See the legendary Count Basie Orchestra at FitzGerald's on Sunday, Nov 19. Tickets are $30 and are available at the club and TicketWeb. Doors opens at 3pm and the show begins at 4pm.
THE LEGENDARY COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA: William Count Basie started the Count Basie Orchestra in 1935, in Kansas City, Missouri. Within a year, America was listening in on popular radio shows throughout the country to hear what would become "The Swingingest Band In All The Land"! A phenomena was born in 1935, that is still going strong today!
Since Basie's passing in 1984, Thad Jones, Frank Foster, Grover Mitchell, Bill Hughes and Dennis Mackrel have led the Count Basie Orchestra and maintained it as one of the elite performing organizations in jazz. The Count Basie Orchestra, today directed by Scotty Barnhart, has won every respected jazz poll in the world at least once, won 18 Grammy Awards, performed for Kings, Queens, and other world Royalty, appeared in several movies, television shows, at every major jazz festival and major concert hall in the world. The latest honor is the critically acclaimed release in 2015 of A Very Swingin’ Basie Christmas!, the very first holiday album in the 80 year history of the orchestra. Released on Concord Music, it went to #1 on the Jazz charts and sold out on Amazon! It's next recording will celebrate the first 80 years of the orchestra and will be released on Concord Music in early 2018. Executive Produced by Scotty Barnhart and Sam Beler, it features legendary artists such as Stevie Wonder, Take 6, Joey DeFrancesco, Kurt Elling, and others. www.thecountbasieorchestra.com
Vocalist BRIANNA THOMAS' singing is deeply enriched by an understanding of the masterful voices of jazz past. Beyond a healthy serving of sass, Sarah Vaughn’s influence contributes to Brianna’s style the artistic savvy needed to communicate myriad moods and feelings as well as a keen instrumental perspective. Add to that a coyness reminiscent of Nancy Wilson, an Ella-esque skill and enthusiasm for scatting, and the stylistic breadth and vocal grandeur evocative of Dianne Reeves. Perhaps Brianna’s greatest asset is the soulfulness of her sound. Captivatingly unique, her sound moves in tones ranging from sweet invitations to assured convictions, establishing a personal and classic quality that leaves listeners swooning after her performances.