Spokane Symphony to swing with the sounds of the Big Band

Nov 5, 2010

For Immediate Release

Contact: Annie Matlow 464-7071

SPOKANE—The Spokane Symphony will celebrate Veteran’s Day with a Salute to the Big Band music of the 1940s under the direction of guest conductor Jeff Tyzik at Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010, at 8 p.m. This concert will also kick off the SuperPops Series for the 2010-2011 season. David Mancini will be featured on drums.

The orchestra will honor the music and memories of the Great Generation, with selections made famous by Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, W. C. Handy, Count Basie and others. Jeff Tyzik, an outstanding pops conductor who began his career as a jazz trumpeter and record producer working with legends like Doc Severinsen and Chuck Mangione, will turn the Spokane Symphony into a swing orchestra playing exciting arrangements of the hits of the 1940s. The lineup will feature David Mancini on drums.  

A tremendously versatile artist, Tyzik is many things to many people. Onstage, audiences love him for his engaging podium style and stellar trumpet playing. Behind the scenes, musicians love him for his brilliant arranging, intelligent programming and straight-shooting professionalism. In demand across North America as a pops conductor, Jeff Tyzik is the creative force behind the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra’s (RPO) Pops, where he celebrated his 15th anniversary as the orchestra’s Principal Pops Conductor during the 2008/09 season. He is also principal pops conductor of two other orchestras—the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in British Columbia and the Oregon Symphony Orchestra in Portland, Oregon. He maintains a busy guest-conducting schedule with orchestras including the Boston Pops, the New York Pops, the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and the Toronto Symphony, among others.

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 such as Eddie Daniels, Urbie Green, Marvin Stamm, Jeff Tyzik, Allen Vizzutti, Don Menza, The Toshiko Akiyoshi/Lew Tabackin Big Band, Bill Dobbins, Rosemary Clooney, Diahann Carroll, Joe Williams, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis, and Bob Hope. He has also shared the bandstand with numerous jazz greats at New York City's famous Jazz night club, Eddie Condon's. Dave has performed at the Marlboro Music Festival; from 1971-1981 was a member of the percussion section of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and was also the xylophone soloist on the George Hamilton Green solos for the Eastman Marimba Band album, "Nola."

Tickets range from $25 to $52 and are available in advance at the Spokane Symphony Ticket Office, 1001 W. Sprague, or by calling 509-624-1200. Tickets are also available at all TicketsWest outlets or by calling 1-800-325-SEAT and at spokanesymphony.org.

Hagadone Directories is underwriting this concert.

CALENDAR LISTING:

Big Band Salute to the 1940s Pops Concert; Jeff Tyzik, guest conductor and David Mancini, drums, with the Spokane Symphony; Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010 at 8 p.m. in Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox. Tickets are $25 to $52. Call the Spokane Symphony Ticket Office at (509) 624-1200 or purchase in person at Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox, 1001 W. Sprague; tickets are also available through TicketsWest outlets or by calling 325-SEAT or 1-800-325-SEAT or online at www.spokanesymphony.org