March 19, 2024
Shawnee State University’s Vern Riffe Center for the Arts (VRCFA) welcomes the Springfield Symphony Jazz Orchestra on Friday, Mar. 22. Their performance “Sintra Sings, Basie Swings” will be begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Eloise Covert Smith Theater in the VRCFA.
“Sinatra Swings, Basie Swings” is retrospective and reimagining of the best of this timeless collaboration that speaks across generations and barriers to bring us together for a celebration of these icons of American music. The Springfield Symphony Jazz Orchestra (SSJO) and guest vocalist, Robbie Lee, represent three generations of artistry dedicated to the legacy and lineage of both Sinatra and Basie. Comprised of the finest instrumentalists from across the Midwest, SSJO has made a name for themselves as not only a hard-swinging ensemble, but one that supports great vocalists, having played recently with three of the best: Carmen Bradford, Kurt Elling, and recent two-time Grammy winner Samara Joy.
The program will feature music both familiar and beloved, representing some of the greatest composers and arrangers. The best of the American Songbook is on full display, transformed by the greatest of the Basie arrangers — Billy Byers, Neil Hefti, and the inimitable Quincy Jones. Also included are instrumental hits from the “New Testament” Basie band of the 1950s and 1960s, penned by jazz legends such as Thad Jones, Frank Foster, Frank Wess, and Ernie Wilkins.
The SSJO is joined by guest vocalist, Julliard-trained Robbie Lee, who has performed at some of the most prestigious jazz festivals in Europe including Jazz a Vienne, the Umbria Jazz Festival, and the Montreux Jazz Festival. The renowned Wynton Marsalis presented him with the “Ella Fitzgerald Outstanding Soloist Award” at the Essentially Ellington Festival, held at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. A long-time student and scholar of jazz of the early-20th century, Lee is recognized as one of the most outstanding young interpreters of popular song both on piano and vocals.
Tickets for “Sinatra Sings, Basie Swings” are available online at vrcfa.com or at the McKinley Box Office in the VRCFA, Monday through Friday. Tickets can also be purchased via telephone call at (740) 351-3600. Ticket prices for the show are $37.00 for Standard, $34.00 for Seniors, and $20.00 for those 18 & under. Handicap accessible seating is available upon request.
To learn more about upcoming events at the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts, visit vrcfa.com.