Parisian Jazz Night: Featuring Guitarist Alvaro Bermudez & Northrop Organist Greg Zelek
2025–26 Northrop Season Archived Past event: Oct 04-12, 2025
Free for UMN students; registration required.
Embark on a romantic journey through French classical and jazz works, performed in a unique pairing for organ and guitar by Northrop Organist Greg Zelek and award-winning musician Alvaro Bermudez. Steeped in the elegance of Parisian charm and musical sophistication, the evening will transport you through arrangements of well-known jazz and pop standards by Django Reinhardt, Édith Piaf, and Jacques Brel, alongside classical organ works that showcase the grandeur of the Northrop organ. Be swept away as you relax into a timeless repertoire that spans centuries.
Gallery
Greg Zelek and Alvaro Bermudez at Overture Hall in Madison, WI. Photo by Bruce Fritz.
The content below derives from the Northrop Across Campus Program that supports Northrop's mission towards intersections between performing arts and education for the benefit of all participants now and for generations to come.
Find ways to make thematic connections to these suggested topics:
Music: Classical, Latin, Jazz, Organ, Guitar
French Studies
Latin American Studies
Historic Preservation
International Collaboration
Improvisation
Dive deeper with these resources that provide additional information about the performers, the history of the artform, and the artistic process.
Start a conversation about the performance or encourage reflection, using these questions as inspiration.
In this unique pairing of organ and guitar, Parisian Jazz Night will feature jazz arrangements and pop works by Django Reinhardt, Édith Piaf, and Jacques Brel, as well as classical pieces that showcase the historic Northrop organ.
What might be the most important considerations in arranging music for a large concert organ, alongside a traditionally acoustic instrument like the guitar? How could these considerations change as the performance spans different genres—classical, jazz, and historical popular music?
How does this performance illuminate the variations we can hear in classical and jazz music spanning discipline, time, and culture?
Northrop's renowned Aeolian-Skinner organ was built between 1932 to 1936. It features four keyboards, nearly 7,000 pipes, and stands more than 40 feet tall, making it the third-largest concert hall organ in the U.S. The organ requires meticulous maintenance and has recently undergone a $3.2 million restoration. Northrop Organist Greg Zelek advises on preserving this instrument of history while showcasing its versatility through unique programs and artistic collaborations.
How does the organ span musical, cultural, artistic, and spiritual traditions?
How can spaces with organs (concert halls, auditoriums, churches) create new, unique artistic opportunities for audiences and artists?
Which curatorial responsibilities do you think are specific to Zelek’s role on a university campus?
Acknowledgments
Supported by Anna Heilmaier Foundation.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
