The New England Center for the Performing Arts Presents Amanda Carr and the Kenny Hadley Big Band Jazz Brunch 11/15

The New England Center for the Performing Arts is pleased to announce its presentation of Amanda Carr and the Kenny Hadley Big Band Jazz Brunch at the renowned Mechanics Hall in Worcester, MA on Sunday, November 15, 2009 hosted by WBZ'S Jordan Rich.

Mechanics Hall will be filled with the glorious sounds of vocalist Amanda Carr and the Boston's finest jazz musicians led by band leader and drummer Kenny Hadley. Guests will enjoy a culinary spectacular beginning promptly at noon followed by a big band program to include many of the songs featured on their new CD, Common Thread, the release of which was celebrated on October 15, 2009 at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston. Additionally, a chorus of singers from the Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) will join The Band for two selections from two previous FPAC collaborations with the Kenny Hadley Big Band.

Amanda Carr is a Boston based musician, daughter of Big Band vocalist, Nancy Carr and late trumpeter, Nick Capezuto (best known for his work with the Herb Pomeroy Band). Amanda is a multi-styled vocalist/pianist that began early on in the rock and pop genre, but has in recent years focused on fresh interpretations of the Great American Songbook, following in her parents' musical footsteps. For over three decades she has performed internationally, adding her own musical gems as well, which have received critical acclaim from a tough bevy of jazz reviewers. In her national recording debut in 2005, Tender Trap hit the jazz charts at #55 and received 4-stars from the All Music Guide. Jazz Review.com donned her "...a first rate vocalist" and her feature story by Nat Hentoff in The Wall Street Journal in 200 catapulted her to global exposure.

Amanda has been featured with The Artie Shaw Orchestra, Harry James Band and has also appeared with the Glenn Miller Band among her many guest vocal appearances. In 1998, she headlined at the EuroJazz Festival in Italy along with James Moody and George Mraz, returning the following year to record "Live in San Giorgio" with Trio Martinale. Amanda has composed and performed award-winning music for two PBS documentaries and received an Emmy nomination for "The Story of Golf", a CBS special narrated by Jim McKay. She won awards for her musical contributions to "Boston Red Sox: 100 Years of Baseball History". In 1999 she was awarded the Videographer Award by the NTA for excellence in Music Composition in addition to her multiple"Telly's". She has dozens of T.V. and Radio commercials to her credit and owns and operates a successful recording studio in the Boston area along with the OMS record label. Amanda is the CEO of the newly formed not for profit organization American Big Band Preservation Society, Inc. which has a mission of preserving and promoting Big Band music through performance and education and acquiring a library of unpublished Big Band arrangements to share with the public. For more information, visit www.AmericanBigBand.ORG

The Kenny Hadley Big Band has a long history in the Boston area and is pleased to re-emerge in 2009 in this collaborative effort with Amanda Carr. Kenny Hadley used his generation long experience as both a Big Band Drummer and Big Band Leader to become one of New England's top educators in the Big Band genre. He is best known as the leader of his own 16-piece big band which has recorded 3 CDs and has performed publicly for more than 3 decades. In addition to private instruction, he conducts numerous clinics and Master Classes throughout the northeast region. Mr. Hadley has earned his well deserved reputation as an educator by honing his skills as a performing musician. He knows first hand how difficult it is to maintain a performing Big Band and to that end, he has volunteered his considerable talent and expertise to develop a curriculum to teach a new generation. A Zildjian and Vater endorser, Kenny is one of New England's most sought after drummers. His work truly encompasses all styles including rock, funk, R & B, jazz and swing. He has performed with acts such as Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme, Johnny Adams, Van Morrison, Dizzy Gillespie, The Count Basie Orchestra, Peter Wolf and The Drifters. He performs and contracts productions with the Franklin School for the Performing Arts, a school that offers music, dance and drama for students of all ages where he is on the faculty. His theater work includes blockbuster shows like "Tommy", "Hair", "The Full Monty", "Momma Mia" and "Dirty Dancing." Kenny is also a member of the Board of Directors of the American Big Band Preservation Society.

Tickets to the Big Band Jazz Brunch event are available by contacting the Mechanics Hall box office at 508-752-0888 or by visiting www.mechanicshall.org. You can also contact the Franklin School for the Performing Arts to make a reservation. Brunch will begin at 12 noon. Reserved premium seating will be available at $55 with general table seating at $45.00. Balcony seating is available for the show only beginning at 1:00 pm at $20, students, seniors, WICN members and WOO Card members are $15. The concert is brought to you with the support of WICN, Worcester's Jazz and Folk Station.

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