Sjo Pays Tribute To Goodman
The Spokane Jazz Orchestra pays tribute to the most revered clarinetist of jazzdom in its next Met performance. Benny Goodman’s music will be featured, with clarinetist David Keberle taking the part of Goodman.
The “King of Swing” was the youngest son born to a large, poor family in Chicago in 1909. When he and his brothers were sent out to music lessons, the clarinet was chosen for him because he was the smallest and he could handle it. Handle it he did.
By his teens, Goodman was already playing professionally, and in his 20s, he was leading his own band. Goodman practiced tirelessly, always working on perfecting his technique, and is remembered not only for his monumental legacy in jazz, but also his contributions to the classical music world.
In order to bring Goodman’s music to life with the utmost authenticity, the Spokane Jazz Orchestra has acquired his original arrangements from the Benny Goodman Archives at Yale University. These include charts by Fletcher Henderson, a bandleader and the hottest arranger in the early days of big band jazz.
The SJO’s director, Dan Keberle, will bring in his older brother to do the clarinet thing. In 1979 David Keberle was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study composition in Rome, where he stayed for 18 years. Based in Italy, Keberle has performed in Spain, Hong Kong, France, Austria, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Israel and Switzerland.
Keberle has recently relocated to the States, and is now teaching composition and music theory at the University of Pittsburgh. While his specialty is new works for the clarinet - he is a co-founder of the ElectraVox Ensemble, a live electronics performance group in Rome - he is also sought after as a jazz musician.
With Keberle taking on Goodman’s role, the SJO will be ready to swing, with hits like “Let’s Dance,” “Sing, Sing, Sing,” “Flying Home,” “Air Mail Special” and “King Porter Stomp.” Other tunes from the era include Miller’s “Moonlight Serenade” and James’ “Chiri Biri Bin.”
To round out that swing era sound, the Spokane Jazz Orchestra is featuring the local male vocal quartet Top Flite to croon some tunes, including “Old Devil Moon,” “Almost Like Being in Love” and “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.” The quartet consists of Rick Richard, Shawn Wright, Chris Moyer and Jaye Nordling.
Top Flite has ceased barbershopping and is doing more doo-wopping these days. The SJO concert will coincide with the release of their first CD, “On Deck,” including Bobs-like renditions of such toe-tapping tunes as “Good Lovin’,” “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” and “Moondance.” They have a jazz-oriented CD in the planning stages.
With all of that talent on stage and Goodman’s time-tested hits, the Spokane Jazz Orchestra is set to swing.
xxxx CONCERT The Spokane Jazz Orchestra’s “Celebration in Swing,” a tribute to Benny Goodman, will be Saturday at 8 p.m. at The Met. Reserved tickets available at G&B Select-a-Seat outlets or call (800) 325-SEAT.