Westchester Jazz Orchestra debuts

Saturday, October 18 marked the premiere of the new Westchester Jazz Orchestra at the century-old Irvington Town Hall Theater, located about 25 miles north of New York City in the historic Hudson River town named for its most famous native, Washington Irving, the father of Rip Van Winkle. Founded by Emily Tabin, Peter Hand and Joey Berkley, the WJO's mission includes outreach programs for bringing jazz to the schools; in fact, there were a number of young people in attendance, including some children playing patty-cake to Cole Porter. Its roster boasts fourteen top musicians, such as trumpeters Marvin Stamm, Ray Vega, Jim Rotundi, saxists Ralph Lalama and Ed Xiques, pianist Ted Rosenthal and bassist Harvie S.

Despite the Yankees game, a good-sized audience enjoyed a crackling program of originals and standards by Ellington and Strayhorn, Mingus, Coltrane, Golson, Gershwin, Porter and Rollins. WBGO morning voice Gary Walker hosted, noting his delight at the premiere of a new jazz “anything."

Future performances include “All Blues," a celebration of the year of the blues (December 6, New Rochelle), “Very Personal," a Houston Person concert hosted by WBGO's Rhonda Hamilton (January 31, Irvington), and “Buried Treasure," a program of classic and rare Ellington/Strayhorn (April 17, New Rochelle). Information and tickets at www.westjazzorch.org.