JAZZ AT THE STIFEL CONTINUES JANUARY 10

WHEELING, W.Va. (December 30, 2008)-- Oglebay Institute’s “Jazz at the Stifel” brings some of Pittsburgh’s best jazz artists to Wheeling on select Saturdays throughout the year.

This popular music series continues at 8 p.m. January 10 at the Stifel Fine Arts Center on National Road as Lisa Yvonne Ferraro delights jazz fans with her mesmerizing, rich, sultry voice. She will be accompanied by award-winning jazz pianist Max Leake.

Ferraro has performed with Marvin Hamlisch and the Pittsburgh Pops Symphony and regularly shares the stage with a myriad of other major talent throughout Los Angeles, New York, Dallas, Chicago and Atlanta, as well as in her hometown, Pittsburgh.

Well known in jazz circles for her distinct vocal style and vibrant performances, Ferraro is also a highly acclaimed songwriter. She has composed lyrics for several recording artists, commercial jingles and special events. She wrote and sang her original song “More Than a Man” at the dedication of the statue honoring the legendary Baseball Hall of Fame right fielder Roberto Clemente.

Ferraro began singing as a young child in church and began her professional career at age 17. She has recorded and released five CDs since 1998, including a Christmas CD titled “Jazz Up the Holidays” that was recorded live at The Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild. Her most recent CD, “Sing Your Song. . . To Fill the Sky,” includes eight tracks composed by Ferraro.

Well known in the tri-state region and beyond, pianist Max Leake has earned a reputation as a great showman and artist. He has backed up hundreds of comedians and singers and cruised around the Western hemisphere as a house pianist in the show bands of Princess Cruise Lines’ ships.

Leake has been recording, composing, arranging and performing music for 27 years with some of the best in the business. He was voted "Best Jazz Keyboardist" in the In Pittsburgh music awards in 1989, 1991 and in 1995. He is currently an independent consultant and actively performs, composes, arranges and produces for live performance, multimedia and recordings.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be entertained by these two powerful performers as they bring their talents to the elegant Stifel Fine Arts Center January 10.

Other upcoming “Jazz at the Stifel” performances are: Benny Benack February 14 and the White Tie Group March 14.

Individual tickets are $20 for each jazz show. Please call the Stifel Center at 304.242.7700 to reserve seats. Refreshments are available for purchase at all shows and parking is free and available just behind the center.

This program is made possible through the generous support of the members of the Institute as well as with financial assistance from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the WV Commission on the Arts.