Westchester, NY The Westchester Jazz Orchestra is a local orchestra in about the same way as, say, the New York or Berlin Philharmonic Orchestras are local. On Sat., Apr. 18, this sixteen-piece big band will perform their interpretations of memorable music from the movies at 8 PM at the Irvington Town Hall Theater, 85 Main Street, Irvington, NY.
Selections will include the Grammy-nominated arrangement of Charlie Chaplins immortal song, Smile, Duke Ellingtons classic Battle Royal, and music from Fellini films. WBGOs Gary Walker is set to host the concert. Reserved seating is $35/$30 for seniors/ $5 for students. www.westjazzorch.org. Box office: 914-591-6602. WJO: 914-861-9100.
WJO has given students an attendance incentive beyond its $5 ticket price the Orchestra has challenged students to earn a free 2-hour educational clinic with WJOs Artistic Director Mike Holober. Each school that brings 15 or more students to one of the Orchestras remaining season concerts on April 18 in Irvington and June 6 in Chappaqua will be entered in a drawing to win this workshop.
Holober says that the performance will be a great introduction to jazz concerts for students and adults alike. This concert incorporates spectacular and accessible music. Well have a vocalist for Smile and an accordion player for the Fellini numbers. Ellingtons Battle Royal is a rapid-fire and engaging piece. Everyone will find something familiar and something to enjoy.
In a tandem program, a WJO sextet will perform at the Jacob Burns Film Center on Thurs., Apr. 16 at 7 PM, kicking off the Burns second annual Jazz on Film series. The evening will also feature a screening of Paris Blues, starring Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, Sidney Poitier and Diahann Carroll.
WJO received national recognition last year with the release of its debut CD, All In. The CD was named on multiple Best CDs of 2007 lists, was a WBGO Top Pick from December 2007 through April 2008, and reached #4 in nationwide radio airplay. All In also placed at #50 in JazzWeeks Top 100 Jazz CDs of 2008.
WJOs final concert of the 2008-09 season will be You Say You Want a Revolution: WJO Takes on the 60s on Sat., June 6 at the Seven Bridges School in Chappaqua. WJOs concerts are partially funded by the New York State Council on the Arts, the Westchester Arts Council and the Aaron Copland Fund for Music.
Reserved seating tickets for WJOs season concerts are $35 for adults, $30 for seniors and only $5 for students. Order online at www.westjazzorch.org or by telephone at the Irvington Theater box office at 914-591-6602. WJO: 914-861-9100. For more information about the Burns performance, visit www.burnsfilmcenter.org.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
