Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra: Big Band Concert

   Jazz fans and classical music enthusiasts should attend the Feb. 9 Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra concert at 8 pm at Ridgefield High School.  The program will be conducted by Petko Dimitrov and contains seventeen outstanding selections from the Big Band era, which had its peak from 1935 to 1945. 

   Examples include Moonlight Serenade, Chattanooga Choo Choo, Sing Sing Sing (a Benny Goodman trademark), Ellington Medley (nine favorite Duke Ellington songs), American Patrol (Glenn Miller), But Not for Me, Who Cares, Nice Work if You Can Get It, and a song based on Fascinating Rhythm (Gershwin-Gershwin); All the Things You Are (Kern-Hammerstein); Pennsylvania 6-5000 (Gray-Sigman); I’m the Big Band Singer (Griffin); Begin the Beguine (Porter); and Tangerine (Schertzinger-Mercer).  Classical lovers will hear Tommy Dorsey’s version of “Song of India” from Rimsky-Korsakov’s opera Sadko, and the arrangements by Bill Holcombe feature a mixture of symphonic orchestra and band. 

   Ten songs will be sung by singer, writer, and Brooklyn resident Hilary Gardner.  She made her Broadway debut in Twyla Tharp’s 2010 hit musical, Come Fly Away.  Backed by a 19-piece big band, Hilary sang solos and duets with the recorded voice of Frank Sinatra.  The debut CD of her quartet “West73rd” received a Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs award nomination for the best jazz recording of 2008.  Ms. Gardner will be interviewed at 7:00 PM by Ira Joe Fisher.

    Ties and scarves—100% silk Vineyard Vines products specially designed for the Orchestra—will be on sale to celebrate Valentine’s Day.  The concert also features dancing by Morten Schnedler-Jensen and Mira Chrekezova of the Fred Astaire Dance Studio.  They will appear again at the Orchestra’s March 2 gala.

   The concert is sponsored by Union Savings Bank.  Single ticket prices are $25, $45, or $60.  To purchase tickets, use www.ridgefieldsymphony.org (preferred) or call the orchestra office at (203)438-3889.