Featuring special guest artist, trumpeter Rod McGaha

The Nashville Jazz Orchestra (NJO), in partnership with the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University, presents Fat Tuesday, Phat Jazz, in the Martha Rivers Ingram Center for the Performing Arts Tuesday, February 16, at 8:00 p.m.

This celebration of Mardi Gras features the 18-piece orchestra, who journey though the swinging sounds of earliest to present New Orleans jazz. Led by Director Jim Williamson, audiences can expect to hear creative spins on favorites such as “Honeysuckle Rose,” “Limehouse Blues” and “Sweet Georgia Brown.” The eclectic program is influenced by the styles of jazz pioneers like Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet, as well as contemporary New Orleans groups like The Dirty Dozen Brass Band and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

Acclaimed trumpeter Rod McGaha joins the NJO as a special guest artist. A native of Chicago, McGaha began his musical career when he picked up the trumpet in fourth grade. Several decades and many accolades later, he has played with a wide range of artists, both in studio and on tour, including Lou Rawls, Kenny Rogers, Bebe and Cece Winans and The O’Jays. His song, “Wish I Knew,” was recorded by Shelby Lynne. McGaha has released a number of albums, including The Trumpet Sounds, which was nominated for a Dove Award. His current release is A Gentle Man.
www.rodmcgaha.com
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“Mardi Gras is always associated with good music, especially jazz, and what better way to pay tribute to the music and the tradition than with a band like NJO and a performer like Rod,” said music director Jim Williamson. “His soulful, funky style will be a perfect accompaniment to the booming sounds of NJO. This is one of the few family-friendly Mardi Gras celebrations available, so I encourage audiences to come out and experience a fun evening of musical homage and history.”

Tickets to Fat Tuesday, Phat Jazz available
at the Blair Box Office night of show only, payable by cash or check.

General admission $20 / seniors, VU faculty & staff $15 / Students $10
VU students $5. NJO members $5 discount off any ticket.

The Martha Rivers Ingram Center for the Performing Arts is on the Blair campus at 2400 Blakemore Avenue.

Sponsors include:
The Metro Nashville Arts Commission and the Tennessee Arts Commission.

www.nashvillejazzorchestra.org.

Founded in 1996, the NJO is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to perpetuating big band jazz. With 17 of Nashville's top session and jazz players, they play an annual concert series as "Artist in Residence" at Blair and play clubs and jazz festivals, often with guest artists like Randy Brecker, Lou Marini, Raul Malo, "Fathead" Newman, Oscar Hernandez, Wycliffe Gordon, and Mandy Barnett.

After a five year break from a weekly club date, the Nashville Jazz Orchestra (NJO) will play Tuesday nights at the French Quarter Café, a New Orleans style restaurant.

Review from JazzReview.com:
http://www.jazzreview.com/article/review-7462.html

Review from The Nashville Scene:
http://www.nashvillescene.com/2009-11-26/music/nashville-jazz-orchestra-celebrates-repertory-in-new-weekly-gig-at-the-french-quarter-cafe/

Five years ago, the band was invited to develop a concert series at Vanderbilt's Blair School of Music as part of its new "Artist in Residence" status. While performances at Blair will remain a high priority for the NJO, the new “Tuesdays at the French Quarters” series should provide a regular informal gathering of musicians and fans. "We might even take a request or two" says Jim Williamson, NJO director. "This is just our part of a larger plan to blow the lid off Nashville's best kept secret: Jazz.”

Yes it’s true, Middle Tennessee is home to many world class jazz musicians. The only problem is not enough people seem to know it. Many of these musicians play jazz for people around the globe yet find few opportunities here in Music City USA. The mutual attraction between jazz musicians and Nashville goes to the heart of what defines the music. Since jazz players usually have extensive training in music theory and technique, the recording industry provides them opportunities as performers, writers and producers. The process of learning the art form also gives them experience in most pop genres. "The variety of deep grooves is what drew us to the music as kids" says Roy Agee, NJO member.

Jazz and blues was at the beginning of pop music in America and all along the way, jazz innovators have influenced practically every pop style. The jump swing of the 1940's led to R & B and the Kansas City shuffle became the underlayment of hip hop. The list goes on.

Although the musicians live here, there's no place where they congregate on a regular basis. Through the years, F Scott's has been the one consistent jazz voice although its size does not allow for the larger ensembles. Not since JC's in the 1980's has Nashville had a dedicated jazz club with a stage and enough room to accommodate the needs of the jazz community. Monday through Saturday the Green Hills jazz club featured big bands, funky horn bands, blues groups and small ensembles. Bands were formed and music was written just to be a part of that scene. The club was successful even during lunch time without live music. "You could always depend on good food, classic jazz on the sound system and the company of other musicians; it was a great hang," says Barry Green, NJO member and longtime Nashville jazz icon.

A commitment to quality performance is the foundation for a jazz venue. "To own a jazz club has always been my dream" says Dennis LeCoure, owner of the French Quarter. "We feel like we can be effective in promoting such a venue and a good start to that process will be the weekly presence of the NJO, the powerful group of 18 top session and jazz players" says Ed Bigler, member of MCJA (Music City Jazz Alliance). MCJA is a group designed to promote jazz in Middle Tennessee and it's comprised of jazz enthusiasts including people from TJBS (Tennessee Jazz & Blues Society), NJW (Nashville Jazz Workshop), NJO and WMOT (Jazz 89.5 FM). MCJA's prime objective is to coordinate the individual group's efforts into a collective, more powerful voice.

Promotion is the key to the success of jazz in Middle Tennessee. NJO member and Nashville treasure, George Tidwell says "Once people experience the band, they're hooked; it's just a matter of drawing them in the first time."

The NJO opens at the French Quarter Café on October 27 at 7:00 p.m. The French Quarter Café is located at 823 Woodland Street Nashville, Tennessee 37206; phone : 615-227-3100.

Web Links:

The Nashville Jazz Orchestra, http://www.nashvillejazzorchestra.org

The French Quarter Café, http://www.frenchquartercafe.com