a
special performance by
Robert Israel and Total Eclipse
Blues Alley
Sunday, July 12 (shows at 8 and 10
pm)
On the heels of his sold out performance at Strathmore
Mansion (where he has served as Artist in Residence), Blues Alley's longtime
talent buyer and prominent events producer Robert "Bob" Israel will
bring a summer offering of original new material (to be recorded in the fall)
to Blues Alley on Sunday, July 12 (shows at 8 and 10 p.m.). Israel
originally made his mark as the founder, orchestra leader and principal
trombonist of the Washington Jazz Battalion, later known as the Blues Alley Big
Band. The band enjoyed popularity and performed overseas, in NYC, and
throughout most of the east coast. They have also backed such artists as Dizzy
Gillespie, Nancy Wilson, Stanley Turrentine, Harry Connick Jr., Mary Wilson,
Steve Allen and others in concert.
Joining Israel at the pre-album release shows will be Total Eclipse band members and Levine School of Music faculty Robert "Bob" Sykes on keys and Chris Battisone on trumpet. In addition, the band will feature Coleman O'Donoghue (drums), Bruce Swaim (tenor sax) and George Hyde on bass. All of these artists have collaborated with Israel on many successful projects, including the Washington Jazz Battalion. They have co-written the evening's much anticipated material.
Making a special appearance will be saxophonist and member of the Jazz Studies faculty at the University of Maryland, Leigh Pilzer, who composed and/or arranged original compositions for the Washington Jazz Battalion. Pilzer is also on the faculty of Towson University, where Israel studied and performed as one of the principal trombonists with the esteemed big band of composer and educator Hank Levy in the late 1970's.
The night's highlights will include the return of "Farmer Jon" Bloostein, following a twenty-five year hiatus from the music industry. Bloostein, now the owner and proprietor of Heartland Brewery in NYC, played trombone with Bob Israel throughout high school and college and was once the manager of the Washington Jazz Battalion. He will be performing a special composition written for him by Bob Israel and Chris Battistone entitled the "Return of the Mighty Spacebone."
During the second set Robert Redd, the former pianist and musical director for Kenny Rankin, will make a brief appearance as will jazz saxophonist and composer John Kocur, an artist Israel mentored while serving as Artist in Residence at Strathmore. Also lending his talents to the evening will be fellow Strathmore Artist in Residence and guitarist Jaimie Salazar.
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