Mona M. Rock
mrock@strathmore.org
(301) 581-5193
(NORTH BETHESDA, MD) – AMP by Strathmore, a lounge-style concert venue located in North Bethesda’s Pike & Rose neighborhood, will host a new series of performances, a fresh menu, and an updated experience.
After a quiet post-pandemic period, AMP seeks to deepen relevancy with its core audience and the diverse surrounding community with a focus on jazz, roots, and global music. The 144-seat venue offers authentic, live music experiences, with more spacious seating arrangements and lower capacity.
Fall concert highlights include Two Pianos with Mark G. Meadows and James Fernando, Venezuelan vocalist Nella, jazz from Anat Cohen Quartetinho and Stephane Wrembel Quartet, and rock trio Southern Culture on the Skids. In addition to the eclectic touring artists that will be on stage, AMP is now home to Strathmore’s 2023 Artist in Residence cohort, who will perform each month from January through June 2023.
AMP’s new food and drink menus, curated by Chef LaTasha Stevenson, will offer seasonal, sustainable, and sharable items including "Jazzy" Crab Salsa, Poco Chicken Salad Bites, and unique desserts. All dining choices are paired with innovative cocktails, wine, and local craft beers.
Newly announced performances include:
TWO PIANOS: Mark G. Meadows & James Fernando
Thu, Oct. 27, 2022 | 8pm
Pianists and Strathmore Artist in Residence alumni James Fernando and Mark G. Meadows meet on stage for a rare two-piano performance. Fernando, hailed as a “prodigiously gifted composer and virtuoso pianist,” and Meadows, an acclaimed pianist, music director and singer-songwriter, bring together a range of influences such as jazz, gospel, electronic, and classical music.
Fri, Nov. 4, 2022 | 6:30pm and 9pm
Born in Venezuela, Nella went from Berklee College of Music graduate to winner of the 2019 Latin GRAMMY® Award for Best New Artist. That same year, her full-length debut, Voy (I Go) received acclaim from NPR and yielded the hit “Me Llaman Nella” (They Call Me Nella). In addition, the title track was named the 14th best song of 2019, in any genre, by The New York Times.
SHADES OF DJANGO with the Stephane Wrembel Quartet
Fri, Nov. 11, 2022 | 8pm
Stephane Wrembel, a prolific guitarist from France, immersed himself in European Sinti culture to become proficient in the style often referred to as “Gypsy jazz.” Wrembel has headlined Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, The Town Hall in New York City, The Lyon Opera House in France; toured with master violinist Mark O’Connor; and shared stages with everyone from Sam Bush, Stochelo Rosenberg, Esperanza Spalding, and Al Di Meola.
Artist in Residence Class of 2023 Preview Concert
Wed, Nov. 16, 2022 | 8pm
Strathmore's highly regarded Artist in Residence (AIR) program supports the careers of local musicians. This elevated concert experience and cross-genre collaboration will be the first opportunity to meet the new AIR class after dessert and a toast. Cohort members will be joined onstage by AIR Mentors Michael Bowie, Victor Provost, and Lynn Veronneau, and Advisor Cathy Fink.
Fri, Nov. 17, 2022 | 8pm
This raucous North Carolina trio will offer selections from its 2021 release, At Home with Southern Culture on the Skids, a more intimate, acoustic-heavy record. Singer/guitarist Rick Miller said “the album is comfort food for your ears. I wouldn’t call it mellow, but it sure is a friendly album.”
Featuring Vitor Gonçalves, Tal Mashiach, and James Shipp
Wed, Nov. 18, 2022 | 8pm
Grammy-nominated clarinetist-saxophonist Anat Cohen has been declared Clarinetist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association every year since 2007 and has also been named the top clarinetist in both the readers and critics polls in DownBeat for multiple years running.
Her musical endeavors have brought her to both small groups and large ensembles, mastering everything from infectious swingers to lilting ballads and showcasing a wide range in her unparalleled performances.
NATALY MEREZHUK'S JAZZ ON BONES: Album Release
Fri, Dec. 2, 2022 | 8pm
Nataly Merezhuk is a violinist who has embraced the role of the violin in jazz following her extensive classical training. Originally from Russia, she holds a degree from Peabody Conservatory and performs with orchestras in the greater DC area, including the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra and the Maryland Symphony Orchestra. Nataly takes to the AMP stage to promote her newest project Jazz on Bones.
Thu, Dec. 8, 2022 | 8pm
As a teenager, Ana Egge built her own guitar and moved to Austin, Texas to observe, absorb, and take risks. She recorded her first album, River Under the Road (1997), with the legendary western swing band Asleep at The Wheel. Also in 1997, The Austin Music Awards named her Best Singer/Songwriter and Best Folk Artist.
Josanne Francis, Chao Tian, Titilayo Ayangade
steelpan, Chinese dulcimer, cello
Thu, Dec. 9, 2022 | 8pm
Parallel Intersections, a duo composed of Strathmore AIR alumni Josanne Francis (steelpan) and Chao Tian (Chinese dulcimer), comes to AMP with their newest project, Connecting the Dots. Parallel Intersections features cello, performed by Strathmore AIR alum Titilayo Ayangade. The project showcases three different instruments from three different places, performed by musicians of distinct cultures and nationalities, all bound together by music.
Artists on the AMP schedule in 2023 include Golden Globe-nominated composer and guitarist Kaki King, international, award-winning jazz singer-songwriter Halie Loren, and composer and producer Mark Lettieri, who is also a member of the jazz fusion band Snarky Puppy.
ABOUT AMP BY STRATHMORE
AMP by Strathmore puts a premium on authentic live music experiences helping you discover your new favorite artists and elevating your night out beyond the Beltway. It is your destination for great music and creative cuisine at Pike & Rose, an urban-minded, Metro-accessible neighborhood on Rockville Pike in North Bethesda.
ABOUT STRATHMORE
Strathmore is a multidimensional, creative anchor in the community, where everyone can connect with the arts, and artists can explore their full potential.
It presents hundreds of performances, visual arts, and education programs, annually, for diverse audiences on its Montgomery County Maryland campus and in the community.
All of Strathmore’s facilities are Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STAR™ accredited.
For further information or tickets, call (301) 581-5100 or visit www.strathmore.org.
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