Viewers can experience ‘My Romance’ Thursday from Fairfield’s Sondheim

This Thursday, Aug. 20, the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center welcomes viewers back to its weekly series 'Live from the Sondheim.”

'My Romance” returns once again to the Sondheim as part of the Thursday night concert series streaming live at 7 p.m. on the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center's YouTube channel and Facebook page.

Dr. Dave on piano and vocals and Arlene on violin will be joined by two very special guests: local favorite bassist George Foster and innovative drummer Phil Marks, for an evening of their jazz flavored favorite songs. Mark your calendar, order a sumptuous takeout from your favorite restaurant, and prepare to be entertained in the comfort of your own home.

My Romance brings unpretentiousness, pure joy, and the poetry of honest emotion back into jazz, with a repertoire spanning Frank Sinatra, Chet Baker, Duke Ellington, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and the Beatles. Their audience tends to be older folks who have an appreciation for jazz standards performed with class and sophistication, as well as younger folks discovering the beauty of the jazz tunes of a bygone era.

Musical director David Leffler is an accomplished jazz multi-instrumentalist and vocalist who has traveled the world performing in various Air Force bands. Dave has been a jazz aficionado, playing drums under the tutelage of his dad, Bob Leffler, a gigging drummer in the Milwaukee area. In high school Dave switched to bass, to guitar in college and the Air Force, and later to piano. Dr. Dave has been bandleader of the Dave Leffler Quartet based in Fairfield, and now performs as the jazz duo MY ROMANCE with his wife Arlene on violin.

Bandleader Arlene Schar Leffler is an award winning jazz violinist who received classical training from master violin teacher Dolly Koritzer, and has studied jazz violin with master violin teacher (and 2018 Grammy nominee) Sara Caswell. Arlene has been involved with a wide variety of bands and projects for over forty five years, encompassing many genres.

Special guest George Foster began his journey as a bass guitarist at age 16 and has been performing, writing or recording ever since. For decades he's been a familiar sight around Fairfield with 3=One, Bambu, Skunk River Medicine Show, Steve McLain, Sharon Bousquet, Michael Dugan, Jonas Magram, and many others.

Special guest Phil Marks started playing drums at 10 years old, and studied jazz drums and vibes with Bob Steele for 5 years then attended 4 years of music school including Berklee College of Music in Boston. As a professional Phil played in a variety of bands across the US with notable performances with Emily Remler and Larry Coryell.

There is no cost to view the concert, but the arts center accepts donations to make the series possible. Those who wish to give can text FACCLive to 44-321, make a donation over PayPal, or send a check to 200 North Main St., Fairfield, IA 52556. For more information, call 641-247-2000 Ext. 104