Southern Arizona Arts & Culltural Alliance - Concert Events

PERFORMANCES & CONCERTS - Jazz Legends in Concert LIVE

Jazz Legends in Concert

October 2010 - TBA

at the

Hilton El Conquistador

Join us for a spectacular evening with some
of the greatest Jazz musicians of our time!

2009 CONCERT DETAILS

Event Location:
Hilton El Conquistador Poolside
10000 N. Oracle Rd.
Tucson, AZ

Event Times:
5:00pm - Dinner
6:30pm - Concert

Al & Marilyn Cook have assembled some of the best talent in over 9 years for the 2009 Jazz Legends benefit concert! Join us for a relaxing poolside evening featuring world famous Jazz musicians and vocalists performing in this one of a kind JAM SESSION event. This compilation of talent has played with some of history’s greatest names such as, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney and Ray Charles, just to name a few!

FEATURING
Lou Waters GUEST OF HONOR AND EMCEE Lou Waters was one of the original anchors of Cable News Network when it first aired in the summer of 1980. He remained one of the network's primary anchors until September 2001, adding to a journalism career spanning nearly 40 years. For much of his tenure with the network, Waters anchored CNN Today with Natalie Allen. Additionally, he co-anchored Early Prime and hosted special editions, including Coming of Age, a series on aging in American society. After his career at CNN, Waters became managing editor and host of NewsProNet's "Investing in America" consumer money reports, seen on more than 80 television stations across the U.S.
Byron StriplingTRUMPET & VOCALS Byron Stripling, world class trumpeter, vocalist played lead trumpet and soloed with the Count Basie Orchestra under the direction of Thad Jones and Frank Foster. He has played with Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Herman, Dave Brubeck, Lionel Hampton, Clark Terry and Louis Bellson. As a soloist with the Boston Pops and PBS features with John Williams he is the conductor of the Columbus Jazz Orchestra. He starred in the musical “Satchmo” and records regularly as well as conducting master classes and seminars at colleges, universities conservatories, and high schools. He plays the trumpet with stunning style and depth and is at home in every generation of jazz with equal ease. www.byronstripling.com
Bobby FloydPIANO & ORGAN Virtuoso pianist Bobby Floyd is the pianist of the Columbus Jazz Orchestra. Has performed in the US and Europe with Ray Charles, Rusty Bryant, and Jeff Tyzik. He has toured around the world with artists like Sarah Vaughn and Glen Campbell and is in recording studios regularly. www.bobbyfloyd.com
Dennis MackrelDRUMS Dennis began playing the drums when he was only two years old, a certain child prodigy. He became a professional musician at the age of ten. Developing his craft in various playing situations, Dennis received numerous awards. At only 18 years old he became one of the youngest members of a Las Vegas showroom orchestra and at 19 years of age, Dennis moved to New York City and landed a gig as the drummer in a New York Broadway orchestrathen joined The Count Basie Orchestra. His compositions and arrangements have been recorded and performed internationally! www.dennismackrelmusic.com
Houston PersonTENOR - SAXOPHONE Houston Person wears the Boss Tenor crown, worn so long by Gene Ammons. Mr. Person is busy working his own gigs; booking his tours, finding new clubs, having phone numbers for every major concert promoter on every continent. He even produces his own albums. His first big break came while working as a sideman with organist Johnny Hammond and his group, co-led by Etta Jones. www.myspace.com/houstonperson
Jay Leonhart UPRIGHT BASS A superior bassist, Jay Leonhart has also had a parallel and sometimes overlapping career as a witty lyricist and occasional singer. As a child he attended the Peabody Conservatory and by the time he went to the Berklee College of Music, Leonhart was a jazz musician. He played with Buddy Morrow and Mike Longo and then became a busy freelance musician in New York. Among Leonhardt's many associations were Marian McPartland, Jim Hall, Urbie Green, Chuck Wayne , Phil Woods, Gerry Mulligan, Lee Konitz, Don Sebesky, Louie Bellson and pianist Mike Renzi. Leonhart started becoming well-known as a lyricist in the 1980's when he began leading his own recording sessions and started having his songs being recorded by other singers. www.jayleonhart.com
John Fedchock TROMBONE John Fedchock is a world class trombone soloist, a heralded New York bandleader, and a Grammy nominated arranger. He received a Grammy Award nomination in 2003 for “Best Instrumental Arrangement” for his exciting chart on “Caribbean Fire Dance” and appeared on Downbeat’s Reader’s poll in the categories of Trombone, Arranger and Big Band for several consecutive years. He began his career as a jazz trombonist with the Woody Herman Orchestra in 1980 and toured with the Thundering Herd for seven years. He served as musical coordinator and chief arranger For Herman’s last two Grammy Award nominated albums. Fedchock has toured with Gerry Mulligan’s Concert Band, Louie Bellson’s Big Band, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, and T.S. Monk. As a clinician, he holds master’s degrees from Ohio State and Eastman School of Music, and conducts seminars all across the country. He tours abroad as a solo artist at jazz festivals and concert halls around the world.

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