Calgary jazz man Johnny Summers is excited to bring the Calgary Jazz Orchestra back to Lethbridge to celebrate Christmas in the University theatre, Dec. 17. They are also performed at the Empress Theatre on Dec. 12.
The trumpeter and vocalist has played Lethbridge several times, with his quintet at a local club earlier this year and with the Calgary Jazz Orchestra during this year’s Lethbridge Jazz Festival.
“I played a club one time and on an outdoor stage. I was just so privilege
d to get so much warm, excitement and and cheering. It was a successful show,” Summers said, adding while the hour long show will focus on the Christmas album, he said it will include something for everybody.
“We want to show how we have grown over the years. So there will be some new music. We just want to continue to show that growth,” he said.
“We’ve become a huge family in Calgary an that’s gratifying so we want to show that to more people,” he said,” adding the show will focus on the new CD.
“For a lot of people it will be the first time they’ve seen us. When people hear the word jazz, they get a little afraid and when they hear the word orchestra they are terrified,” he said adding they plan on dispelling some of that unfounded fear by playing a little bit of classical music, a little bit of jazz as well as more pop orientated material.
“So you will like the show if you like music period,” he said.
“And because it is Frank Sinatra’s centennial year, we will be playing some of his music as well,” he said.
“ So it will be some of that stuff and some stuff with a little more groove and more modern influences. We play music that will appeal to all audiences. This is a concert with someone for everyone,” he said.
“ We’ve had people from Red Deer and Lethbridge in groups of 10 come to see us play in Calgary. This is easier. Basically we’re bringing the music basically to your doorstep,” he said.
Summers has just released his brand new CD “ When It’s Christmas Time,” which he has been working on since 2012.
Some of the Christmas songs resulted from recording sessions for several other musical projects including the Piano sessions Volume 1 and 2 recorded with pianists Chris Andrews and Tommy Banks respectively.
“ He noted it was a lot of fun to work with Tommy Banks.
“He’s someone I admire a lot. He’s my best friend and always he’s an extreme gentleman,” he said.
“ He’s absolutely brilliant. I’m always amazed at how he has instantly creative flair,” he said.
“It’s always a surprise for me,” he continued.
“I was inspired by the all duets album by Harry Connick Jr, and a lot of the solo albums by Oscar Peterson,”he said adding he was thinking ahead to including some of the tracks on this Christmas Christmas CD when he was recording them in 2012 and 2013. He recorded the most of the CD , July 19 , 2015.
“ I wanted to get as many special guests on this CD as I could including the Calgary jazz orchestra,” he said , observing there are several duets on the CD including a duet with Allison Lynch on “ Baby It’s Cold Outside.”
“She’s a wonderful human being and is also a very busy stage actress. She’s performing in A Christmas Carol now,” he said.
“So I’m super happy to have recorded with her,” he said.
He noted it was a lot of fun to work with Tommy Banks.
“He’s someone I admire a lot. He’s my best friend and always he’s an extreme gentleman,” he said.
“ He’s absolutely brilliant. I’m always amazed at how he has instantly creative flair,” he said.
“It’s always a surprise for me,” he continued.
Catholic Central High School student Megan Donaghy-Hughes will join the Calgary Jazz Orchestra on stage as she is the winner of the social media “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” vocal contest. Female vocalists sang the duet online and posted a video on social media to sing with the group. Megan will sing the duet with Johnny Summers backed by the full jazz orchestra.
The concert takes place at the University Theatre, 4401 University Drive W on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. for all ages. Tickets are available at calgaryjazzorchestra.com. Adults $35 and students $25.
