Toledo Jazz Orchestra for Final Concert of Season
TOLEDO, OHIO – In 1943, Stan Kenton Orchestra’s first hit, “Artistry in Rhythm,” became a national sensation; 70 years later, theirs are still some of the most passionate big band fans. Stan Kenton Orchestra’s unique sounds were enhanced by the talented rhythm section, and in 1972, 17-year-old drummer Peter Erskine joined the band. He soon became known worldwide as one of the best drummers of this era. Next month Erskine will join The Toledo Jazz Orchestra in concert for the second year in a row, performing the music of the Stan Kenton band. Erskine Returns for Kenton, the final concert of the Toledo Jazz Orchestra’s season, will bring the famous Kenton sound to the Valentine Theatre on Saturday, April 6 at 8 p.m.
“You don’t often get a chance to have a world-class musician perform an encore of the music he recorded 40 years ago,” said Toledo Jazz Orchestra artistic director Ron Kischuk. “When we wanted to resurrect the Stan Kenton concert, we knew it would be the perfect time to invite Peter Erskine to perform with us again. The audience loved Erskine last year and many people asked us to bring him back.” Erskine has appeared on over 600 albums and film scores, 30 of which have been released under his own name or as co-leader. He has also played with the Maynard Ferguson Big Band, Weather Report, Joni Mitchell, Steely Dan, Diana Krall and many others, as well as appearing as a soloist with orchestras throughout the world. He is the winner of two Grammy awards and has been voted “Best Jazz Drummer of the Year” 10 times by the readers of Modern Drummer magazine.
Joining Erskine and the Toledo Jazz Orchestra for the concert will be another alumnus of the Kenton band, John Harner. Harner was lead trumpet player when Erskine was part of the Stan Kenton Orchestra, and his last recording with the band was the “Kenton ‘76” album. That album’s arrangement of “Send in the Clowns” included Harner playing a famous trumpet feature. The Toledo Jazz Orchestra will delight the audience with a recreation of that song at the concert.
“While the Stan Kenton library is vast, there are several favorites that audiences expect to hear,” Kischuk said. “Peanut Vendor,” “I Remember You” and “Intermission Riff” are on the list again for this concert, as well as “My Funny Valentine,” new to this year’s performance. Several arrangements chosen for the concert were written by Lennie Nihaus, who began his career as an arranger for Kenton and is known for his work arranging and composing for motion pictures, especially those of Clint Eastwood. The Toledo Jazz Orchestra will also perform the Kenton arrangement of “Love for Sale” and will debut an arrangement of “All or Nothing at All,” new even to Erskine himself.
Tickets to the concert are $22 - $32 and are available at http://thetoledojazzorchestra.org, at the Valentine Theater’s box office at 400 North Superior St. or by calling 419-242-2787.
Press Release Contact Name: Amber Hendrickson
Press Release Contact Email: [email protected]
Organization Name: Toledo Jazz Orchestra
Organization Address: Toledo, OH