The Big Band and Motown Sound

Description

The Heart of Carolina Jazz Orchestra celebrates its 25th year of presenting jazz concerts in Sanford and the surrounding region with its April 1st concert, ?The Big Band and Motown Sound? at 8pm at the Lee County Arts and Community Center The Heart of Carolina Jazz Orchestra will perform at the Lee County Arts Center with special guests: vocalist, Iris Jordan, drummer Kobie Watkins and pianist Steven Anderson. A wide variety of musical compositions will be performed; from swing to blues to modern. Many of the Big Band arrangements are by North Carolina Jazz Composers; Steven Anderson, Gary Brunotte, Mike Sailors, Paul Kelly and Gregg Gelb. Some of the Motown tunes to be performed by Iris Jordan and the HOCJO will be: ?You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman,? ?Signed, Sealed Delivered,? and ?Respect.? Also on the program are arrangements by Sanford residents: Paul Kelly?s arrangements of ?Speak Low? and ?King Porter Stomp? and Gregg Gelb?s original compositions, ?I Cared For You,? and ?What Lies Ahead.? Kobie Watkins is a drummer who now lives in Durham after having spent many years in the Chicago area. His list of performances include playing in the bands of jazz greats Sonny Rollins and Branford Marsalis. Steven Anderson is jazz and composition professor at UNC Chapel Hill and besides being a brilliant pianist and having recording many fine CD?s he has had works performed by the West Point Military Academy Band, the Dallas Chamber Orchestra, Crested Butte Chamber Orchestra, UNC Symphony Orchestra, Carolina Choir and Chamber Orchestra, Montclair State Wind Symphony, UNC Wind Ensemble, the West Point Jazz Knights. The Heart of Carolina Jazz Orchestra is directed by Gregg Gelb. Gelb began the Orchestra in 1991 when he was Visiting Artist at Central Carolina Community College. Over its many years the organization has presented many of the finest artists in the World of Jazz such as: Ceclie McLorin Salvant, Bud Shank, Dave Valentin, Houston Person, Rene Marie, Stanley Jordan and Sonny Fortune. One of next year?s guest artists is jazz guitar legend, Larry Coryell, whose show is Oct. 1 at the Lee County Arts and Community Center. The Heart of Carolina Jazz Orchestra is a non-profit 501 C3 organization.