Byron Stripling Brings Sounds Of New Orleans To Popejoy

The New Mexico Symphony Orchestra’s Pops season continues as jazz trumpeter Byron Stripling joins conductor Stuart Chafetz for a spectacular one-night-only tribute to New Orleans, Feb. 21 at Popejoy Hall on the University of New Mexico campus.

This special program will include such “Big Easy” favorites as St. Louis Blues, Sweet Georgia Brown, a New Orleans medley, a tribute to Louis Armstrong and much more.

As soloist with the Boston Pops Orchestra, Byron Stripling has been the featured soloist on the PBS television series, Evening at Pops, with conductors John Williams and Keith Lockhart. Since his Carnegie Hall debut with Skitch Henderson and the New York Pops, Stripling has become a pops orchestra favorite throughout the country. Stripling earned his stripes as lead trumpeter and soloist with the Count Basie Orchestra under the direction of Thad Jones and Frank Foster. He has also played and recorded extensively with the bands of Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Herman, Dave Brubeck, Lionel Hampton, Clark Terry, Louis Bellson and Buck Clayton in addition to The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band and the GRP All Star Big Band.

An accomplished actor and singer, Stripling was chosen to star in the lead role of the Broadway musical, Satchmo. He also had a memorable cameo performance in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, and a critically acclaimed virtuoso trumpet and riotous comedic performance in the 42nd Street production of From Second Avenue to Broadway.

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Resident Conductor and Maui (Hawaii) Pops Orchestra Music Director Stuart Chafetz has worked with a variety of classical and pop artists such as George Benson, Regina Carter, Richard Chamberlain, Roy Clark, Jean Phillipe Collard, John Denver, Marvin Hamlisch, Thomas Hampson, Jason Scott Lee, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr., Jim Nabors, Randy Newman, Jon Kimura Parker, Bernadette Peters, Awadagin Pratt, Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Chee Yun. Chafetz is also a powerful advocate for the musical education of young people and their families, conducting hundreds of performances nationwide focusing on the importance of classical music and the fine arts in our everyday lives. -- www.nmso.org