|
contents | jazz | |||||||||||||
| Tucson Symphony Plays Big Band Blast The red carpet will be out when the Tucson Symphony Orchestra kicks off the TSO Pops! Series for the 2008/09—80th season with a blast, Big Band Blast, a salute to the great "Big Band" pianists and leaders Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Paul Whiteman, Eddie Duchin, Spike Jones and Lawrence Welk. Remember "Take the A Train, " "In the Mood" and "Song of India"? How about 'Pennsylvania 6-5000, " "One O'Clock Jump" and "Stardust"? Leading the BIG BAND BLAST will be Rich Ridenour, an entertainer who has been called "a musical genius" and a "Victor Borge waiting in the wings." Junior .patronesses from the 51st Tucson Symphony Cotillion will be present to greet patrons when they arrive for the opening performances of the TSO Pops! season, BIG BAND BLAST, on Friday and Saturday, October 31 and November 1 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, November 2 at 2:00 pm at the Tucson Music Hall. Rich Ridenour has built a formidable career performing concerts of great piano favorites ranging from classical masterworks to American ragtime, jazz and rock and roll. He also serves as Pops conductor for the Elgin, IL and Dearborn, MI Symphonies each season. Joining him for the TSO Pops! performances is vocalist Kathy Wagner. She has many symphony pops concerts to her credit and teaches contemporary music at Cornerstone University. Ms. Wagner will perform a tribute to Duke Ellington as well as "Minnie the Moocher, " "Tuxedo Junction" and "Skylark." Mr. Ridenour comes to the TSO Pops! as part of a 50-city North American fall tour. "Ridenour was amazingly versatile, " said the San Antonio Express. The Cleveland Plain Dealer described a Ridenour performance as "Much whimsy. Much fun. Pianist Ridenour was infectious." "An act that's as masterfully musical as it is wickedly funny... a Victor Borge waiting in the wings. " stated the Grand Rapids Press, while the Idaho State Journal declared: "An approachable artist with remarkable technical skills whose passion seems to make the concert experience one of sheer delight - a combination that's not easy to find. Ridenour held his huge audience in the palm of his talented hands." write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Jazz News :: home page |