The Department of Music at Arkansas State University presents the first performance of the Faculty Recital Series for 2003-2004 on Thursday, Oct. 2, at 7:30 p.m. at the Fowler Center Riceland Hall.

Matthew Carey, baritone, and assistant professor of music will be accompanied at the piano by Joy Fiala, temporary assistant professor of music. Carey has been seen onstage as Will Rogers in the Jonesboro Foundation of Art’s production of “The Will Rogers Follies” and performs often in Jonesboro and throughout the region.

They will be performing six Cabaret Songs by American composer William Bolcom, with lyrics by Arnold Weinstein. Born out of the Viennese café tradition, cabaret has been transformed here from the Brecht-Weill songs of 1920’s Berlin into something part Off-Broadway, part Living Theater, and part poetry reading. The situations are real urban life, and the characters are always colorful.

Weinstein’s text is fresh: sometimes suggestive but never bawdy; while Bolcom’s score adds a touch of class and sophistication to the readings. The Cabaret Songs are part of a full recital program called The American Traditions Recital that Carey and Fiala will perform this fall and spring across Arkansas.

Craig Collison, associate professor of music, will perform on the second half of the program with “The Good Vibes Jazz Quartet.” This group features Collison, vibraphone, from Jonesboro; John Long, drums, from Walnut Ridge; Tom Mason, bass, from Bald Knob; and Joy Sanford, piano, also from Jonesboro.

The jazz quartet will be performing “September Song” by K. Weill, “At Home” by Jon Metzger, “In Her Family” by Pat Metheny, and “Oleo” by Sonny Rollins.

The concert is free and the public is invited to attend.

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