Spotlight

COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA

William “Count” Basie is gone -- he died in 1984 -- but his legacy

lives on in the band that he created. The Count Basie Orchestra. formed

in 1936, will join the Pacific Symphony Pops Orchestra on Friday and

Saturday.

Basie’s piano playing became the band’s signature sound. By the

mid-1940s, singers the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Tony

Bennett and Frank Sinatra helped to make the band popular. The band still

gets radio airplay on oldies stations.

After Basie died, the swingin’ band went through two different

directors before falling under the baton of its current leader, Grover

Mitchell. A lyrical lead trombonist, Mitchell worked with Duke Ellington

and Lionel Hampton before joining Basie’s orchestra in 1962. He left in the ‘70s, came back in the ‘80s, left again after Basie’s death and then

returned in 1997 to take the baton.

Before the Count Basie Orchestra performs, Guest Pops Conductor Carl

Topilow will lead the Pacific Symphony Pops Orchestra in selections of

popular swing music.

FYI

Where: Orange County Performing Arts Center, Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town

Center Drive, Costa Mesa

When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Cost: $25-$77

Contact: (714) 755-5788

Former Israeli prime minister to speak at temple

EHUD BARAK

Ehud Barak, former prime minister of Israel, will speak as guest

lecturer for the Norman Schiff Scholar Lecture at Temple Bat Yahm. A

patron dinner will be held at prior to the speech. The dinner will be

catered by Turnip Rose Caterers.

FYI

Where: Temple Bat Yahm, 1011 Camelback St., Newport Beach

When: 7 p.m. Tuesday. Dinner will be held at 5 p.m.

Cost: $36 for lecture, $300 for dinner, lecture and dessert reception

Contact: (949) 644-1999

PLANNING AHEAD

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY

A 3:15 p.m. kickoff will start the 2002 Super Bowl in New Orleans.

Sunday, Feb. 3

‘SWAN LAKE’

American Ballet Theatre’s “Swan Lake” will open the Orange County

Performing Arts Center’s 2002 Dance Season.

Tuesday, Feb. 12

NUMERICALLY SPEAKING

22: The number of bridal events to be held at South Coast Plaza in the

most lovable month of the year: February.