Shelton State Jazz Combo, Prentice Concert Chorale to perform at DHS
Shelton State’s Jazz Combo in partnership with Prentice Concert Chorale and friends will present Hot ‘n Cole, Thursday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. at the Demopolis High School Performing Arts Center.
The music review concert is a tribute to the composer of some of the cleverest, funniest and most romantic songs ever written for the stage or silver screen: Cole Porter.
All seats are general admission. The price of admission is considered Pay What You Can. A donation of $10 per adult and $5 per student is suggested, however, any amount given will be accepted for admission.
The Sept. 19 Shelton State Jazz Combo and Prentice Concert Chorale show is presented with guest vocalists, members of Shelton Singers, and narrator, Steven Burch. Technical services for the evening’s production will be provided by students of Demopolis High School’s drama program, Tiger Drama Guild.
Through instrumental, choral and solo music, audience members will hear some of the best-known standards of the first half of the 20th century in a program of Hot ‘n Cole: An Evening of Cole Porter Music.
Unlike many of his contemporaries, Porter wrote both the music and lyrics for his songs. He brought such an unique style and wit that his compositions became known as a genre all to themselves as he continued to write from the 1920s to the 1950s. His hits that have now become part of America’s Songbook, were recorded by the greatest voices and performers of his time: Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald and Judy Garland.
Porter’s hits featured in the program include You’re the Top, Let’s Do It, Begin the Beguine, Every Time We Say Goodbye, Anything Goes and Blow, Gabriel, Blow. All of the evening’s solos and small group numbers were arranged by Daniel Western.
Western is Director of the Shelton State Jazz and Instrumental program. He has toured nationally and internationally as an arranger and saxophone soloist with The Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards, with notable performances including the White House and multiple appearances on the nationally broadcasted Tom Joyner Morning Show. Western is active as the director, composer/arranger and baritone saxophonist for the jazz septet, The Birmingham Seven.
Leslie Poss is celebrating her 11th anniversary as Musical Director of both Prentice Concert Chorale and Theatre Tuscaloosa. The 2013 Druid Arts Award, Theatre Artist recipient, has prepared choruses for Dave Brubeck, for the Alabama Symphony and Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestras, and for the 2011 world premiere performance of composer Adolphus Hailstorks’ Dream, Child, Hope.
The evening’s narrator, providing personal and production highlights, is Burch, director, of Tuscaloosa’s Shakespeare production group: Rude Mechanicals. Additionally, Burch is Associate Professor of Theatre History at the University of Alabama.
Hot ‘n Cole Concert is sponsored by the Two Rivers Arts Council and Demopolis High School’s drama program, Tiger Arts Guild. The Two Rivers Arts Council was formed in the 1970s to encourage and stimulate the practice and appreciation of the arts among the people living in Demopolis and Marengo County.
The Council thrives to bring quality arts exhibits and performances to the community it serves and to assist and encourage local efforts which enable the community to create and make their own arts. The Tiger Arts Guild’s Fall 2013 production Treasure Island is a new take on the famous story by Robert Louis Stevenson. Directed by Jody Tartt, Treasure Island will run Nov 1-3. Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at Demopolis High School.