Mary Gatchell to Play the Leddy Center This Month

Performing in concert at Leddy Center in Epping, Friday, Sept. 30, at 7:30pm, Epping, NH native, Mary Gatchell is a dynamic singer, pianist, and songwriter. Mary's music is a melting pot of influences from blues and jazz to soul and pop. She has 6 albums of original music to her credit and one on the way with masterful producer and keyboardist, A.T.N. Stadwijk. She has performed in notable NYC clubs such as Blue Note, Rockwood Music Hall, Le Poisson Rouge, Birdland, Knitting Factory, Bitter End, and CBGB's, and has brought her music to Europe and Africa. She has also sung at Brooklyn's Barclays Center and Newark's Prudential Center with the Rolling Stones for their 50th Anniversary tour.

Born and raised in Epping, NH into a musical family, Mary gained a strong foundation in musical theatre, jazz, and classical music, singing and playing the piano and oboe. At age 18, she moved to New York City where she studied voice, piano, and oboe at NYU, graduating Magna cum Laude, with a degree in theory and composition. Mary studied with renowned composers Jim McNeely and Justin Dello Joio, as well as oboist, Gerard Reuter. Recently, Mary sang on Broadway as part of the ensemble for the hit TV show, Smash: Bombshell the Musical. Mary is also Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Siena Summer Music, a chamber music festival in Italy. Along with being a performer, Mary Gatchell has a commitment to fostering music in the lives of children here and abroad. This belief has brought her to Ethiopia to implement a sustainable music curriculum for HIV infected and impoverished children and to Bulgaria to work with orphans with special needs through music, both in association with the Worldwide Orphans Foundation. Mary is an artist who is passionate about human rights and social justice and is deeply committed to sharing her love for her community and the world through her music and lyrics. www.marygatchell.com.

Mary brings with her, bassist Leo Traversa. Leo is a current faculty member at Columbia University as well as at The Collective in New York City where he is a founding member of the Bass Collective and has taught since 1987. As a Teaching Artist in the Weill Music Institute, he is currently involved in Carnegie Hall's program of bringing music to communities all over New York City. His extensive knowledge of many musical genres and cultures as well as his mastery of their playing techniques makes him one of the most versatile and proficient bassists on the scene today. He has toured and recorded with a wide range of internationally known artists,including Tania Maria, Don Byron, Angelique Kidjo, Astrud Gilberto, Ivan Lins, Ben E. King, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Michael Brecker, Gato Barbieri, Phil Woods, Eliane Elias, Leslie Uggams, Chris Washburn's S.Y.O.T.O.S., and many others. Mr. Traversa has led his own group of European musicians on several international tours and has also garnered many television, film and Broadway credits during the span of his remarkable career. www.LeoTraversa.com

Joining Mary on keys is A.T.N. Stadwijk. A.T.N. was born in The Netherlands where he was exposed to music at a very early age. When he was in his early teens his family relocated to Suriname in South America, where both his parents were born. He quickly established himself as one of the premiere keyboard players on the scene, and with his broad interest in styles, work was never in short supply. After high school, he moved to Boston to study music at the prestigious Berklee Music College majoring in contemporary arranging. A.T.N. has worked with renowned artists Maxwell, Paul Simon, Richard Bona, The O'Jays and Harry Belafonte, among many others. He divides his time between recording/producing and performing live both in New York and around the world. www.etiennestadwijk.com

On drums is Joe Abbatantuono. Born in the Bronx and raised in Dutchess County, NY, renowned drummer, Joe Abbatantuono, began playing drums at age nine. He holds a B.M. from The Crane School of Music and a M.A. from NYU and has been playing drums & percussion for almost thirty years. His musical directions are vast: Jazz, Pop, Rock, Hip Hop, Big Band, Latin, Experimental, Funk and more; this diversity of styles stands as the basis for his musical path. He has traveled to many corners of the world, bringing his New York brand of drumming and musical approach with him. His performing/recording credits include The Ramones, Shayna Steele, Dave Douglas, Donny McCaslin, and Lew Soloff, among others. Joe also leads many projects, including The New York Jazz Exchange, Joe Abba Jazz Project, The Funk Unit, & Molly Tigre. www.joeabba.com

Mary is sponsored by KUME of Epping, Seabrook, and Newmarket and sponsored in part by Bell & Flynn, Inc., Bodywise Physical Therapy, Epping, Donna, Epping Well and Pump, Gatchell Excavation, Inc., Paul and Elisabeth Gustavson, Jones & Beach Engineers, Inc., Barbara Pond, Roselynn Ice Cream and Diner, Epping, Telly's Restaurant and Pizzeria, Epping, and Tiger Lilies Floral Boutique, Epping, and partially sponsored by NHPTV, Seacoast Coke, and THE SHARK.

Tickets are $20. and $15. for full time students and are available on line at www.leddycenter.org or by calling or visiting the box office at 603-679-2781, M-F from 3:00pm-5:30pm. Leddy Center is a non-profit NH Arts and Education Organization, celebrating 42 years of bringing arts and arts education to our greater communities.