Doris Duke’s lifelong passion for jazz is reignited at Rough Point this summer. Composer and musician Francisco Pais has assembled musicians from around the world to debut an original contemporary jazz suite inspired by Doris. The suite is imagined as a soundtrack of Doris’ life and each movement tells a story. Pais was inspired by meaningful moments in Doris Duke’s life and by her wide ranging interests in the arts, surfing, and music. In the words of the composer:
“In music it’s important to be daring, to allow yourself to experiment even if it means you fail. Doris Duke was a daring woman, a strong woman; she was always looking for new ways forward.” The I Dare You suite takes its title from a quote by saxophone legend Wayne Shorter, who said, “To me jazz means: I dare you.”
The intimate performance will take place in the Great Hall at Rough Point (pictured above) and will be followed by a talk-back with the composer.
About the composer
After three highly acclaimed albums, Portuguese born guitarist Francisco Pais has been exploring new music relentlessly with some of the most influential young lions in NYC. He is a creative tour-de-force who never ceases to try push the limits of what can be done in music. A devoted yogi, Pais has played his own music all over the world with some of the best musicians in the New York scene. After an audition in Paris in 1998, Pais was awarded a scholarship to come to the United States to study jazz performance at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. In 2002, he graduated cum laude with a B.A. in Music Performance. In the following years he toured throughout the world playing at venues including Smalls, Shapeshifter and Joe’s Pub (New York City), Ryles (Boston), The Rex and Trane Studio (Toronto), and Ducs des Lombards (Paris), among many others. Pais has also performed with a number of prominent musicians including Chris Cheek, Marcus Strickland, Seamus Blake, Gretchen Parlato, Becca Stevens, Myron Walden, Alvin Atkinson and Justin Brown. Pais has received numerous awards for his work from the Doris Duke Foundation, Chamber Music America and Rhode Island State Council for the Arts.
Musicians
Adam Cote, acoustic bass
Godwin Louis, alto saxophone
Ferenc Nemeth, drums
La Bella Musica, strings
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