JUNGLE BOOK Orchestra to Perform 'Out of the Jungle' at Johnny D's Uptown, 10/6

The twelve-piece jazz/Indian fusion orchestra from the Huntington Theatre Company's production of The Jungle Book will perform Out of the Jungle at Johnny D's Uptown in Somerville on Sunday, October 6 at 8:15pm. The one-night-only event is a cross-cultural celebration inspired by the collaboration among the orchestra's six Indian and six jazz musicians. Under the creative direction of Doug Peck, the ensemble will leave the score from the show behind to perform sets of North and South Indian traditional music and original and jazz standards - genres that both draw heavily on improvisation - in their unique style that combines the sounds of east and west.

Tickets to this unique event are $15 online and $20 at the door. Johnny D's Uptown is located at 17 Holland Street, Somerville. Learn more athuntingtontheatre.org/outofthejungle.

"Out of the Jungle is an experience that brings together different continents, cultures, and communities," says percussionist Ronnie Malley. "More than a collective of musicians from a theatre production, it is a way for us to continue the dialogue that has developed as we've performed this culturally diverse show. The cross-cultural exchange extends beyond our American jazz and Indian musicians to one between North and South Indian traditions, as well - a rare occurrence among South Asian communities. For some in our audience, it may be the first time they hear or see instruments such as sitar, tablas, or veena, let alone hear them play along with a jazz band." Malley performs the ghattam, dholak, dhol, dumbek, and oud in The Jungle Book.

Cape Cod Times praises the production's "fabulous orchestra," and WBUR says, "When it comes to Doug Peck's ravishing orchestration of material from the movie, the results are everything you've hoped for...you feel like you're in some wonderful hybrid of Benny Goodman's legendary Carnegie Hall concert, Ravi Shankar sitting in with George Harrison, and a sequel to On the Town set in the jungle."

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