Coming on the heels of the Museum of Science & History’s (MOSH) announcement of its $80 million expansion, the popular Southbank museum will feature a unique multi-media concert, Music for Dinosaurs and Other Fantastic Beasts, to kick off its traveling exhibit, Expedition: Dinosaur, which opens Memorial Day weekend.
Cellogram
Scheduled for Saturday June 1, at 7:30 p.m., the concert will showcase Cellogram, a band comprised of legendary cellist Dave Eggar and renown percussionist and programmer, Chuck Palmer. Internationally acclaimed vocalist Valerie Ghent also appears on the marquee as well as other local artists.
The interactive concert will be held in MOSH’s Bryan-Gooding Planetarium and feature dinosaur-themed songs from many genres, including Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, which Disney used in its 1940s classic animation, Fantasia.
Music for Dinosaurs and Other Fantastic Beasts is an event for the entire family and will offer Brontosaurus Blues, T-Rex Tangos, Jurassic Grooves and other musical themes from our favorite creature-feature films and iconic cultural music and movies. In addition, MOSH is creating custom full-dome visuals to enhance the sensory experience produced by the music.
Jimmy Saal of Atypical Arts is producing Music for Dinosaurs and Other Fantastic Beasts. His company has presented six concerts over the past seven years at MOSH using many spaces within the Museum, including the rooftop with its view of the Jacksonville skyline. Saal and MOSH teamed up last year to bring in the acclaimed San Francisco-based artist, Meklit Hadero, during Black History Month. Her performance followed aTEDxFSCJ Salon sponsored by Florida State College at Jacksonville. Saal says that the upcoming performance will include a UNF paleontologist.
“All credit goes to MOSH President, Maria Hane, whose vision for the Museum has led to such creative collaboration,” says Saal, who is planning to tour the concert to other museums.
“While the concert, Music for Dinosaurs and Other Fantastic Beasts, was created specifically for the Bryan-Gooding Planetarium at MOSH, we are receiving interest from other museums around the country, so I guess you can say MOSH will be its debut,” he says.
Eggar is no stranger to Jacksonville. In addition to appearing several times at MOSH, he has also brought his unique and eclectic brand of music to house concerts throughout the city – all produced by Atypical Arts. He was the symphonic director for Foreigner during their most recent tour that included The Amp in St Augustine. He has appeared at both that venue and Daily’s Place as musical director for American Idol winner Phillip Phillips and opened for Evanescence with his band Cellogram at the latter venue.
New York-based singer-songwriter and recording artist Valerie Ghent achieved fame as a longtime keyboardist, vocalist and engineer with Songwriters Hall of Fame duo, Ashford & Simpson.
Saturday June 1, at 7:30 p.m. MOSH, 1025 Museum Cir., (904) 396-6674.
By Mike Bernos
