Jan. 11, 2016
Contact Jen Roberdeau at 608-796-3738 or jaroberdeau@viterbo.edu
THE JULIAN BLISS SEPTET TO PRESENT A TRIBUTE TO BENNY GOODMAN AT VITERBO UNIVERSITY JAN. 28
LA CROSSE, Wis. – Recreating the exciting sound of swing from the 1930s and 40s, the outstanding British jazz musicians of the Julian Bliss Septet will perform some of the great tunes from the swing era as they present A Tribute to Benny Goodman at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28 in the Viterbo University Fine Arts Center Main Theatre.
Julian Bliss is one of the world’s finest clarinet players, excelling as a concert performer, chamber musician, and jazz artist. He has performed with many of the world’s leading orchestras, including the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. He formed the Julian Bliss Septet in 2012 and today the group performs around the world.
To create the arrangements for the A Tribute to Benny Goodman recording and program, Bliss teamed up with pianist Neal Thornton, who had been similarly drawn to Goodman as a young student. The two listened to hundreds of tracks of Goodman and others performing the great music of their time, marveling at their apparently effortless virtuosity and ensemble playing. Bliss and Thornton ultimately selected a range of tunes representing both the classic Goodman sextet lineup and the big band tradition, and put together a band that included drums, bass, guitar, vibes, and trumpet, in addition to clarinet and piano.
Within weeks after coming together, the Julian Bliss Septet was working on A Tribute To Benny Goodman, which was released on Signum Records in 2012 to critical acclaim from both jazz and classical critics.
Born in St Albans, United Kingdom, Bliss began playing at the age of four. He moved to the United States in 2000 to study at Indiana University and subsequently received lessons from Sabine Meyer in Germany. His first album for EMI Classics’ Debut series was greeted by five-star reviews and public praise following its release in 2003. Today, Bliss stands among the finest musicians of his generation.
In addition to outstanding music, the performance of A Tribute to Benny Goodman at Viterbo will also feature anecdotes and stories about Goodman’s life, delivered with humor, creating an intimate and special evening to remember.
This performance is part of Viterbo’s Bright Star Season and is sponsored in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts. Wisconsin Public Radio is the media sponsor.
Tickets are $32 for main floor, $28 for lower balcony, and $22 for upper balcony seating. For more information or to order tickets, contact the Viterbo box office at 608-796-3100 or visit www.viterbo.edu/tickets.
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