The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, led by James R. Cassidy, will open its three-concert summer series with a nostalgic 1970s Trumpet-palooza on July 10 & 11 in Devou and Tower Parks in Northern Kentucky.
“This marks the 27th Summer that the KSO has provided free family-friendly culture and entertainment for Tri-state residents. Forty percent of those attending drive from Hamilton County,” says J.R.
Talented trumpeters for this program — Matthew Anklan, Joshua Kauffman, Rob Parton, John Zappa and Hank Mautner — will recreate the sounds of of the ’70s as performed by trumpeters Maynard Ferguson, Doc Severinsen, Don Ellis, Bill Chase and Chuck Mangione. They’ll appear with the KSO’s own jazz orchestra.
Maynard Ferguson went from lead trumpet player with Stan Kenton to fronting his
own big band in the late 1950s. He and his arrangers made songs like “Give it One,” “MacArthur Park” and “Birdland” universally popular. In 1976 his version of “Gonna Fly Now” (Theme to Rocky) climbed to # 22 on the Top 40 pop charts.
Carl ‘Doc’ Severinsen was Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show band-leading trumpeter for decades — and we were blessed to see him many times with Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops. Don Sebesky’s arrangement. combining J.S. Bach with Henry Mancini’s “Love Story Theme,” featured Doc at his best. He is still playing in his 90s.
Don Ellis and Bill Chase were trumpeters known for their innovation, unique instrumentation and sound in tunes like “Bochawa” and “Pussywiggle Stomp.”
Chuck Mangione and his flugelhorn brought smooth jazz with Latin seasoning to the pop charts with tunes like “Feels So Good” and “Hill Where the Lord Hides.”
Join the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra in person Saturday at 7:30 p.m. — July 10 in Devou Park in Covington and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. — July 11 at Tower Park in Fort Thomas. Concessions are available in Covington as is the TANK Shuttle from Covington Catholic starting at 6 p.m..
Food trucks will be on-site in Ft. Thomas. Bring blankets, picnics or lawn chairs. For more information, registration and directions, visit the KSO at http://www.kyso.org or call (859) 431-6216. $5 (per person) suggested donation. Free parking in both Devou and Tower Parks.
Seniors are invited to Saturday 10:00 a.m. dress rehearsal at Devou Park.
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