Green Jazz at Dizzy’s
At 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21 three notable San Diego musicians will present A Night of Green Jazz, with Chris Vitas and Keltik Kharma, featuring Chris, violin(s); Fred Benedetti, guitar; Jeff Pekarek, bass; and Duncan Moore, drums. Green Jazz is a lost art form that infuses traditional Irish fiddle tunes with intricate jazz harmonies (by Lori Bell). Also in the mix will be tunes by Jean Luc Ponty, Mark O’Connor, and Peter Sprague.
Chris Vitas, of Mission Hills, has performed with the San Diego Chamber Orchestra, Starlight Theatre, the Old Globe Theatre, Lamb‘s Players Theatre, Pacific Chamber Opera, San Diego Repertory Theatre and the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. He performs on record albums, CDs, motion picture soundtracks, and radio and television commercials. Vitas has also shared the stage with such celebrities as Lyle Lovett, Robert Plant and Jimmie Page, Smokey Robinson, Dionne Warwick, the Moody Blues, Johnny Mathis, Frankie Lane, Tony Bennett, John Tesh, David Benoit, among others.
Vitas created Keltik Kharma in 1990 with guitarist Fred Benedetti. The albums reflect an interest and passion for all Celtic music, from traditional Irish airs to traditional fiddle tunes. Keltik Kharma performs traditional Irish arrangements and ambient New Age compositions. Keltik Kharma’s recent album, “iKharma,” was nominated Best World Album by the San Diego Music Academy. Vitas’ latest album, “Cocktail Kharma,” is his first foray into the jazz idiom. When performing jazz at restaurants and lounges, Vitas utilizes jazz tracks to fill out his sound, along with his electric or acoustic violin.
Vitas will perform with Fred Benedetti, Jeff Pekarek and Duncan Moore at Dizzy’s, located at 4275 Mission Bay Drive (San Diego Jet Ski Rentals facility). Cost is $15. For more information, visit www.dizzysjazz.com.
