Posted 3:33 p.m. Friday, June 3, 2011
A familiar band with a new name — the La Crosse Jazz Orchestra — will head up the 37th annual Gertrude Salzer Gordon Jazz in the Park series.
[caption id="attachment_3276" align="alignright" width="268" caption="La Crosse Jazz Orchestra"]
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A familiar band with a new name — the La Crosse Jazz Orchestra — will head up the 37th annual Gertrude Salzer Gordon Jazz in the Park series. The Great River Big Band, which has headlined the Riverside Park series since its beginning, has changed its name to the La Crosse Jazz Orchestra “to better reflect who we are and what we do,” says director Greg Balfany, UW-La Crosse Music Department Chair.
The series includes three Sunday evening performances, along with the annual Sunday afternoon Riverside Jazz Party. All concerts run approximately 80 minutes, are free and held in La Crosse’s Riverside Park. The schedule includes:
7 p.m. Sunday, June 12 —
Singer Drummer Tim Henke steps out front with his renditions of Sinatra favorites “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and “Street of Dreams.” Henke’s other selections include Sammy Davis Jr.’s up tempo version of “When You’re Smiling.” Bassist Karyn Quinn takes a solo role on John Clayton’s earthy composition “Soupbone.” Tenor Saxophonists featured include Jim Piela and newcomer Alan Cordingley who toured five years with the Glenn Miller band before joining the faculty at UW-Platteville. Scott Jensen’s thrilling Latin composition “Chico’s Chase” features soprano saxophonist/director Greg Balfany and pianist Chris Frye.
[caption id="attachment_3274" align="alignright" width="268" caption="Wilma's Jazz Four"]
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7 p.m. Sunday, June 19 —
Eau Claire singer/actress Cathy Reitz swings hard on Ella Fitzgerald’s “I Want to Be Happy” and “That Old Black Magic.” Other selections include an evocative rendition of Duke Ellington’s “In My Solitude.” A special feature of the concert is the addition of Wilma Sheffner’s Jazz Four. The group will perform “On the Sunnyside of the Street” with the band and an a capella version of “Smile.” Tenor saxophonist Jeff Erickson returns from an International Tour and will be featured on the Stan Kenton version of Glen Miller’s “Tuxedo Junction.”
7 p.m. Sunday, July 10 —
The 2nd annual big band dance. The band recreates the sounds of Benny Goodman, Glen Miller, the Dorsey’s, Count Basie and many others in a concert
[caption id="attachment_3294" align="alignright" width="134" caption="Wycliffe Gordon, top photo, and Brian Rolland, bottom photo. "]
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3-10 p.m. Sunday, July 17 Riverside Jazz Party 4th edition —
Former Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra featured trombonist Wycliffe Gordon headlines the bill. Gordon is a former veteran member of the Wynton Marsalis Septet and has been a featured guest artist on Billy Taylor's "Jazz at the Kennedy Center" Series. Smooth Jazz guitarist Brian Rolland from Boston will be featured in the afternoon, as well as a regional group or two.
Rain sites for the evening concerts are Forest Hills. The rain site for the jazz party is Valhalla in UW-La Crosse’s Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition. Get more details at: www.greatriverbigband.com.
If you go—
Who: The La Crosse Jazz Orchestra
What: 37th annual Gertrude Salzer Gordon Jazz in the Park
When: 7 p.m. Sundays, June 12 and 19, and July 10, and 2 p.m. Sunday, July 17
Where: Riverside Park, La Crosse
Admission: Free
[/caption]
A familiar band with a new name — the La Crosse Jazz Orchestra — will head up the 37th annual Gertrude Salzer Gordon Jazz in the Park series. The Great River Big Band, which has headlined the Riverside Park series since its beginning, has changed its name to the La Crosse Jazz Orchestra “to better reflect who we are and what we do,” says director Greg Balfany, UW-La Crosse Music Department Chair.
The series includes three Sunday evening performances, along with the annual Sunday afternoon Riverside Jazz Party. All concerts run approximately 80 minutes, are free and held in La Crosse’s Riverside Park. The schedule includes:
7 p.m. Sunday, June 12 —
Singer Drummer Tim Henke steps out front with his renditions of Sinatra favorites “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and “Street of Dreams.” Henke’s other selections include Sammy Davis Jr.’s up tempo version of “When You’re Smiling.” Bassist Karyn Quinn takes a solo role on John Clayton’s earthy composition “Soupbone.” Tenor Saxophonists featured include Jim Piela and newcomer Alan Cordingley who toured five years with the Glenn Miller band before joining the faculty at UW-Platteville. Scott Jensen’s thrilling Latin composition “Chico’s Chase” features soprano saxophonist/director Greg Balfany and pianist Chris Frye.
[caption id="attachment_3274" align="alignright" width="268" caption="Wilma's Jazz Four"][/caption]
7 p.m. Sunday, June 19 —
Eau Claire singer/actress Cathy Reitz swings hard on Ella Fitzgerald’s “I Want to Be Happy” and “That Old Black Magic.” Other selections include an evocative rendition of Duke Ellington’s “In My Solitude.” A special feature of the concert is the addition of Wilma Sheffner’s Jazz Four. The group will perform “On the Sunnyside of the Street” with the band and an a capella version of “Smile.” Tenor saxophonist Jeff Erickson returns from an International Tour and will be featured on the Stan Kenton version of Glen Miller’s “Tuxedo Junction.”
7 p.m. Sunday, July 10 —
The 2nd annual big band dance. The band recreates the sounds of Benny Goodman, Glen Miller, the Dorsey’s, Count Basie and many others in a concert
[caption id="attachment_3294" align="alignright" width="134" caption="Wycliffe Gordon, top photo, and Brian Rolland, bottom photo. "][/caption]
3-10 p.m. Sunday, July 17 Riverside Jazz Party 4th edition —
Former Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra featured trombonist Wycliffe Gordon headlines the bill. Gordon is a former veteran member of the Wynton Marsalis Septet and has been a featured guest artist on Billy Taylor's "Jazz at the Kennedy Center" Series. Smooth Jazz guitarist Brian Rolland from Boston will be featured in the afternoon, as well as a regional group or two.
Rain sites for the evening concerts are Forest Hills. The rain site for the jazz party is Valhalla in UW-La Crosse’s Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition. Get more details at: www.greatriverbigband.com.
If you go—
Who: The La Crosse Jazz Orchestra
What: 37th annual Gertrude Salzer Gordon Jazz in the Park
When: 7 p.m. Sundays, June 12 and 19, and July 10, and 2 p.m. Sunday, July 17
Where: Riverside Park, La Crosse
Admission: Free