Harmony Grove, a musical project co-led by longtime collaborators Zoë Krohne and Willie Sordillo, comes to the Lilypad for an afternoon of original compositions and personal interpretations of known and obscure songs from jazz, folk, Latin and pop origins. Zoë's vocals and Willie's sax are agugmented by Doug Rich on bass and Mark Shilansky on piano.
Harmony Grove
Named after the anti-slavery enclave in Framingham in the 1850s, Harmony Grove is a musical project co-led by longtime collaborators Willie Sordillo and Zoë Krohne. Whether performing as a duo or augmented by additional musicians, they offer a diverse repertoire of original compositions and personal interpretations of both known and obscure songs from folk, jazz, Latin and pop origins. Their mission is to entertain while presenting a vision which offers hope, joy and possibility in an often troubled world. Over the past 10 years, Zoë and Willie have performed in a variety of settings as a duo, in groups they have led, and as members of the RPS Band, the Marlene Jazz Ensemble, and Four Corners. In addition, they have led the music for over 500 jazz worship services in Boston and beyond. They have performed multiple times at the Framingham Concerts on the Green series, at the Framingham Public Library and at Framingham State University. In April of 2024, Harmony Grove performed to a standing room only audience at ātac in Framingham, in a collaboration with two visual artists who painted their impressions of the music and Indiana- based poet Ketu Oladuwa, who read his original work accompanied by the band. Vocalist Zoë Krohne began her professional career at age 17, performing regularly as a singer/songwriter throughout the Midwest. During those years, she pursued a degree in music performance while contributing to various local bands ranging in styles from roots Americana and blues to rock and folk. For over 10 years, Zoë served as song-leader for the weekly Jazz Worship service at Old South Church in Copley Square in Boston and was music director for that service following Willie Sordillo’s retirement from that role. She has been the vocalist for many events including Boston’s Pride celebration with Sen. Elizabeth Warren as special guest, twice for the “Service of Resiliency” which was planned annually for the survivors of the Boston Marathon tragedy, an inter-faith service of healing held at Trinity Church after the election results in 2016 and twice for Mass General Hospital’s annual Black History Month celebration. Alto saxophonist and guitarist Willie Sordillo has been performing professionally for over 40 years, working extensively as a freelance player, a member of several bands, and leading his own ensembles. As a member of the Latin American ensemble, Flor de Caña, he is a multiple Boston Music Awards winner. Performing in concerts and festivals throughout North America and internationally, Willie’s original compositions have appeared in numerous song books, magazines and college texts and on his own and other artists’ recordings. He has contributed music to several films, and an arrangement to the television show ER. He has performed with or opened shows for Pete Seeger, Ruben Blades, Kurt Elling, Richie Havens, Avery Sharpe and Tito Puente, among others. He served as Music Director for Jazz Worship at Old South Church in Boston for 18 years and regularly brings jazz to churches throughout Massachusetts as well
as playing in a variety of other settings as both a leader and a sideman. For a more complete artist bio as well as links to recordings and more, please see www.williesordillo.com