Woody Allen brings his jazz band to OCPAC

Whether you’re a lover of jazz or film, the Philharmonic Society of Orange County has a special treat in store for you this evening.

Woody Allen and His New Orleans Jazz Band makes its Orange County debut tonight at the Orange County Performing Art Center’s Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.

The band features six professional musicians — Eddy Davis on banjo, Simon Wettenhall on trumpet, Jerry Zigmont on trombone, Greg Cohen on bass, Conal Fowkes on piano and John Gill on drums — and, of course, Woody Allen, who refers to himself as an amateur clarinetist.

The band got its start more than 35 years ago when Allen met Davis, who also serves as the group’s musical director, in Chicago while Allen was performing stand-up comedy. It grew from their informal jam sessions into a band that has performed throughout the world.

The band’s musical selection is diverse, though all of its songs are rooted firmly in New Orleans-style jazz of the ‘20s, which includes marches, hymns, spirituals, blues and rags. Playing New Orleans jazz also means that the set list is never planned in advance.

With more than 1,200 songs in their repertoire, it comes down to whatever Allen decides to play in the moment.

“We go out there cold, and Woody calls out the tunes,” Zigmont said. “It’s sink or swim from there.”

Audiences should come expecting a fun and lively evening of jazz, but not a lot of talk from Allen. Other than granting them access to prestigious concert halls, Allen’s celebrity status as a filmmaker and actor doesn’t affect the band, according to Zigmont.

“It’s no different than playing with any other musician who is familiar with the music,” he said.

Though he doesn’t consider himself a professional musician, Allen is anything but flippant about his music. In 1977, he refused to miss his regular Monday night gig at Michael’s Pub in Manhattan to accept his Academy Award for best director for “Annie Hall.”

His jazz band has kept up the Monday night tradition, playing 10 months out of the year at the Carlyle, one of the few remaining supper clubs in New York City. And even after years of playing together, the band still gets excited about making music.

“Each night of the show has the potential to be a spectacular, special night,” Zigmont said. “We play with more gusto when we know the audience is having fun.”