The AC Big Band and Swingin’ Roadrunner Jazz Combo, under the direction of Larry Greer, will celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month with a concert April 30 at 7:30 p.m. commemorating the birthday of the iconic band leader/composer Edward Kennedy (Duke) Ellington. The concert will take place in Hudgins Hall. Admission is $5 for adults and $4 for seniors. AC students and children get in free.
The program for the AC Big Band program will feature these hits by Duke Ellington: “Take the A Train,” “In a Sentimental Mood,” “It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t got that Swing,” “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,” “Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me,” and “C Jam Blues.”
Big Band performers in the saxophone section are Dixon Shanks, Amanda Burns, Jimmy Simmons, Michael Parrish and Bethe Girardi. Trombones are Ken Barnes, Robert Shanks, Melvin Eckman and Jimmy Battle. Trumpet section consists of Eduardo Rocha, Scott Williams, Mel Miller and Ricky Gay. Eric Chinn, piano; JD Salas, bass and Mark Saldana, drum set round out the rhythm section.
The Swingin’ Roadrunner Jazz Combo program includes “Doxy” (Sonny Rollins), “And I Love Her,” (Lennon and McCartney), “Misty,” (Garner) “So Nice,” (Valle) and “Caravan” (Duke Ellington).
Members of the combo are Morgan Roberson of Groveton on trumpet, Andrea Leaman of Crockett on trumpet, Trevor Curtis of Hudson on tenor saxophone, Christian Turbeville of Hudson on alto saxophone, Daniel Kiesel of Lufkin on trombone, Garrett Newton of Hudson on guitar, Qurdale Huff of Clarksville on bass, David Evett of San Augustine on drum set, Tyler Dover of Livingston on drum set and Alex Mize of Hudson on drum set.
For more information about this event call 936-633-5454.