Courtesy photo. Marc Monteson Promotions and The City of New Smyrna Beach Parks and Recreation Department present Don Scaletta and the Jazz Project salute Stan Kenton on Sunday March 7 at 2 p.m. at the Brannon Center.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Jazz enthusiasts will enjoy what's on tap 2 p.m. Sunday at the Brannon Center: Don Scaletta and the Jazz Project salute Stan Kenton.
The Jazz Project is a 20- piece orchestra that was organized by Jazz pianist Don Scaletta to perform the music of and pay tribute to the great Stan Kenton.
Because of the music’s degree of difficulty and interpretation, this undertaking proved to be a monumental task.
In the talented and capable hands of Scaletta, the Jazz Project has compiled some of Kenton’s greatest works and captured his unmistakable harmonic sounds and his unique use of dissonances for concert presentation, said local promoter Marc Monteson.
"Without a doubt, Kenton’s music is as provocative today as it was sixty years ago," Monteson said. "The Jazz Project is dedicated to keeping this music alive and elevated to the level it deserves. Frank Sinatra called him ' the most significant jazz figure of the modern age.' ’’
Kenton’s career was an awesome itinerary of styles, writers, sounds, and soloists, all filtered through his synthesized sensibilities of modern textures, structures, and expressions that played all over the world.
Don Scaletta earned a national reputation as a prominent pianist, arranger, and composer which resulted in numerous recording contracts.
In the heyday of jazz at Disney’s Village Lounge, Buena Vista in the 1070s and '80s, Scaletta was a headliner performing with such notables as Zoot Sims, Urbie Green, Don Lamond, Al Cohn, Pete Condoli and many other jazz greats, Monteson said, adding, he then moved over to The Jazz Company at Pleasure Island and stayed on for an extended time. There a CD, Live at Pleasure Island was recorded with Nat Adderly and others.
That endeavor was placed into nomination for a Grammy award in four different categories. After an eighteen month tour on Disney cruise ships, he returned to Florida where he organized “The Jazz Project’’ dedicated to pay tribute to the great Stan Kenton.
TICKETS
General admission tickets for the show are now on sale at The Brannon Center, 105 S. Riverside Drive, New Smyrna Beach for $ 17.50 and $ 20 the day of the event. To sponsor a qualified senior to attend the show and for more information, please call 423-9760. There will be door prizes plus refreshments and snacks will be available for purchase.