The Grand Wazoo and Other Delights Present A Tribute to Frank Zappa
By: Samantha Vega
On Saturday, Dec. 29th, at the Park West, 322 W. Armitage, Chicago, just days after Frank Zappa's 72nd birthday, the Chicago Jazz Orchestra (CJO) presents an adventurous tribute to this great American musical genius. The show, which begins at 7:30 p.m., will feature the 15-piece CJO along with saxophonist Ernie Watts, who was in Zappa's band for the original recording of The Grand Wazoo. Electric violinist Mark Wood (Trans-Siberian Orchestra) and electric bassist Dave Morgan, who created the arrangements for this show, are also featured. Conducting the performance will be CJO artistic director Jeff Lindberg.
This concert was recently moved from its originally scheduled location at the Harris Theater to the new venue at Park West. Tickets are on sale now priced at $35.00 and are for seated, general admission, and can be purchased from the concert venue website www.parkwestchicago.com, the Chicago Jazz Orchestra website www.chicagojazzorchestra.com or at the Park West venue at 322 W. Armitage.
Jeff Lindberg's Chicago Jazz Orchestra (CJO) is a 501C(3) not for profit organization founded in 1978 as the Jazz Members Big Band by Jeff Lindberg and the late Steve Jensen. Composed of Chicago's top musicians, the CJO is Chicago's oldest professional jazz orchestra in continuous operation and one of the oldest jazz orchestras in the country. Conductor and Artistic Director Jeff Lindberg is one of the foremost transcribers in jazz. As a result, the Orchestra's repertoire draws upon his vast library, which includes the works of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton, Benny Carter, Oliver Nelson, Ray Charles and many others.
The CJO recently announced its upcoming 2012-2013 concert season, including performances with such solo artists as Michael Feinstein, Ernie Watts, Mark Wood, Randy Brecker and Kurt Elling. For more information about the CJO's season, please visit the website www.chicagojazzorchestra.com.
The CJO receives support from the Stare Fund, the Illinois Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, The Joseph B. Glossberg Foundation, The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, and the Oppenheimer Family Foundation. WDCB 90.9FM and Downbeat magazine are the Chicago Jazz Orchestra's media sponsors. Additional in-kind support is also received from the Jazz Institute of Chicago.
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