Meet the Thursday Night Music Club during 15th annual Jazz Showcase
Thursday Night Music Club will present its 15th annual Jazz Showcase concert in Ruby Diamond Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m. Thursday (of course), Aug. 10. The program will draw from the band’s extensive repertoire of swing, blues, ballads, Latin, Broadway, pop, and funk music. Tickets are $15.
From the time amateur trombonist Trisha Moynihan first invited musical friends to read big band music in her living room on Thursday nights more than 15 years ago, one theme has been constant during the group’s evolution. It can be summarized in a simple five word phrase: For-The-Fun-Of-It.
Band members perform for the sheer enjoyment of playing and entertaining; money received from performances is used to acquire sheet music and band gear.
The emphasis on For-The-Fun-Of-It affects the band’s performances in many ways. Among other things, it keeps ticket prices low (try beating the opportunity to be entertained by 20 musicians in Tallahassee’s premier venue for $15).
More importantly, the sense of enjoyment is conveyed through the band’s music to its audiences. Through appearances in such venues as Tallahassee Museum’s annual Jazz Festival, Quincy’s Porchfest, FSU College of Music’ssummer music camps, Lemoyne’s Art in the Park events, and its own Jazz Showcases, the band has gained an enthusiastic following.
The For-The-Fun-Of It approach also attracts talent. Dr. Patrick Dunnigan, who conducts the band, teaches conducting at the university level.
Vocalist Lisa Foltz is as much at home when performing classical music (think Bach, Schubert, Falla) as a featured mezzo-soprano soloist as when caressing a Gershwin ballad or belting out a Broadway show tune.
Fred Lee’s stellar pipes and remarkable versatility — which ranges the musical styles of Duke Ellington, Blood Sweat and Tears, Joe Bonamassa, Lionel Ritchie and more — appeal to all of TNMC’s audiences (but none more so than the high school students attending FSU’s summer music camps).
Accomplished instrumental soloists reside in all of the band’s sections, and their skills will be displayed on Aug. 10. Come to think of it, “Showcase” is the perfect appellation for Thursday Night Music Club’s upcoming concert.
To share in the fun, purchase tickets from band members, at the door, or on line at thursdaynightmusicclub.org.
If you go
What: Thursday Night Music Club 15th annual Jazz Showcase
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10
Where: Ruby Diamond Auditorium
Tickets: $15; thursdaynightmusicclub.org
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Thursday Night Music Club tunes up for 15th annual Jazz Showcase
