Musical director and pianist, Kay Kidd, and her gifted group of musical friends have been described by one critic as "a tour de force of popular music....a bold demonstration of just how much can be done by an experienced, talented quintet -- especially in tackling numbers that normally might have full orchestral treatment." With regulars Javier Chaparro on violin, James Warth on saxophone/clarinet/flute, and Art Kidd on percussion and vocals, the ensemble will be joined by bassist Brad Taylor. They happily welcome one of Austin ’s favorite singers, Tim Curry, as special guest at this concert.
Their unique blend and repertoire encompasses an amazing variety of styles, ranging from pop to big band, ragtime to classical, rock and roll, ethnic, and film music. You will leave a Kay and Friends concert uplifted, with a smile on your face.
Kay Kidd, piano
Kay, a native of Elgin, Texas, is musical director and pianist
for her group, Kay and Friends, and performs as a soloist
and in ensembles at home and abroad, in festivals, workshops
and recording sessions devoted to chamber music,
popular, and folk music. Solo and with her colleagues she
has played for countless weddings, receptions, and
special events. Kay maintains a private piano studio in her
home, and is a past president of the Austin District Music
Teachers Association. For many years Kay has been the
sta pianist for Tarrytown United Methodist Church in
Austin, and often does lecture/performances on various
topics for organizations, schools, and at special events.
She is dedicated to fostering a love of music by performing
and teaching. Mother of two and grandmother of
eight, Kay and her husband, Art, delight in time with
family and love to travel, especially to Sweden, where
they have many relatives.
Art Kidd, percussion and vocals
Art grew up in Houston (Bellaire High School) and is a
veteran of many tours on which he has led bands and
orchestras on cruise ships all over the world. He is much
in demand for bands doing an incredible variety of styles,
from singer/songwriter Christine Albert to well-known
jazz groups. His natural and easy vocal style matches his
talent on the drums, which he also teaches. Art is a
graduate of Yale University with a B.A. in English. If you
want to know anything about Barton Springs, Art’s your
man. He’s been swimming there almost every day for
over three decades, except when he’s out of town or there
is lightning. He plays regularly with the Taboada Trio on
Tuesdays and every other Friday at Eddie V’s Restaurant
downtown. Art and Kay love making music together,
traveling, and enjoying eight grandchildren, ages 11-28.
James Warth, saxophone / clarinet / flute
Jim, a Texan transplant from Columbia, South Carolina,
has received degrees from the University of South
Carolina and The University of Texas at Austin. He has
served on the music faculty of Texas A&M University-
Kingsville in South Texas since 1992, leading his college
jazz bands into many award-winning performances. He
has performed with the Rotterdam Philharmonic and the
Nova Saxophone Quartet and is a regular with the Corpus
Christi and Victoria symphonies. His discography includes
two recordings with the Nova Quartet on the Musical
Heritage Society label: Innovations and Double Image.
Jim and his wife, Sara, a third grade teacher and a gifted
pianist, spend as much time as possible at her family’s
beautiful ranch in Prairie Mountain, Texas, between
Fredericksburg and Llano.
Gerardo Ramos, tenor
Dr. Gerardo Antonio Ramos is a native of Juarez, Mexico.
He holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Voice Performance
with Opera Emphasis from the University of Texas at
Austin where he studied with the internationally
renowned tenor William Lewis. He was a recipient of the
Dr. and Mrs. Ernest C. Butler Endowed Presidential Scholarship
in Opera, the Barbara Smith Conrad Endowed
Presidential Scholarship in Fine Arts, and the Graduate
Enrichment Fellowship. He has performed in numerous
operas in the Americas and abroad. He is the Director of
Music Ministries at St. William Catholic Church in Round
Rock, a 6,000-member congregation with 7 choirs, and
also is the soloist at the 8:30 sanctuary service at Tarrytown
United Methodist Church in Austin. He and his wife,
Maricela, are the proud parents of Emilie, who just had her
first birthday.
Javier Chaparro, violin
Born in Lima, Peru, Javier has lived in Texas since 1982. He
has for many years served as concert master of the Brazos
Valley Symphony Orchestra and has performed in the
United States, Europe, and South America. In addition to
his extensive concertizing as a soloist and in orchestral
and chamber ensembles, he is an accomplished
singer/songwriter with two CDs on the market. He leads
his own group, Salúd, and the Chaparro jazz quartet, and
has been the featured artist in numerous soundtracks for
movies and documentaries, including The Alamo, Spy
Kids, Loaves and Fishes, PBS’s Hansel Meith, and IMAX’s
Ride Around the World. Father of two grown children,
Javier and his wife, Carmen, live in Elgin, close to her work
as a Special Education teacher in the Bastrop ISD. Javier is
an avid horseman and trainer, and a kayak instructor.
Evan Arredondo, bass
Evan is a true Texan, raised in Houston, and transplanted
to Austin in 1985. Since his arrival in the capital city, he
has stayed busy on the local music scene and on his tours
and concerts with numerous bands. He gained valuable
experience and saw the world by playing on cruise ships
in the late 70s and early 80s. Most of his work has been
with Austin’s top jazz performers and bands such as The
Atlantics, but he plays all styles of music from classical to
rock. His extraordinary versatility and ability to sing
pleasing harmonies and leads while playing bass keeps
his calendar full. Evan is an avid cyclist and runner and
can be found on the trails of Town Lake when he isn’t on
tour or an Austin stage. Father of two and grandfather of
two, he and his wife, Linda, live in Austin.
Source: Kay And Friends Website |