Mary Jo Casasanta with Randy Porter
May 8, 2004

This concert brings together two very talented and popular musicians, Mary Jo Casasanta and Randy Porter.

From an early age, music captured Mary Jo's interest and became an integral part of her daily life, inspiring her to study and perform. She has studied with Branford Marsalis at Dillard University, Lee Barlow at HSU, and George Shearing at Chautauqua Institute. She has performed for the Jazz at the Graves Series, the Northcoast Dixieland Jazz Festival, the Cotati Jazz Festival, the Fortuna Concert Series and the Ferndale Community Choir.

Mary Jo believes the jazz vocal music written by the composers of the 1930s and 1940s is important music and wants to share these wonderful songs with you.

Randy is well known for his fine classical and jazz piano performances. As a Steinway Artist, Randy draws from a rich palette of sonorities found within his imagination and the depths of the piano. He credits the late Dr. Frank marks at HSU for his classical training and musical inspiration. Randy is currently adjunct faculty at Portland State University and at Lewis and Clark College.

Mary Jo and Randy are currently producing a CD entitled, "This is Always."

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