Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/277189
Most recently, he has toured in India and Israel, the release says. In October 2011, he returned to Vietnam for the first time since 1974 to honor his friend, composer Pham Duy (1920-2013) on the occasion of Duy's 91st birthday, the release points out. "Drawing from a rich and ever-evolving rep- ertoire of distinctive songs" — both original works and compositions in some two dozen other languages — "Durst engages each dis- parate audience in a participatory journey," the release adds. The songs "reflect a global perspective and underscore the interconnect- edness of life," the release points out. Although he often performs solo, Durst is a member of Work O' The Weavers, a folk group organized as an homage to Pete Seeger and the three other members of the Weavers, the release explains. "The Weavers were very pop- ular during the 'folk' era," the release notes, "and Seeger and Durst were good friends until Seeger's recent death at the age of 94." The release continues, "Durst employs his role as minstrel to communicate global and social concerns common to his audiences, such as environmental sustainability, world peace and greater human understanding …" Once, following a concert in Skopje, Macedonia, a woman who spoke no English found Durst backstage, the release adds. Through an interpreter, she told him, "I didn't understand a word, but I understood what you were saying," touching the area of her heart as she spoke. More details about Durst may be found at jamesdurst.com. The Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota is a Welcoming Congregation serving Sarasota and Manatee counties. More information may be found at uusarasota.org or by emailing engage@uusarasota.org. The Church of the Redeemer in Sarasota will present a half-hour Lenten organ recital on Wednesday, March 19, featuring guest organist Mary Mozelle, organist and choir director for First United Methodist Church in Bradenton, the church has announced. The recital will begin at 12:10 p.m. and end at 12:40 p.m., a news release says. It is free and open to the public. The church is located at 222 S. Palm Ave. in downtown Sarasota. For more information, call 955-4263 or visit redeemersarasota.org. REDEEMER'S LENTEN ORGAN RECITALS CONTINUE WITH MARY MOZELLE Mary Mozelle/Contributed photo