MUSE/IQUE Unchains the Soul Sounds of Ellis Hall

MUSE/IQUE,
known for its counter-conventional performances that feel more like parties
than formal concerts, wraps “Summer of Sound” 2013 with “Lose Your Senses with
Ellis Hall” featuring Hall, Tower of Power’s lead singer and keyboardist who
electrifies with his five octave range and tears it up with the Selah Gospel
Choir to unchain the soul sounds of great musicians like Ray Charles, Marvin
Gaye, Stevie Wonder and even Bach, Beethoven and Vivaldi on Saturday, August
17, 2013, 7:30 pm, outdoors at Caltech’s Beckman Mall in Pasadena.  They join Caltech physicist Sean Carroll and
MUSE/IQUE Artistic Director Rachael Worby, who conducts the MUSE/IQUE Orchestra
for a pure out-of the-box adventure that also celebrates the 50th
Anniversary of Maurice Sendak’s “Where the Wild Things Are” with a world
premiere of a dance set to the score of Spike Jonze’ critically acclaimed film
adaptation of the beloved children’s book. 
Gates open at 5:30 pm for dinner (ordered in advance) or bring-your-own
picnics, with table seating and plentiful free parking.

In
signature MUSE/IQUE fashion, Worby adds a twist to the 90-minute concert.  “The thrust is pure Motown energy laid down
by the master, Ellis Hall, who is blind, like his mentor Ray Charles,” Worby
explains.  “We are infusing the
repertoire with works by some of Ellis’s classical music influences, the
hearing impaired Beethoven among them, as we link earlier classical music to
the best of American Motown.”

From the vast library of Motown favorites, Ellis
performs such Ray Charles hits as Georgia
on My Mind, You Don’t Know Me, I Can’t
Stop Loving You, Let the Good Times
Roll and Hit the Road, Jack, as
well as America the Beautiful, Marvin
Gaye’s I Heard It Through the Grapevine,
Stevie Wonder’s My Cheri Amour, and Ain’t No Mountain High Enough by Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson.  The Selah Gospel Choir presents an a cappella
version of the traditional spiritual Swing
Down Chariot, popularized over the years by such diverse artists as Elvis
Presley, Randy Travis and Ronnie Milsap, and the MUSE/IQUE orchestra performs
works by Bach, Beethoven and Vivaldi. 
The evening also pays tribute to Sendak's classic children’s book, “Where
the Wild Things Are,” which has touched millions of souls around the globe
since it was published in 1963, with the world premiere of a new dance
commissioned for the occasion and set to Carter Burwell’s score for Spike Jonze’
film adaptation of the fanciful and much-loved work.  Finally, Caltech scientist Sean Carroll adds
his own spin on the science of soul.  A
gifted science communicator, Carroll is theoretical cosmologist specializing in dark energy and general relativity who has appeared on such
notable television programs as History Channel’s The Universe, Science Channel’s Through
the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman and Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report,

MUSE/IQUE,
known for its inspired, unexpected live music events, connects master artists
with new voices across a limitless range of styles.  Its counter-conventional performances, which
feel more like parties than formal concerts, link musicians with great thinkers
and compelling visual, cinematic and dance artists.  In the two years since MUSE/IQUE was founded
by Artistic Director Rachael Worby, it has grown from one performance with a
handful of devoted followers to a major cultural presence that reaches vast
audiences.  Its considerable membership
currently numbers more than 500 people. 
In the fall and spring, MUSE/IQUE presents “Uncorked” evenings at
unconventional locations, and in the summer MUSE/IQUE features three outdoor
"music parties" at Caltech's Beckman Mall, all curated by the
innovative and visionary Worby.   Among
MUSE/IQUE’s guest artists are Jessye Norman, Charlie Haden, Patti Austin, Mary
Wilson, Flea, Rickie Lee Jones, Ellis Hall, Matt Haimovitz, Angela Bassett,
Arturo Sandoval and more.  Uncorked's
“pop-up” venues have included Pasadena's Phoenix Decorating Center (where Rose
Parade floats are constructed), Art Center College of Design Sculpture Garden,
Castle Press (one of the nation's largest printing presses), backstage at the
Pasadena Civic Auditorium and others. 
KIDS/IQUE!, a primary element of the organization, serves boys and
girls, ages 12 to 18, in the San Gabriel Valley’s network of foster care
services by presenting ongoing interactive experiences with professional
musicians and other artists designed to compliment the service goals of the foster
care facilities even as they allow MUSE/IQUE to reach
otherwise underserved youth.  Other
outreach programs include free and low-cost tickets for students and community
groups, and "Free For All," a free annual concert featuring a fusion
of music with family friendly surprises.

Caltech's
Beckman Mall is located at 332 S. Michigan Ave. Pasadena CA 91106.  Plentiful parking is free.  To reserve a catered dinner that can be
picked up on site, please contact Perfect Equation Catering at (626)
529-5585.  Concert tickets begin at $10
per person with top tier seating, $96 per person, available to MUSE/IQUE
members at the $1,000+ contribution level; students with ID are $10.  MUSE/IQUE membership, which ranges from $250 to
$2,500, includes a variety of special benefits including priority seating and
services.  For tickets and membership
information, please call 626-539-7085 or visit
www.muse-ique.com.