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.
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