Reno Jazz Orchestra – Jazz Alive
Feb. 16th and 17th, John Ascuaga’s Celebrity Showroom
Northern Nevada’s jazz community is a vibrant part of the cultural fabric of our area and the RJO is proud to be a part of it. It really came to mind last Wednesday (1/18/12) at the Ron Legg Big Band tribute to Gerry Genurio. Gerry has been a strong voice in jazz as long as I have lived here and it was a wonderful sight to see old friends I have not seen in some time.
RJO’s core members worked in the showrooms backing all the great entertainers that came through town. These showrooms were a magnet that drew gifted musicians from across the country as a place to make a living in music. They were a great resource for the Reno Philharmonic and Nevada Opera’s orchestras. The jazz guys would play the show and afterwards get together and play in “kicks bands” until the sun came up. I played many gigs with current RJO members Dean Carter, Joe Cadena, Rich Lewis, Mark Curry, John Beckman, Larry Engstrom, Jim Garaventa, Bill Hecht, and Hans Halt.
When making a living playing in the showroom orchestras came to an end our community lost a magnet to attract musicians. Fortunately about that same time, Larry Engstrom came to town and started building the jazz studies program at UNR. It did two things, provided teaching positions in our community to great jazz artists (UNR’s jazz quintet the Collective) and in turn these artist’s reputation drew gifted students. It thrills me to have UNR jazz studies students sit in with the RJO. They are the future of jazz and their energy is infectious. Some end up staying in town, RJO musicians Doug Coomler and Joey Berger are just two examples.
With community in mind, the RJO is recording a new CD in John Ascuaga’s Celebrity Showroom. We have been looking for just the right venue to record a new live CD and the Nugget was generous enough to provide that venue. The Celebrity Showroom has been host to decades of live entertainment and we are proud to be a small part of that history. The recording will, of course, feature the band, but it will also feature the writing skills of band members Hans Halt and Roger Hogan. I have also asked some area jazz greats to come join us. Good friend Cami Thompson will join us on a tune or two and RJO co-founder Tony Savage as well. Reno Phil Principal Trombonist Leonard Neidhold will be featured and Cody Remaklus will be adding his percussion skills to our Latin arrangements. UNR professor Peter Epstein will be featured on an original composition “In Your Voice” and special guest, Ron Legg, the Nugget’s bandleader for many years will be on hand as well.
Join us in celebrating a vibrant jazz community and experience great big band jazz in a classic showroom. The show starts at 8pm each night and tickets can be purchased at http://www.janugget.com/entertainment/reno-jazz-orchestra.asp
Sincerely,
Chuck Reider- RJO Music Director
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Another great evening, our November House Concert was enjoyed by all who attended.
Many thanks to Dallas Smith and Susan Mazer for hosting our November House Concert in support of the RJO’s Mentor Program. Our hosts provided a warm atmosphere accompanied by great desserts from their friend Inge and a delightful variety of wine (including mulled!).
This set the mood for the RJO quintet consisting of
Andy Heglund- Drums
Hans Halt- Bass
Bill Hecht- Piano
Doug Coomler- Tenor Sax
And our special guest artist
Leonard Neidhold- Trombone
RJO regulars may not be familiar with Leonard. Leonard is the Principal Trombonist for the Reno Philharmonic, Band Director at Billinghurst Middle School, and a great jazz artist.
Did I mention that Susan and Dallas also performed several of their own pieces; Susan performed a solo harp arrangement of “You Don’t Know What Love Is”, and Rosine Bena of the Sierra Nevada Ballet shared the plot of our new collaborative jazz ballet featuring the music of Duke Ellington and Count Basie!
We all had a great time listening to great jazz and enjoying good company, all in support of the RJO Mentor Program. Thanks to all who attended and I cannot wait for our spring house concert.
Chuck Reider- RJO Music Director
Duke Ellington’s “Such Sweet Thunder”
Nevada Museum of Art
Listen to a few tunes from the roof of the Nevada Museum of Art, August 27th.
A great night in Wing field Park Saturday, July 30, 2011.
Under the Artown umbrella, the Reno Jazz Orchestra held a Count Basie Celebration. This performance not only recognized the great Basie and his musical legacy while highlighting elements of our local and national histories but also built on the popularity of last season’s “Celebrating Louis Armstrong” Artown concert.
Count Basie alumni vocalist Jamie Davis was our featured artist. Check out Jamie Davis.com
Or listen to Jamie right here Alright, Okay, You Win The Very Thought of You
Refreshments were provided by two local vendors; The Patio on Fourth Street and Stephons Bistro.
is a contemporary jazz big band based in Reno, Nevada. It is organized as a non-profit corporation in the State of Nevada and qualified as such under Sec. 503(c) of the Internal Revenue Code.
