Stan Strickland, one of Boston’s most versatile and well-known jazz musicians and a Vineyard favorite, will be bringing his one-man theatrical show Coming Up for Air – an AutoJAZZography to The Vineyard Playhouse, August 15-17, 2011. Playing sax, flute, keyboards and an assortment of percussion, Strickland riffs about his life and art -- taking the audience on a dramatic musical odyssey of soulful discovery.

Based on a true-life near death experience when Strickland almost drowned off the coast of Hawaii and literally had his life and career flash before his eyes. In the course of the play, he explores many instruments, musical forms and dance movements searching for the sources of his music. Coming Up For Air is written and directed by Vineyard and Boston-based playwright Jon Lipsky.

During the course of the play, Strickland plays 8 different instruments and brings to voice and music over a dozen individuals and characters, including family, lovers and musical heroes. Lipsky and Strickland collaborated on the play off and on for over three years, exploring the interface between music and narrative. “In most plays,” said Lipsky, “the music supports and underscores the story, but in this play the story supports and underscores the music. Stan is an amazing performer to work with. He brings the danger and excitement of jazz to everything he says and does. It can be dramatic just watching him breathe.” "Stan’s movement, which includes hula, Jive, old blues shuffle, and New Zealand Maori dancing, is an integral part of this piece,” says Lipsky. “Stan feels his music through his body and his body helps him find his music.”