Harry James News

The 47th season of Highlights In Jazz kicks off with an all-star concert featuring pianist/vocalist Daryl Sherman, saxophonist Houston Person, trumpeter Warren Vaché, clarinetist/saxophonist Ken Peplowski, pianist Norman Simmons, bassist Boots Maleson, and guitarist James Chirillo, plus a special surprise guest.

Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts presents vintage American jazz big band, The Glenn Crytzer Orchestra, on Friday, February 15, 2019 at 8 p.m. Ticket prices range between $29 - $49 plus applicable fees and are available online, by phone or at the box office. For more information, visit PatchogueTheatre.org, call the Patchogue Theatre Box Office at 631-207-1313, or stop by 71 East Main Street, Patchogue, NY.

Corky Hale, legendary jazz harpist, pianist, vocalist, and social activist, will sign copies of her new book, "Corky Hale Uncorked," on Wed., Jan. 16 at 7 PM at Book Soup in West Hollywood.

Centenary Stage Company's January Thaw Music Festival continues on Sunday, January 20 at 2PM with The Harry James Orchestra in the Lackland Performing Arts Center at 715 Grand Ave. Hackettstown, NJ.

Each year, savvy jazz fans look forward to the annual Highlights In Jazz series. For almost a half century, the Jack Kleinsinger-produced events have brought together a multitude of beloved jazz musicians spanning an eclectic mix of generations and styles. The 2019 season is no exception, with four stellar concerts featuring some of the brightest luminaries in jazz today.

When I was a young teenager, I used to frequently walk past a band that were busking in Queen Street Mall (in front of Strand Bags) and stopping to listen to their music. Their music was funky, it was full of the most incredible harmonies, high energy and toe-tapping beats that made you want to let your inner (and maybe in some cases outer) dance-tress out. And their Woodford set was no different. People were dancing in front of the stage, in their seats and in whatever place they could find. What made us dance was their infectious love on stage for what the band members were doing; their love for what they were playing and their love for each other and it showed in how much fun they were having. The Fergies are five siblings, singing in five part harmony, playing an electrified set filled with from guitars, piano, drums to tambourines of original songs that they wrote off of both their albums. And they have the best time and so will you. Stella Donnelly's roots are in Perth, but you couldn't tell from the way she handles the Brisbane crowd. She played music from her first EP Thrush Metal last year, as well as other originals she wrote during her time on and off tour with Alex the Astronaut, a crowd favourite being 'Boys Will Be Boys'. What I loved about Stella's set is that each of her songs had a story, from strange family members to the grey area of sexual assault and that she shared those stories to us before she played the tune. But I couldn't describe Stella's voice, even if I tried to. You get lost in her voice the way you get lost in her stories. You fall headfirst into its velvet-like quality and once you fall, you don't want to get back up again. Which is why you go to the merch stand after her performance has finished and buy her CD... Australian rock band The Cat Empire didn't fail to disappoint. The fusion of funk, ska, jazz and rock with Latin influences makes you dance the night away and shake at least one part of your body. Felix Riebel and Harry James Angus's voices fill up the entire amphitheatre as the band jam at the back. They played music from all of their albums, including tracks never heard before from their upcoming album to be released in February. I can't list one crowd favourite as they were all crowd favourites, and if that doesn't measure the sheer brilliance of a band then I don't know what does. I remember turning to my friend in the crowd and said 'I love it when a band is a band' and I don't think there's a better way to describe Cat Empire then that. The versatility and skill of the band is extraordinary; the instruments compliment each other so beautifully and each band member is as important as the one on either side of them. No instrument gets left behind of unnoticed; each band member has not just one, but many moments to shine. They played music from all of their albums, including tracks never heard before from their upcoming album to be released in February. I can't list one crowd favourite as they were all crowd favourites, and if that doesn't measure the sheer brilliance of a band then I don't know what does. For upcoming show times and performances please visit: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com .

Centenary Stage Company's annual January Thaw Music Festival heats things up through the month of January with three exciting musical guests in the Lackland Performing Arts Center. The festival features Michael Davis and the New Wonder on Saturday, January 12 at 8PM; the Harry James Orchestra on Sunday, January 20 at 2PM; and finally Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper on Saturday, January 26 at 8PM. All performances will be held in the Sitnik Theatre of the Lackland Performing Arts Center at 715 Grand Ave. Hackettstown, NJ.

In four stellar concerts featuring some of the brightest luminaries in jazz today, 2019's Highlights In Jazz series brings together a multitude of beloved jazz musicians spanning an eclectic mix of generations and styles. You'll hear unforgettable performances from jazz veterans including Warren Vaché, Houston Person, and Norman Simmons; up-and-comers like Veronica Swift, Christian Sands, and Peter and Will Anderson; and straight-ahead stalwarts such as Steve Turre, George Cables, Buster Williams, along with many more. These gifted players and others will pay tribute to a pantheon of jazz legends, including this year's featured honoree, trumpeter Randy Brecker; plus, the music of Randy Weston, Erroll Garner, Sidney Bechet, Louis Armstrong will also be featured.

Legendary jazz harpist-pianist-singer Corky Hale, who has performed with some of the greatest stars in music history, as well as been a pioneering social activist, is publishing a new biography this month, 'Corky Hale Uncorked,' written by Jerry Leichtling and Arlene Sarner. 

Parx Casino®, Pennsylvania's #1 casino, announces the on-stage return of Rock and Roll legend Roy Orbison.  Performing his greatest hits, accompanied on stage by The Philly Pops, the iconic hall of musician is set to return with In Dreams: Roy Orbison In Concert - The Hologram Tour.  Julian Frampton (son of rock and roll legend Peter Frampton) will open the show. Following record-breaking sales in the UK, tickets are now on sale and going fast for this special performance at Parx Casino's The Xcite Center on Friday, November 9, 2018 at 8:00pm.  Doors for the show open at 7:00pm. Tickets are $30.00 to $50.00, and are available now by visiting www.parxcasino.com/xcitecenter.

An American icon comes home.  During the early years of his career, American composer, conductor and arranger Henry Mancini and his family lived not far from where California State University, Northridge campus now stands.  On Saturday, October 13 at 8pm, Mancini's music comes home to Northridge as The Soraya presents Moon River and the Music of Henry Mancini.  Starring Monica Mancini with special guest three-time Tony nominated Joshua Henry, Moon River and the Music of Henry Mancini features Gregg Field as Music Director and Chris Walden conducting the New West Symphony.  

California Pops Orchestra, the country's only all-request pops orchestra, announces its 30th performance season. Conductor Kim Venaas and the 70 members of the Orchestra present five fun-loving performances at Cupertino's Flint Center, adding their signature playfulness, audience engagement, and surprise elements to the mix.  The new season runs September 30, 2018 through May 19, 2019.  All performances are held Sundays at 3pm, at Flint Center at De Anza College, 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd in Cupertino.  Season subscriptions ($260-$92) and individual show tickets ($20-$55, standard ticket service fees apply), are available at Ticketmaster.com (https://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/2260227?tm_link=tm_homeA_header_search) or in person at the Flint Center box office.

Beginning tomorrow, July 28, designer, director, master puppeteer, and MacArthur "genius" Basil Twist will perform in his singular creation, Symphonie Fantastique, during all Saturdayevening performances. The 20th-anniversary production, which has received near universal acclaim and is scheduled to close on September 2, will include Twist on July 28, August 4, 11, 18, 25 and September 1 at 8:30pm. Set to Hector Berlioz's revolutionary 1830 score, Symphonie Fantastique, for the first time in New York, features live piano accompaniment by Christopher O'Riley. Hailed as a creative masterpiece when it debuted in 1998, the production, which opened on April 4, is a presentation from HERE's Dream Music Puppetry Program and a centerpiece of HERE's 25th anniversary season.

HERE is thrilled to present Cabaret Fantastique, a culminating concert event featuring pianist Christopher O'Riley who performs his haunting solo piano arrangements of songs by Radiohead, Nirvana, Pink Floyd, The Smiths, Elliott Smith, Portishead, and Sun Kil Moon. Master puppeteer and MacArthur "genius" Basil Twist and company members from Symphonie Fantastique will accompany O'Riley with new puppet work. The one-of-a-kind event will take place on August 19 at 7pm. Known to millions as the host of NPR's From the Top, O'Riley is currently performing live piano accompaniment for Basil Twist's Symphonie Fantastique, which continues performances at HERE until September 2.

HERE (Kristin Marting, Founding Artistic Director, and Kim Whitener, Executive Director) is proud to announce its 2018-2019 season, which marks the OBIE-winning institution's 26th year of producing of daring new hybrid performance by new artists from all disciplines - theatre, music, art, dance, puppetry, and media art.

Jewish Women's Theatre's (JWT) will present music legend Corky Hale in her first interview about her new book, Corky Hale UNCORKED! Music, Marriage and Making a Difference, at Bagels & Bestsellers on Sunday, July 29 from 10 am to noon.

Music and dance fill the Lackland Performing Arts Center as the Centenary Stage Company announces its 2018 - 19 full season line up of events. In addition to CSC's professional theatrical productions, the 2018 - 19 season will see the return of the January Thaw Music Festival alongside a plethora of new concerts and dance performances.

The Cat Empire lift you to a place from which you don't want to come down.

This year's Wawa Welcome America festival, a weeklong July 4 celebration, will honor the 40th anniversary of The Philly POPS and its contributions to the community through its music education program and concert series honoring the military, veterans, and first responders.

HERE (Kristin Marting, Founding Artistic Director, and Kim Whitener, Executive Director) is proud to close their 25th anniversary season with the commissioned world premiere of American Weather, a new work by director and designer Chris Green, a member of the HERE Artist Residency Program since 2016. With a bittersweet verve, American Weather is a visceral work of material performance inspired by daily life in America.