EAU CLAIRE - Corky Siegel's Chamber Blues will perform on Saturday, Feb. 22, at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. The Artists Series concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Schofield Auditorium.

A conventional classical ensemble playing what may at first sound like a cross between Mozart and Muddy Waters, the group has been called "a genuine hybrid, complex, clever and ambitious" by the Los Angeles Times; "a resounding triumph" by the Chicago Tribune; and "outrageous fun" by the Arizona Republic.

Since its debut in 1988, Corky Siegel's Chamber Blues has added a new and important dimension to 20th-century music, incorporating the most familiar elements of western classical music and urban blues into an innovative yet accessible sound. Created by the celebrated blues musician Corky Siegel, who plays piano and harmonica, Chamber Blues also consists of the West End String Quartet and percussionist Frank Donaldson.

With a critically acclaimed CD on the celebrated blues label Alligator Records, Corky Siegel's Chamber Blues opens new doors for classical and blues/jazz listeners alike by weaving easily identifiable sounds into a rich tapestry of music, without forsaking the innate qualities of either style.

Tickets are $15 for the general public; $13 for those age 62 and over, and UW-Eau Claire faculty/staff; or $5 for those age 17 and under, and UW-Eau Claire students. Tickets are available at the University Service Center, (715) 836-3727, and will be sold at the door.

The Artists Series is made possible by student funds allocated by the UW-Eau Claire Student Senate.

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JS/JB

Updated: April 23, 1997