“The Music and Spirit of Louis Armstrong,” a jazz concert starring trumpeter Byron Stripling backed by a jazz quintet, will be presented on Saturday July 23 at the historic Murray Theatre in Richmond, Indiana. A young Armstrong made some of his first recordings at Richmond’s Gennett Records in 1923 with the King Oliver Creole Jazz Band. In 1941, by then quite famous, he returned to perform on the Murray Theatre stage, and this concert celebrates the 70th anniversary of Armstrong’s Richmond appearance.
The Foundation and Theatre are interested in hearing from anyone who might have attended the 1941 Armstrong performance or knows of someone who was there. Please call Starr-Gennett if you have related stories to share.
For this concert, Stripling will re-create the style and songs of the legendary trumpeter Louis Armstrong. Stripling is an outstanding musician with a national reputation who played the lead role in Broadway’s Stachmo. He has performed with over fifty different symphony and pops orchestras, including the Boston Pops, and also with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, and at the Monterey Jazz Festival. He has toured with such major jazz acts as Lionel Hampton, Terry Clark, Woody Herman, and Count Basie. He is currently the artistic director of the Columbus Jazz Orchestra.
This Gennett Legacy concert is being co-sponsored as a special fund-raising event for both the Starr-Gennett Foundation and the Richmond Civic Theatre. Ticket price is $20 ($15 for RCT members, Starr-Gennett members, and students. Tickets may be purchased in advance from either of the sponsoring organizations. The July 23rd program will begin at 7:00 p.m., with the theatre doors opening at 6:00.
In connection with the July 23rd concert, Lamplight Inn at the Leland will host “Jam and Dance” sessions in the Leland Ballroom, located at 900 South A Street, one block from the Murray Theatre. The pre-concert music will play from 5:00 to 6:00, and post-concert music will begin at 9:30. The dance floor will be open, and J&J Winery will offer a cash bar and light snacks.
WHO: Byron Stripling
WHAT: “The Music and Spirit of Louis Armstrong”
WHEN: July 23, 2011
WHERE: Murray Theatre (Richmond Civic Theatre)
COST: $20 ($5 discount for SGF members, RCT members, or students with ID)
TICKETS: @ RCT, SGF, Wayne County Foundation, Welcome Center, and The Leland
Online at: starrgennett.eventbrite.com
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Terri Hardy, Starr-Gennett Foundation: 765-962-2860
Bill Strauss, Richmond Civic Theatre: 765-962-8011
or David Cobine: 765-962-5828
0 comments