After a two and half year hiatus, in-person musical events are back at the Community Room of the Weston Public Library. First on “stage” on Sunday, October 23 at 3 pm is Express Lane, a group that knows how to both match their entire outfits as well as harmonize on songs old and new. It is a well-known fact that the Owl loves a cappella groups and barbershop quartets.

If you are new to this galaxy, you may not know what a “barbershop quartet” is. Oh fine, he’s not new to the galaxy, but Mr. Owl being Brazilian finds this a headscratcher (no pun intended). So, away to the Wikipedia files:

“A barbershop quartet is a group of four singers who sing music in the barbershop style characterized by four-part harmony without instrumental accompaniment or a cappella. The four voices are: the lead, the vocal part which typically carries the melody; a bass, the part which provides the bass line to the melody; a tenor, the part which harmonizes above the lead; and a baritone, the part that frequently completes the chord. The baritone normally sings just below the lead singer, sometimes just above as the harmony requires. Barbershop music is typified by close harmony: the upper three voices generally remain within one octave of each other.”

Express Lane formed as a new quartet in mid-2015, but their smoothly blended sound reflects a total of more than 50 years of experience singing barbershop harmony. Rob (Lead) and Doug (Baritone) previously sang together for 8 years in the Northeastern District medalist quartet Concord eXpress. Jim (Bass) has sung in several area quartets, including Sentimental Gentlemen, and Jon (Tenor) has sung in a quartet in the past, and has been active for some time in a few different jazz bands. 

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The concert is free and open to the public, and the Community Room is handicapped accessible. Covid precautions will be observed: masks are encouraged, and there will be space between singers or wind players and the audience.

The Weston Public Library is located at 87 School Street. You can find out more about the Weston Public Library’s Music Committee and other upcoming performances at their website here.