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Singletary to Recreate a Night at Famous Birdland Jazz Club
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 17, 2012) — Live at Birdland, a dynamic ensemble straight from the jazz mecca of New York City, provides an unforgettable musical event that goes beyond the traditional and sets the standard for the 21st-century jazz orchestra. Join the Birdland Big Band as they transport Bluegrass audiences to a night at the famous jazz hot spot beginning 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at the University of Kentucky Singletary Center for the Arts Concert Hall.
Named after famed alto saxophone player Charlie Parker, nicknamed "Bird," Birdland was founded in New York City in 1949. The list of performers who were regulars at this iconic jazz club reads like a who's who of jazz: Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonius Monk, Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Stan Getz, are just a few who lit up the stage at.
The Birdland Big Band was created by Tommy Igoe in 2006 and has become the most popular weekly musical residency in New York City. Birdland Big Band is a world-class music event and its personnel are comprised of the country's finest top-shelf talent, including musicians from every jazz/pop tour and Broadway show imaginable. The Live at Birdland tour recreates the ambience and experience of a night at Birdland.
The band's newest recording, "Eleven," has been glowingly received with numerous five-star reviews and is currently in the Grammy conversation for three separate awards. The band is dedicated to performing music from all over the world with jaw-dropping musicianship. As Igoe boldly states, "The world doesn't need another good big band, it needs something unforgettable, spectacular—something to bring a brand-new audience to this incredible art form."
Igoe is one of the world's most prominent drummers and bandleaders. He began drumming at the age of two and has gone on to craft a diverse career, traveling the world with Art Garfunkel, Blood Sweat and Tears, Dave Grusin, Stanley Jordan, and the New York Voices amongst many others. In 1997, he created the drum set book for "The Lion King" on Broadway, and also served as principal drummer and conductor.
Live at Birdland will feature fresh treatments of iconic Charlie Parker compositions, as well as innovative arrangements from composers such as Chick Corea, Arturo Sandoval, Sting, Herbie Hancock, John Lennon/Paul McCartney and Leonard Bernstein.
To see clips of the Birdland Big Band performing, visit the band's YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/BirdlandBigBand.
Tickets for the Live at Birdland concert are based on seating location and range from $40 to $25. Student and UK faculty/staff rates are also available. A processing fee will be added to the purchase upon transaction. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Singletary Center ticket office at 859-257-4929, visiting online at www.scfatickets.com or in person at the venue.
A part of the UK College of Fine Arts, the Singletary Center for the Arts presents and hosts around 400 artistic, cultural and educational events annually for the university community, Lexington community and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, (859) 257-8716
or whitney.hale@uky.edu
