Philadelphia, PA (December 8, 2014) – The Philly POPS shows its RESPECT for audiences during Classic Soul, the next Philly POPS concert series on February 6–8. Music Director Michael Krajewski collaborated with award-winning guest vocalist Capathia Jenkins to develop this concert, which includes a blend of powerful sounds and soulful voices singing classic songs from R&B legends like Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye. On Friday, February 6 (8 p.m.), Saturday, February 7 (3 p.m.) and Sunday, February 8 (3 p.m.), Classic Soul will be conducted by Krajewski and feature Jenkins and award-winning guest vocalist Darius de Haas at Verizon Hall of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts on Avenue of the Arts in Philadelphia.
Classic Soul is a concert filled with some of the most memorable Motown hits. The powerful repertoire consists of songs including: “Natural Woman,” “Let’s Stay Together,” “Proud Mary,” “You Are Everything,” “Respect,” “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” and more. “This concert is a very All-American style of music that I think everyone enjoys. We are filling the line-up with universally known hits,” says Krajewski.
Capathia Jenkins has wowed Philly POPS audiences in the past and most recently at The Philly POPS free concert on July 3rd that was part of the Wawa Welcome America! Festival. No stranger to Broadway, she starred as Medda in the hit Disney production of Newsies, and has performed in The Civil War; The Look of Love; Caroline, Or Change; and Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me. On Off-Broadway, she was in the 2000 revival of Godspell, and also Love, Loss, and What I Wore, as well as (mis)Understanding Mammy – The Hattie McDaniel Story, for which she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award. Jenkins is an active concert artist, having appeared with orchestras around the world, including The Philly POPS, Cleveland Orchestra, Houston Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony (with Marvin Hamlisch), National Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Seattle Symphony, and several others.
Darius de Haas’ performances range from the Broadway stage to recordings to concert venues throughout the world. He made his Broadway debut in Kiss of the Spider Woman, followed by Lincoln Center’s revival of Carousel, the original cast of Rent, and many more. His Off-Broadway, regional, touring, and premiere credits include his Obie-winning leading performance in the Pulitzer-nominated Running Man. His singular abilities and range in popular music, jazz, and musical theater have established him as a performer in a variety of settings, as well as a guest with several orchestras, including the National Symphony, The Cincinnati Pops, The Philly POPS, The Los Angeles Master Chorale, and Luckman Jazz Orchestra. Other notable performances include the concerts Too Hot to Handel at Carnegie Hall (conducted by Marin Alsop with The Baltimore Symphony), and Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concert of Music at Disney Concert Hall.
The Philly POPS will follow Classic Soul with American Songbook, Then and Now from March 13–15, 2015, featuring internationally acclaimed touring vocalist, pianist, and composer Tony DeSare providing a fresh take on old-school classics. The remaining concerts in 2015 will be packed with entertainment with Epic Hollywood Soundtracks from April 10–12, 2015, and Legends of Rock from May 15–17, 2015.