The Olinda Chorale Presents

 


Jazz, Bebop & Swing!

 

The Class of Ellington, Gershwin, Porter and Berlin

 

 

Saturday, September 20th 7:30 PM

 

 

Makawao Union Church

 

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The Program ...

 

 

Irving Berlin

Puttin’ On the Ritz

Cheek to Cheek

I’ve got my love to keep me warm

 

Joseph Kosma

Autumn Leaves

 

Ellington Suite

A Train

Lush Life

Satin Doll

 

Manhattan Transfer

A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square

Java Jive

 

(Intermission)

 

Cole Porter

I’ve got you under my skin, bass solo; Bob Wills

Too Darn Hot, tenor solo; Bill Kepler

All of you

I Love Paris, alto solo; Joyce Romero

Night and Day

 

George Gershwin

Liza, piano solo; Lotus Dancer

I’ve Got Rhythm, piano solo; Lotus Dancer

Our love is here to stay, soprano solo; Peggy Harmon

Nice Work If You Can Get It

‘S Wonderful, soprano solo; Leighanna Edwards

 

 

 

Irving Berlin (May 11, 1888 – September 22, 1989) was a Russian-born American composer and lyricist, and one of the most prolific American songwriters in history. Berlin was one of the few Tin Pan Alley/Broadway songwriters who wrote both lyrics and music for his songs. Although he never learned to read music beyond a rudimentary level, with the help of various uncredited musical assistants and collaborators, he eventually composed over 3,000 songs, music for seventeen film scores and twenty-one Broadway scores.

Joseph Kosma (October 22, 1905- August 7, 1969) was perhaps most familiar for the standard "Autumn Leaves," but he also scored several of the greatest films in cinematic history, including a series of pictures for legendary director Jean Renoir. Born in Budapest, Hungary, he studied at the Budapest Conservatory, earning a scholarship to the Berlin Opera before joining Bertolt Brecht's touring company in 1929.  Kosma composed alongside Kurt Weill, who proved to be a major influence on Kosma's own work.

Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American composer, pianist, and bandleader. He was recognized during his life as one of the most influential figures in jazz, if not in all American music.  Ellington called his style and sound "American Music" rather than jazz, and liked to describe those who impressed him as "beyond category", including many of the musicians who served with his orchestra, some of whom were themselves considered among the giants of jazz and remained with Ellington's orchestra for decades. While many were noteworthy in their own right, it was Ellington that melded them into one of the most well-known orchestral units in the history of jazz.

The Manhattan Transfer is the name of two incarnations of an American vocal group, with Tim Hauser being the only link between the two groups. The group’s name comes from John Dos Passos’ 1925 novel Manhattan Transfer and reflects their New York origins.  The first group, established in New York City in 1969, disbanded after producing a single album, Jukin’ (1971). The second line-up was set up in 1972 and is still together as of 2008. It is famous for mixing jazz, big band, and popular music styles.

Cole Albert Porter (June 9, 1891 – October 15, 1964) was an American composer and songwriter from Peru, Indiana. His works include the musical comedies Kiss Me, Kate (1948) (based on Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew), Fifty Million Frenchmen, and Anything Goes, as well as songs like "Night and Day", "I Get a Kick out of You", and "I've Got You Under My Skin". He was noted for his sophisticated (sometimes ribald) lyrics, clever rhymes, and complex forms. He was one of the greatest contributors to the Great American Songbook

George Gershwin (September 26, 1898 – July 11, 1937) wrote most of his vocal and theatrical works in collaboration with his elder brother, lyricist Ira Gershwin. George Gershwin composed songs both for Broadway and for the classical concert hall.  Many of his compositions have been used on television and in numerous films, and many became jazz standards. The jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald recorded many of the Gershwins' songs on her 1959 Gershwin Songbook (arranged by Nelson Riddle). Countless singers and musicians have recorded Gershwin songs, including Fred Astaire, Louis Armstrong, Al Jolson, Bobby Darin, Art Tatum, Bing Crosby, Janis Joplin, John Coltrane, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Sam Cooke, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Madonna, Judy Garland, Julie Andrews, Barbra Streisand, Marni Nixon, Natalie Cole, Patti Austin, Nina Simone, Maureen McGovern, John Fahey, and Sting.

The Olinda Chorale is delighted to have you in our audience, and we are so thankful for your kind and generous support! For more information about upcoming musical events please check out our website:  http://www.The-Olinda-Chorale.org.

 

You are “beyond category!"