LJO Plays the Best of the Best on July 24
07/21/22For its July 24 Jazz in the Park concert, the La Crosse Jazz Orchestra will perform many of their greatest selections chosen by fans and band members from their extensive repertoire.
“Each selection has a special meaning to someone and is not included in any of our other themed programs,” says LJO director Greg Balfany.
Highlights include a tenor sax battle with Mark Heinz and Jeff Erickson on Count Basie’s original “Swing Shift.” Band vocalist Tim Henke’s selections include Paul Anka’s version of “Hello” and Michael Buble’s great version of “Save the Last Dance for Me.”
“Whiplash’s” memorable selection “Caravan” didn’t make our Hollywood show but will feature Rich MacDonald in the lead role on drums. Band leader Greg Balfany will hold forth on saxophonist Marshall Royal’s memorable ballad version of “What Kind of Fool Am I.” The entire four-man trombone section will take some swings at “Dinner for One” a great jazz arrangement from Romanian composer Peter Herbolzheimer.
A special concert feature will be the world premiere of LJO trumpeter Scott Jensen’s tribute composition “Hold Tight.”
The 70-minute concert is free and open to all. The music starts at 7 p.m. Sunday, July 24 at Riverside Park in La Crosse. The rain site for all LJO concerts is the Cavalier Theater, 118 5th Ave N., in downtown La Crosse. This is the third 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.