our current and upcoming shows…

Boogie Stomp!

Stormfield Theatre will close its 2011-2012 season with two weeks of performances in mid-May of Boogie Stomp! starring the incredible Bob Baldori.  Boogie Bob has been a mainstay of blues, boogie and rock in theMidwest for 40 years. He has performed hundreds of dates from Detroit to Chicago,LA to New York. He has even performed at the White House for President Clinton. In addition to recording and performing his own material, Boogie Bob has accompanied the legendary Chuck Berry since 1966.

“This is an incredible opportunity to see one of the most gifted pianists in the world,” says Stormfield’s Artistic Director, Kristine Thatcher, “But what’s even more incredible is that during the first week of the concert series, Bob will be joined in concert by Bob Seeley, who spent his formative years playing with Meade Lux Lewis, Eubie Blake, and other jazz greats in the 1950s and early 60s. Over the years Seeley has become known as the best boogie woogie and stride player in the world.”

“During the second week of the series, Bob will pair with Arthur Migliazza,” Thatcher continued, “who has been inducted into the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame, and was a finalist at the 2010 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN. Arthur has shared the stage with Albert Lee, John Mooney, Little Milton, and Buckwheat Zydeco, to name a few, and has performed in venues all over theUnited States, Europe and Japan.”

Thatcher went on to say, “I’ve known Bob Baldori since I was a kid, when I was cutting my teeth as an actress. I used to go to his studio to do voice-overs, and commercials. He’s always been a great friend and supporter. He is giving Stormfield and the community at large a great gift by bringing in his two amazing partners and I know they will deliver an astonishing evening in the theater.”

Baldori started working with Seeley soon after he sat in on Seeley’s regular gig at Charley’s Crab inDetroit. That was when they discovered a mutual interest in the “two piano” boogie style of Pete Johnson and Albert Ammons. This led them to work out some of their own original four-hand classics.

He met Migliazza a year ago when they played a local blues festival. Migliazza invited Baldori to play a couple of songs, and it was obvious that they were a good fit. “When Arthur came back to play the same festival, he called, and I set up a gig for the two of us at Moriarty’s,” Baldori said.

“I’m trying to create a theatrical event that would fit into a theater’s season,” said Baldori. “It will be an evening of history, as well as the story of relationships – between blues, boogie, jazz, swing, stride, rhythm and blues, rock… and more. It’s the story of the roots of American music.  And it is a rare opportunity to see this music played on two grand pianos.”  Boogie Stomp! has been performed successfully at the Glenn Gould Theater in Toronto and The Gem Theater in Detroit.