Renowned trumpeter joins symphony for pops evening

Glacier Symphony will be "Misbehavin' Tonight" on April 9 when the orchestra presents virtuoso jazz trumpeter and singer Byron Stripling in a spring pops concert at 7:30 p.m. at Flathead High School.

Since his Carnegie Hall debut with Skitch Henderson, Stripling has been performing with big bands all across the country. He has been a soloist and lead trumpeter with the Count Basie Orchestra and has played extensively with bands led by Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Herman, Lionel Hampton and Dave Brubeck, and with the Lincoln Center Classical Jazz Orchestra.

He starred in the lead role of "Satchmo," portraying Louis Armstrong on Broadway and has performed on television as a soloist for the Grammy Awards and on sound tracks for many movies.

Stripling regularly performs with the great big-city pops orchestras including the Boston Pops, New York Pops, Cincinnati Pops, Baltimore Symphony and countless others. He is renowned for his dazzling trumpet playing, capturing the essence of New Orleans-style jazz.

On stage, his quick wit and sly antics are legendary.

"He inspired the orchestra and wooed the audience with his dazzling trumpet virtuosity, seductive singing and personal charm," the Salt Lake Tribune wrote of a recent Stripling concert.

The Glacier Symphony Pops orchestra, led by music director and conductor John Zoltek, will set the evening's casual tone.

The set will start with orchestral selections from popular musicals "Chicago," "A Chorus Line" and "West Side Story," and finish with the lively orchestral concert piece "Cuban Overture,"inspired by one of Gershwin's vacations to Cuba. For the latter piece, percussionists from the local Latin jazz ensemble Cocinando will join the symphony.

Stripling will take center stage in the second half, backed by the symphony and the jazz trio of Bob Knell on piano, Pete Hand on bass and a drummer.

Stripling will command the stage for the remainder of the evening, capturing the humor and musical virtuosity of jazz legends Fats Waller and Cab Callaway in the concert showcase tune "Misbehavin' Tonight." Other swinging selections include Irving Berlin's "Alexander's Ragtime Band,""A Night in Tunisia" by Dizzy Gillespie, "Minnie the Moocher," "Flat Foot Floogie" and "St. Louis Blues," all arranged by one of the nation's top pops orchestra arrangers, Jeff Tyzik.

While in the Flathead Valley, Stripling, also known for his work as a musical clinician, will offer a demonstration and recital for area students as part of the Glacier Symphony's Wild About Music educational program.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and $9 for students. They are on sale at the following ticket outlets: Books West in Kalispell; The Village Shop, Dwyers Gallery and Montana Coffee Traders-downtown, in Whitefish; Glacier Wallflower in Columbia Falls; ArtFusion in Bigfork; Sliters Ace Hardware in Lakeside; Big Sky Century 21 Realty in Polson, and at the door.

The Glacier Symphony is offering a special discount for Libby residents for "Libby Night at the Symphony." Libby residents will get a $5 discount on tickets by calling the Glacier Symphony office at 257-3241 or showing valid identification at the door. Discounted tickets will not be available at ticket outlets.

For more concert information call 257-3241 or visit www.glaciersymphonychorale.org