A Patriotic Tribute to America by the La Crosse Jazz Orchestra
07/13/22The second concert in the La Crosse Jazz Orchestra’s 2022 Jazz in the Park series pays tribute to Americana and patriotism. Music from across the country and selections from many of the service jazz bands are featured.
Highlights include baritone saxophonist Jeff Reitz performing the piccolo solo on “The Stars and Stripes Forever” from the J.P. Sousa and the Navy Commodores Jazz Band. Vocalist Tim Henke will perform perennial favorites “God Bless the U.S.A.” and “What a Wonderful World.”
The band will pay tribute to all service personnel, past and present, with an armed forces salute from the Army band. The Air Force’s Airmen of Note provides a tour de force night carrier landing with the composition “Like Thunder.”
An incredibly moving arrangement of “America the Beautiful” will be performed by high note trumpet specialist Brent Turney, says bandleader Greg Balfany.
The 70-minute concert is free and open to all. The rain site for all LJO concerts is the Cavalier Theater, 118 5th Ave N., in downtown La Crosse. This is the second concert of the Gertrude Salzer Gordon Jazz in the Park 2022 Concert Series.
ABOUT THE BAND
The La Crosse Jazz Orchestra is Western Wisconsin's premier big band. Directed by Greg Balfany, the group is best known through its Jazz in the Park concert series. The LJO mission: to promote, preserve and forward the creation of jazz music through free live performances available to all in our region. LJO operates under fiscal sponsorship from La Crosse Community Foundation.