Silverman brings classical training, one-man show to Paramount Theatre

Austin will get a chance to hear variety from a single violin Saturday.

Tracy Silverman will bring his six string electric violin to the Paramount Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, bringing along a unique sound and instrument.

Silverman warned his show is more than your typical one-man show.

“People are justifiably skeptical when they hear that,” Silverman said of playing a solo show. “I think one of the reasons (people) leave the show pleasantly surprised is that there’s a lot of variety in what I do.”

Silverman, a classically trained violinist, said the variety comes in the music he plays and in his style.

Silverman performs a variety of music, like rock ‘n’ roll, jazz, funk and contemporary classical.

The variety also comes in his style. Even though it’s a one-man show, Silverman is able to achieve a larger sound. He said he does a live recording, where he’ll layer multiple parts and loop them to create a symphonic sound with just his electric violin.

“Sometimes it sounds like a solo instrument, sometimes it sounds like a band and sometimes it sounds like an orchestra,” Silverman said.

“It’s just me on stage with an electric violin and a bunch of pedals,” he said.

Silverman started trending toward the six-string electric violin shortly before he graduated from Julliard School of Music in 1980.

Despite his classical training, Silverman enjoys contemporary rock and jazz. He sited the likes of Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Jimi Hendrix as influences along with many classical composers.

“I’ve always been a big fan of rock and jazz and contemporary music of all kinds,” Silverman said.

In fact, Silverman said there isn’t the rift between pop and classically trained musicians that there used to be.

“You just see more violinists exploring jazz and rock on the electric violin,” he said.

For example, Silverman said there used to be little mixing between classical and folk fiddlers, but now there’s more integration and mutual respect, though there’s still a divide.

Silverman, who now resides in Nashville, lived in Minneapolis in the 1990s, so he said it’s nice to come back to Minnesota. He said he’s looking forward to seeing family that still lives in the area.

“I’m looking forward to being in the area,” he said. “And I’m glad I’m coming in October and not December.”