Swing to the sounds of Dixieland as the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra pays tribute to legendary artists Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington and other New Orleans greats on Saturday, March 31 at 8 pm at NJPAC in Newark. Known the world over as the birthplace of jazz, New Orleans has been a hotbed of sizzling music for over a century. Trumpet virtuoso, Byron Stripling joins drummer Dave Mancini, conductor Jeff Tyzik and the NJSO for a dazzling evening of songs from the Crescent City.
Single tickets prices start at just $20.
The Works
Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans? was first made popular in 1947 by Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday. Composed by Eddie DeLange and Louis Alter, the song debuted in the movie New Orleans and has been recorded by dozens of artists from Rosemary Clooney to Fats Domino. Recently, Harry Connick Jr. performed the piece on piano at the NBC Concert for Hurricane Relief.
The evening will also include audience favorites Honeysuckle Rose, Ain't Misbehavin' and Sweet Georgia Brown, among others. The second half of the performance features legendary jazz hits Caravan-considered the first Latin jazz song-by Juan Tizol and Duke Ellington; Irving Berlin's Alexander's Ragtime Band; Cab Calloway's Minnie The Moocher, and, finally, a Louis Armstrong Tribute.
The Artists
Jeff Tyzik has earned a reputation as one of America's most innovative pops conductors. He has been named "among the best pops conductors in America" and is recognized for his brilliant arrangements, original programming, and engaging rapport with audiences of all ages. Principal Pops Conductor of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) for over a decade, he also serves as Principal Pops Conductor of the Vancouver and Winnipeg Symphony Orchestras. Over the course of his tenure with the RPO, he has written over 160 works for the orchestra. He has performed works by some of the greatest American composers to critical acclaim, and led the RPO premiere of his own Trombone Concerto. Recently, Tyzik recorded works by Gershwin with pianist Jon Nakamatsu and the RPO on the Harmonia Mundi label, to be released this spring.
With a contagious smile and captivating charm, trumpet virtuoso Byron Stripling has ignited audiences internationally. As soloist with the Boston Pops, Stripling was a featured soloist on the PBS television special, "Evening at Pops," with Lockhart and conductor John Williams. Since his Carnegie Hall debut with Skitch Henderson and the New York Pops, Stripling has become a favorite throughout the country. He has played at the Grammy Awards and the Hollywood Bowl as well as for movie soundtracks.
Stripling was the lead trumpeter and soloist with the Count Basie Orchestra under the direction of Thad Jones and Frank Foster. He has played and recorded extensively with the bands of Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Brubeck, Lionel Hampton, and more, in addition to The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, and The GRP All Star Big Band. Stripling was educated at the Eastman School of Music and Interlochen Arts Academy. Currently, Stripling serves as artistic director and conductor of the highly acclaimed Columbus Jazz Orchestra. This performance marks his NJSO debut.
Dave Mancini has most recently toured and performed as the drummer for the legendary trumpet player and former Tonight Show bandleader, Doc Severinsen. He has also toured with jazz artists Maynard Ferguson, playing drums, and Chuck Mangione, playing percussion. He has also performed as drummer or percussionist with artists Rosemary Clooney, Diahann Carroll, Joe Williams, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, Bob Hope, Maureen McGovern, and many more. He has shared the bandstand with jazz greats at the famous Manhattan jazz club, Eddie Condon's. As the touring drummer for Doc Severinsen and conductor Jeff Tyzik, Mancini has performed with the majority of symphony orchestras in the United States and Canada. He is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. He is also the founder and president of We Love Kids, Inc., an outreach program for kids, whose ultimate goal is to provide a positive alternative to drugs, gangs and violence. This performance marks Mancini's debut with the NJSO. -- www.njsymphony.org
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