“Heads Up!” CD Release Concert with The Steve Fidyk Parlor Project
Wilkes-Barre native Steve Fidyk will celebrate the release of his latest solo recording at a concert at The University of Scranton on Saturday, March 8, at 7:30 p.m.
Acclaimed jazz drummer, percussionist, and teacher Steve Fidyk, a Wilkes-Barre native, will be joined by Positone Records and Performance Music at The University of Scranton in celebrating the release of his newest recording with a concert on Saturday, March 8, at 7:30 p.m. in the Houlihan McLean Center (corner of Mulberry St. & Jefferson Ave.). Admission to the concert is free and open to the public, doors open at 6:40 p.m., and seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis.
Fidyk will also offer a free master class earlier that day at 2 p.m. Interested drummers can register for participation in the master class by emailing music@scranton.edu or calling 570-941-7624. The master class is sponsored by Remo, Zildjian, Vater, Latin Percussion, and Drum Workshop, and complimentary merchandise and materials from those companies will be distributed to participants.
Known for his touch, versatility and musical approach, Fidyk has earned national and international acclaim as an artist, author and columnist. His newest album, “Heads Up!” (Posi-Tone, 2014) is a quintet date that features his original arrangements and compositions, along with some covers and two compositions by guitarist Shawn Purcell.
A longtime student of jazz drumming legend Joe Morello, Fidyk is dedicated and committed to education. He currently serves on the Jazz Studies faculty at Temple University in Philadelphia and as a consultant for Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington Program. He has also authored several drum method books and DVD’s for Mel Bay and Alfred Publications.
Fidyk has appeared on more than 100 recordings and his discography as a co-leader includes “Big Kids” with John DeSalme (U.S. Roots), and two records with The Taylor/Fidyk Big Band: “A Perfect Match” (Write Groove, 2003) and “Live at Blues Alley” (OA2, 2006).
Fidyk has performed with Wayne Bergeron, John Clayton, Mark Taylor, Wycliffe Gordon, Tim Hagans, Slide Hampton, Maureen McGovern, New York Voices, Dick Oates, Arturo Sandoval, and Doc Severinsen. With Maureen McGovern, he has performed with orchestras throughout the country including The Cincinnati Pops, Spokane Symphony, Nashville Symphony, Plano Symphony, The Baltimore Symphony, The Buffalo Philharmonic, The Richmond Symphony, and the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon Big Band.
As a columnist, Fidyk contributes regularly to Modern Drummer Magazine and Teaching Music Magazine.
Fidyk received his first set of 1966 champagne sparkle drums at age four. His father John, who played tenor saxophone with groups throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania, began taking Steve on gigs as a substitute for his regular drummer at the age of eight.
