Katie Schnorr and George Sawyn open this winter’s Emerson Concert series at the UU Felllowship in north Ephraim on Saturday, February 1 at 7 pm. Admission is just $10. Schnorr will sing a collection of jazz standards from her first album, Blue Shoes, released last spring. The performance will feature George Sawyn on guitar. In an interview with the Pulse, Schnorr explains her interest in music, “I’ve been singing my whole life. One of my earliest memories is my mom playing the record Ella in Berlin and me singing along and jumping on the couch. My mom loves music, and was always taking us to concerts and schlepping us to music lessons. I studied piano, did musicals in high school, and learned to play some guitar. In college I studied classical voice, and also had a musical duo with a friend who played guitar…. When I moved to Chicago in my early 20s I became fascinated with the jazz scene. I spent late nights at the Green Mill, and hung out at a local jazz joint on Division Street, now gone … I had always loved listening to jazz, but when I started sitting in once in a while I realized how much I loved singing it, too. I relish everything about it – the improv, the melodies, the playfulness of the lyrics, and the history of the songs.”

The Emerson Concerts continue with:

Small Forest

A new band featuring Jeanne Kuhns, Marybeth Mattson and Pat Palmer, performing original music by Mattson and Kuhns, with wonderful three part harmonies and songs with an edgy poetic quality; soul soothing with a touch of wild!

Saturday, March 1 at 7 pm     $10

The Beth Kille Band

Performing a unique blend of rock, country, folk and blues.

Saturday, April 5 at 7 pm     $10

Caravan Gypsy Swing Ensemble

A Madison based trio primarily influenced by the legendary Gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt with influences from jazz, swing, traditional Latin, Parisian waltzes and other vintage-jazz sources.

Saturday, May 3 at 7 pm     $10