18-piece Big Band Music for listening and dancing! Concert-style seating with a dance floor in the beautiful Art Deco Rheem Theater Tickets on sale at: Rheem Theater Box Office, Moraga Movers, and on line here: www.bigbandjazz.net For more information about this concert, call 925-253-5424. THIS DANCE/CONCERT IS SPONSORED BY FRIENDS OF BIG BAND JAZZ AND THE MORAGA MOVERS Contact Info for Mike Vax Music Productions and Friends of Big Band Jazz: www.mikevax.net * www.bigbandjazz.net
Singer Cami Thompson sang with the MVJO on both of its CDs and has performed many concerts with the band, as well as with her own groups. Equally comfortable with jazz, swing, big band, blues and ballads she has been described as singing "with the clarity of a Barbara Cook, the range and control of a Cleo Laine, and the emotional impact of a Lena Horne." She will amaze you with her 4-octave voice of great beauty, control and passion, her zany wit and her humorous interaction with her listeners. AND she will have a brand new big band CD available at this concert - its California debut... "Swing! Swang! Swung!" -- 14 tracks of powerful, swingin' classics from the 30's, 40's 50s and beyond, beautifully recorded live in concert with the Reno Jazz Orchestra. This CD is also now available for sale on her website if you can't make the show... www.CamiThompson.com/products
Leader Mike Vax is an Oakland native. He has led a big band off and on since his days at College of the Pacific over 45 years ago. A few of his credits include being first trumpet, and soloist of the Stan Kenton Orchestra, leading the Dukes of Dixieland in New Orleans; producing over 40 jazz festivals; and performing workshops for more than 2500 schools all over the world. He is currently an International Artist for the Getzen Musical Instrument Company.
The current MVJO is made up of musicians from many of the most famous big bands, such as: Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Buddy Rich, Duke Ellington, Clark Terry, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, Cab Calloway, Ray McKinley, and Tex Beneke. These musicians are some of the finest to reside in the Bay Area. Guest jazz artists have included Lennie Niehaus, Terry Gibbs and Pete Rugolo. In the past few years, the group has performed at De La Salle High School, Campolindo High School, Valley View Middle School, for the Orinda Rotary and most recently at Diablo Valley College.
BACKGROUND: The historic Rheem Theatre in Moraga was built in the late 50's by Donald Rheem and was originally a single screen movie palace with a large stage and dance floor that is often used to this day. It was closed during the 70's, and reopened as a performing arts venue in the 80's. Though the theatre has been consistently updated, it still retains its original art deco feel with Zodiac Style art in each house.
Friends of Big Band Jazz is the support group for the MVJO. This nonprofit corporation has sent students to summer jazz camps on scholarships and donated funds to many high school music programs (over $40,000.00 so far). For more information about the concert itself, call 925-253-5424
$20 Adults/ $10 Students