Jazz Club of Sarasota presents Sarasota Jazz Project Big Band featuring Greg Nielsen and music from “West Side Story”; Afternoon concert on January 31 is fundraiser for new bandshell at Riverview Performing Arts Center
SARASOTA, FL: The Jazz Club of Sarasota presents the Sarasota Jazz Project Big Band and music from “West Side Story” in a special afternoon concert at Riverview Performing Arts Center, 1 Ram Way, Sarasota. The concert is set for Sunday, January 31, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. General admission is $25; students, $10. Proceeds will help to underwrite the cost of a new bandshell to enhance acoustics at the Riverview Performing Arts Center. The shell will be named for beloved Riverview High School teacher Andrew J. (Jack) Crew. (http://www.sarasotajazzproject.org/; http://www.riverviewperformingarts.com/ ).
Tenor sax player and Sarasota Jazz Project co-founder George McLain directs the 17-piece SJP, which he co-founded. This high-energy big band includes many of the finest jazz musicians on the Florida West Coast and features trombonist Greg Nielsen for the January 31 concert. The band will be performing two of Nielsen’s original compositions, “Waltz With Me,” a delightful light-hearted jazz waltz; and “Windbreaker,” a be-bop burner that features solos by four different saxophones. The program will also feature Bill Raddle’s classic arrangement of “West Side Story.” The jazz treatment includes Tony Benade on “Cool” and Don Parker on “Somewhere,” with drummer Rich MacDonald riding herd throughout. Nielsen will also perform his personal big band arrangements including trombone solos on “Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most,” and flugelhorn on “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes.”
Nielsen, a Michigan native, achieved an impressive record of accomplishments in his home state, where he taught jazz studies at the National Music Camp in Interlochen, directed a high school band program and played professionally with many name jazz artists including Nancy Wilson, The Four-Tops, The Temptations, Cab Calloway, and Ramsey Lewis. He moved to Florida in 1983,where he has performed with jazz greats including Nat Adderly, Larry Elgar, Bobby Rosengarden, Warren Covington and Bobby Shew. He has taught instrumental music for over 20 years at Booker Middle School.
For concert tickets and information call 800.838.3006, visit http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2486565, phone the Jazz Club office at 941.366.1552 (Wed.-Thurs.-Fri.), email [email protected] or contact Riverview High School at 941-923-1484, attention Norm Vagn.
The Jazz Club of Sarasota, founded in 1980, is dedicated to preserving, promoting and presenting jazz, America’s original musical art form. The Club has provided over 50 jazz-related events annually for more than 35 years. Chief among them is the highly respected Sarasota Jazz Festival, with the 36th Festival set for March 6-12, 2016. In addition to producing numerous jazz events, over the years the Club has granted approximately $200,000 to aspiring young jazz musicians. To learn more, visit www.jazzclubsarasota.org.
