News Release
October 2002

Eric Mintel Quartet to play "Hopscotch" at Moravian College - November 6

(Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) - The Eric Mintel Quartet will perform in concert at Moravian College on Wednesday, November 6, 8 p.m., in Foy Concert Hall. Pianist and composer Eric Mintel has been thrilling audiences throughout the country with his unique brand of jazz. His original music and adventurous jazz piano with a bent for the classical mode has been hailed by critics. The performance will serve as a celebration for the release of Mintel's CD "Hopscotch" which was recorded in Foy Concert Hall at Moravian in January. Mintel will play many of his original compositions from the CD.

Neil Wetzel, director of jazz studies and instructor of saxophone at Moravian College, is a member of the Eric Mintel Quartet.

The Eric Mintel Quartet has performed at many prestigious venues throughout the country, including the Mellon Jazz Festival, Hartford Jazz Festival, Bohemian Caverns, Takoma Park Jazz Festival, Penn State Universities, Kennedy Center Cherry Blossom Festival 2001, Cheney Hall, and Strand Theater. Jazz icon Dave Brubeck said this about the Eric Mintel Quartet, "As long as the music attracts dedicated young musicians like Eric Mintel, jazz will continue to thrive and progress as a voice of freedom."

Eric Mintel has been featured in Down Beat Magazine, Bucks County Town & Country Living and many newspapers on the east coast. He has been a frequent guest on Temple University Jazz FM in Philadelphia. Eric and his quartet have also appeared on television in Bucks County, PA, Manchester, NH, Takoma Park, M.D. and Washington, D.C.

Eric Mintel has released four CDs to date, including Lullaby (1998), Silent Night (2000), Live! (2001), and Hopscotch (2002).

Eric Mintel is also bringing jazz to the classical audience. A July 1999 performance of Eric's composition Millennium was performed by the Riverside Symphonia before 5,000 people. A May 2000 world premiere of all three movements of "Millennium Suite" was performed with the North Penn Symphony and conducted by Leonard Murphy who also arranged the compositions. On March 18, 2001 Eric performed a world premiere of his first choral composition Tranquility with the Saint Paul's Episcopal Church Choir in Doylestown, PA. Plans for the future include touring, new original symphonic work with chorus and many appearances at jazz festivals and concert halls throughout the country.

Foy Concert Hall is located on the Priscilla Payne Hurd Campus, Main and Church streets in historic Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Tickets are $10 general admission, $5 senior citizens, students, and children 12 and under. For more information, call 610-861-1650 or send an email to music@moravian.edu.