensemble The In-Between will return to the St. John the Beloved Concert Series for a new program. This ensemble features classical soprano Jill Terhaar Lewis with jazz musicians Robert Lewis (saxophone) and Gerald Gregory (piano). The In-Between performs new compositions and arrangements by members of the group that incorporate elements of classical chamber music with improvisations in jazz styles. In addition to favorite works by the group, the concert will include a world-premiere performance of a work by Charleston composer Maxx Bradley that is a setting of poetry by Charleston Poet Laureate Marcus Amaker. Bradley was commissioned to write the piece specifically for the ensemble. This program will be on October 7.

The In-Between ensemble is a regular guest on the SJB Concert Series and the Piccolo Spoleto Festival. They perform frequently in the region and have toured in South Carolina, the Pacific Northwest, and last summer in Denmark. They have collaborated with local musicians and recently with Charleston’s Poet Laureate Marcus Amaker on a program of Amaker’s poetry in spoken form as well as original musical settings by Robert Lewis and Gerald Gregory. 

This concert is at St. John the Beloved at 28 Sumter Ave. in Summerville, SC and is free and open to the public. Donations are welcome and help to offset the cost of the series. For more information: music@sjbsummerville.org.

The In-Between with Marcus Amaker

Jill Terhaar Lewis, soprano; Robert Lewis, saxophone; and Gerald Gregory, piano with Charleston’s Poet Laureate Marcus Amaker

Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at 6 pm

Holy Trinity Windermere

95 Folly Rd Blvd., Charleston, SC

CHARLESTON, SC - “The In-Between with Marcus Amaker” is a collaborative program featuring The In-Between ensemble that includes classical soprano Jill Terhaar Lewis with jazz musicians Robert Lewis (saxophone) and Gerald Gregory (piano) in collaborations with Charleston’s Poet Laureate Marcus Amaker. The ensemble performs new compositions and arrangements by members of the ensemble and have been recurring guests with the Piccolo Spoleto festival. This year's program will include new poetry by Amaker and a program of settings of Amaker’s work by Robert and Jill, Gerald, and guest composers Demetrius Doctor and Maxx Bradley.

The In-Between began in 2010 in Charleston when husband and wife team Robert and Jill Terhaar Lewis desired to create music together.  Robert is a well-known jazz musician around town and runs the jazz program at the College of Charleston.  Jill is a classically trained soprano and is the head of the voice program at Charleston Southern University.  Not a lot of music is written that successfully merges jazz and classical music in a meaningful way that brings out the best of both worlds.  Robert and Jill enlisted the help of jazz pianist Gerald Gregory to work together by composing new works and arrangements tailor-made for their strengths to great success.  Through open communication between the two art worlds of classical and jazz music, the trio highlights the shared qualities and explores the differences while allowing the listener to enjoy these styles together in the same concert and even within the same piece.  

Amaker is no stranger to music having recorded several albums begin early in life.  He is also Charleston’s first Poet Laureate appointed in 2016 by Mayor John Tecklenburg.  His poetry captures glimpses into life in Charleston from his unique perspective.   Longtime friends with Amaker and fans of his work, the trio reached out to collaborate for Piccolo Spoleto.  The result is a program of spoken word and music highlighting the intersections of jazz and classical music with poetry that is unique to Charleston. The program will merge texts spoken by Amaker and sung by Terhaar Lewis over a tapestry of composed and improvised dialogues by Lewis on saxophone and Gregory on piano.

The In-Between have been featured on the Piccolo Spoleto Festival Preview Concert as well as the Spotlight Concert Series, Other Musical Highlights, and the Piccolo Comes to Kiawah series.  They have also performed in venues throughout the region.  Together they have toured in the upstate and in Pacific Northwest. They have performed in Denmark, in Charleston on the inaugural Free Verse Festival, and on the St. John the Beloved Concert Series in Summerville. The trio has recently released two cds recorded with engineer and producer Quentin Baxter.