136 Massachusetts Ave
Boston, California 02115

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For an event on: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9th

JAZZ CONCERT and Staged Reading
AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH EVENT
Contact: P. Mullan 510-647-5038; [email protected]
Photos Available www.juniuscourtneybigband.com
“Every month is African American History Month.”

Billy Strayhorn Celebrated in Concert and Drama by Junius Courtney Big Band with Denise Perrier

The nineteen-piece Junius Courtney Big Band, featuring Denise Perrier, returns to the Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse (1111 Addision near San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley) to fill every square inch of its stage on Saturday evening, February 9th at 8:00 p.m. Adding to their swinging execution of a roof-raising repertoire, the band will present a celebratory production for African American History Month -- “The Billy Strayhorn Session.” Musical director George “Jazzbeaux” Spencer, bandleader Nat Courtney, and vocalist Denise Perrier portray Strayhorn, Ellington, and Lena Horne in a staged reading that illuminates the performance of select Strayhorn compositions by the full band.

Usually credited as Ellington’s arranger and collaborator, Billy Strayhorn was a music master in his own right, and a politically courageous gay black man in a performance world where the limelight was directed elsewhere. Celebrate African American history at its swingingest with the notes of Strayhorn, Ellington and the Junius Courtney Big Band.

Tix: $17.50 advance, $18.50 at the door. All ages welcome.
Refreshments available. Info: 510-548-1761; http://www.thefreight.org The
Freight is an educational, non-profit organization. Co-sponsored by
the Berkeley Arts Festival http://www.berkeleyartsfestival.com
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Official Website: http://www.berkeleyartsfestival.com

Added by in2jazz on January 16, 2008

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