"Jazz Under the Stars" with Marina Pacowski and Larry Koonse!

"Jazz Under the Stars" - Spirit & Music Concert Series, Episode #20 with Marina Pacowski and Larry Koonse

Please join jazz vocalist Marina Pacowski and Master guitarist Larry Koonse for the 3rd edition of their “Jazz Under the Stars” concert in the splendid Auditorium of the beautiful Philosophical Research Society. It will be a very special celebration as it is episode #20 of “Spirit and Music Concert Series" created and hosted by PRS Contributing Musician Marina Pacowski in 2020. Expect a tour through the famous jazz standards of the Great American Songbook ( with a special " moon and stars" theme), some gorgeous guitar solos by the maestro Larry Koonse and perhaps Debussy's Clair de Lune by Marina on piano. Last year’s concert was a sellout, so be sure to book your tickets now!

Bios:

Marina Pacowski is a Los Angeles-based artist from France. She is a multi-faceted artist, concert pianist, a highly sought-after accompanist, and a jazz vocalist specializing in scat. As a pianist, Marina has toured internationally, performing extensively in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United States.

She has worked closely with a variety of composers, including Frank Proto, who wrote a piano concerto for her that she recorded with members of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Marina was awarded the 2017 “Best Collaborative Music Award” by the International Society of Bassists in a jury committee that featured Bassist Ron Carter and was a laureate in the Opera pianist/music director category at the Belvedere International Competition in Vienna, Austria. She is also featured in the 2022 documentary "The Color of Music" directed by Courtney Sell.

As a jazz vocalist, Marina has performed at L.A. jazz hot-spots such as The Jazz Bakery and The Lighthouse ( La-la-Land), Herb Alpert's Vibrato, and she was featured as a guest vocalist for a tribute to guitarist Kenny Burrell at the Catalina Jazz Club. She received a Jazz Excellence Award in 2021. Marina was featured at the Catalina Jazz Club in March 2022 for a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald. Her CD "Inner Urge" (featuring Roy Mccurdy, John Clayton, Josh Nelson, and many other jazz luminaries) met with critical acclaim around the world after its release in 2023, and she is currently at work on another CD, this time featuring the music of the late great Carl Saunders.

Marina is a passionate music educator. She was a faculty member in France at the Conservatory of Music “Maurice Ravel” for many years, prior to coming to the US, where she now teaches her own private piano lessons and jazz improv classes for vocalists. She is also regularly invited to teach clinics and master classes in festivals and music camps in France and abroad. She is a Contributing Musician at the Philosophical Research Society in Los Angeles, where she hosts a concert series called Spirit and Music. // marinapacowski.com

Born into a musical family, Larry Koonse has been playing the guitar since he was seven years old. In his early years he studied with legendary guitar master Jimmy Wyble, and at the age of fifteen he recorded an album with his father, guitarist Dave Koonse, entitled Dave and Larry Koonse; father and son jazz guitars. In 1984, Larry was the first recipient of a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies at the University of Southern California.

Immediately after graduating from USC Larry toured extensively for six years as a member of the John Dankworth quartet, traveling all across the globe and backing up Cleo Laine. He is a member of Billy Child’s landmark chamber sextet whose most recent CD release is titled Autumn: In Moving Pictures. He has received multiple grammy nominations for the aforementioned CD (jazz album of the year and instrumental performance); for the sextet’s first release Lyric (ensemble performance); and for two Luciana Souza releases (best vocal album for Tide and Book of Chet). He has also toured with Mel Torme, Bob Brookmeyer, Billy Childs, John Patitucci, David Friesen, Karrin Allyson, Luciana Souza, Natalie Cole, Bob Mintzer, Tierney Sutton, Peter Erskine, Hubert Laws, Warne Marsh and was a featured performer with the Percy Faith Orchestra on a tour of Japan. At the invitation of Nelson Mandela and UNICEF, Larry traveled to South Africa to perform for the first annual SAMIX festival with the Steve Houghton quintet. He also performed with Gary Willis in Sao Paulo for a government sponsored concert at SESC Ipiranga. In his travels, he has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Academy of Music, Disney Hall, the Sydney Opera House, and has been a featured soloist with the L.A. Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra and many other orchestras throughout the world.

Having been featured on over 300 albums, Larry has recorded with Cleo Laine, Al Hirt, Jimmy Rowles, Bob Brookmeyer, Luciana Souza, Lee Konitz, Larry Goldings, Mel Torme, Alan Broadbent, Ray Brown, Bill Perkins, Toots Thielemanns, Rod Stewart, Seth MacFarlane, Linda Ronstadt, David Friesen, Bob Sheppard, Bob Mintzer, Peter Erskine, Warne Marsh, Charlie Haden, Natalie Cole and many other jazz artists. His solo guitar work was featured throughout “Crazy”, a feature film chronicling the life of the great guitarist Hank Garland.

Suggested Donation: $15 (in-person event only).

Please email [email protected] or phone 323-663-2167 with any questions.

ACCESSIBILITY

PRS wants all guests to be able to enjoy our events safely and comfortably. If you require any accessibility accommodation, please reach out to [email protected] before showtime and we will be happy to assist you.

REFUND POLICIES

All sales are final. There are no refunds or exchanges for PRS events, except in the event of a medical emergency, including but not limited to a positive COVID-19 test.

In the event that PRS is forced to cancel an event entirely, tickets will be refunded or vouchers offered for a rescheduled event.

PARKING

Limited parking is available onsite at PRS in both the front lot (entry from Los Feliz Blvd. when heading east) and back lot (entry from first alley way, off Griffith Park Blvd. from intersection with Los Feliz Blvd.), as well as street parking on Griffith Park Blvd. and on Los Feliz Blvd. (after 7pm). We encourage attendees to consider carpooling, walking or biking to events if possible, and please be considerate of our Los Feliz neighbors when parking.

PRS EVENT POLICIES

• We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.
• Events are subject to change without notice, including guest speakers and/or performers.
• We encourage you to arrive at least 30 min. before the scheduled event start time to find parking, enjoy the Bookstore and take your seats.
• Please turn off all mobile devices before the show. Talking and texting are not allowed during the events.
• No filming, audio recording or mobile phone recording of events, screenings, concerts or other programs by audience members is allowed without permission.
• There is no smoking permitted on PRS grounds.
• We strongly encourage guests to wear masks to PRS events to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
• PRS allows Service Animals into the facility under ADA and state guidelines. For further details please visit www.ADA.gov. No animals permitted whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support, under ADA guidelines and CA Health Code.
• Please do not bring outside food or drink into PRS events.
• Weapons are strictly prohibited at PRS events.

Host or Publisher The Philosophical Research Society