PUTNEY — Next Stage Arts Project will present a double bill with instrumentalists Ben Cosgrove and Mark Kroos at Next Stage on Friday, Oct. 18, at 7:30 p.m.
Ben Cosgrove is a pianist whose music explores themes of landscape, place, and environment in North America. He has performed nationally and held artist residencies and fellowships with institutions including the National Park Service, the National Forest Service, Harvard University, Middlebury College, the Schmidt Ocean Institute, and the Sitka Center for Art & Ecology.
Cosgrove's recent album, Salt, is described by Seven Days as a “majestic entry into the composer's catalog ... replete with near-imperceptible embellishments and forward-thinking concepts.”
Kroos has developed a unique instrumental style playing two guitar necks characterized by open harmonies, polyphonic textures, and complex tapping technique.
Drawing influence from folk, Celtic, indie, and even punk rock artists as well as great guitarists such as Michael Hedges, Tommy Emmanuel, and Leo Kottke, Kroos has developed a dynamic and innovative approach to acoustic guitar. His live performances “burst with energy and magnetism not typical of the genre,” according to a news release.
In July 2011, Guitar Player magazine's International Guitar Superstar Competition in Nashville awarded Mark first place out of thousands of applicants. Following his performance, Muriel Anderson, 1989 International Fingerstyle Guitar Champion, noted that “Mark Kroos plays with a sensitivity and energy that is truly refreshing.”