by Chuck Reider, Board President of the Reno Jazz Orchestra
Last weekend the Reno Jazz Orchestra (RJO) celebrated the season with “Home for the Holidays” featuring the orchestra and four gifted hometown singers; Stephanya Barranti, David Wells, Kira Osborne, and Cliff Porter. It was a joy and honor conducting the orchestra with our guests in front of an audience. Though it was another year of uncertainty, it is our wish 2022 brings more opportunities to perform live and share the joy of jazz.
I hope everyone enjoyed Thanksgiving with family and friends and wish today’s black Friday shoppers all the best. I am thankful for all my blessings of which there are many. One such blessing is my involvement with the Reno Jazz Orchestra (RJO) over the years. Last weekend the RJO celebrated the career of Dr. Larry Engstrom with a concert featuring the RJO’s student jazz workshop students, UNR’s jazz faculty quintet the Collective, and the full Reno Jazz Orchestra performing Dr. Engstrom’s compositions.
Reno Jazz Orchestra (RJO) fans recognize me, the RJO’s musicians, and guest artists but most don’t get to meet the folks who help put together our concerts and keep the RJO moving forward. With the holidays on the way it reminded me how thankful I am the RJO has such great people working for us and today’s article I am going to take you “behind the curtain” to meet three of those folks; Jennifer Mannix, Lee Koch, and Danne Polk.
Today I am proud to announce the release of our fifth album “Spirits” which is a collection of Earth, Wind, and Fire’s (EWF) music, our first studio recording since 2000. 2020 and 2021 have been a challenge for us all and this album is a response to that challenge. As EWF’s leader Maurice White said “Most people can't see beauty and love. I see our music as medicine”. Their music is that medicine we need right now and the RJO is proud to present our interpretation.
This article I will focus on our education programs and to update you on our Diane Schuur concert.
What is swing, it’s history, and what is new? The Reno Jazz Orchestra (RJO), after two great concerts featuring the music of Earth, Wind, and Fire, is bringing Diane Schuur to Reno and Tahoe 8/22 and 8/23. Ms. Schuur, winner of two Grammys in jazz, knows how to swing. So, let’s talk swing.
Join the Reno Jazz Orchestra (RJO) 7/30 at the Hawkins Amphitheater in Bartley Ranch or 8/2 at Sand Harbor as a part of the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival’s Monday night series to hear us perform the music of Earth, Wind, and Fire (EWF). There you can pick up our brand-new CD "Spirits" featuring the music of EWF. It is the culmination of great recording sessions and studio polishing over the course of nine months.
The Reno Jazz Orchestra’s (RJO) monthly offering will present the Jazzettes, a trio of very talented women June 20th 2 pm on the RJO youtube channel.
In 1959 when I was in the sixth grade, I first began to play the clarinet, under the instruction of my band director, Dr. George Corradino.
