Count Basie Orchestra Comes to Harris Center Tonight

William 'Count' Basie started The Count Basie Orchestra in 1935, in Kansas City, Missouri. Within a year, America was listening in on popular radio shows throughout the country to hear what would become "The greatest swing band in all the land!" A phenomenon was born in 1935 that is still going strong today! Harris Center for the Arts is proud to present this legendary orchestra.

The Count Basie Orchestra has won every respected jazz poll in the world at least once, won 18 Grammy Awards, performed for kings, queens, and other world royalty, appeared in several movies, television shows, and at every major jazz festival and major concert hall in the world.

The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra with Guest Vocalist Carmen Bradford performs tonight, March 18, 2015 at 7 pm and Thursday, March 19, 2015 at 7 pm. Tickets are priced at $25-$39; Premium $45; Students with ID $12. Tickets are available online at www.harriscenter.net or from Harris Center Ticket Office at 916-608-6888 from 10 am to 6 pm, Monday through Saturday, and two hours before show time. Parking is included in the price of the ticket. Harris Center is located on the west side of Folsom Lake College campus in Folsom, CA, facing East Bidwell Street.

In the history of jazz music, there is only one bandleader that has the distinction of having his orchestra still performing sold-out concerts all over the world, with members personally chosen by him, for nearly 30 years after his passing. Pianist and bandleader William James "Count" Basie was and still is an American institution that personifies the grandeur and excellence of jazz.

Basie was the first African-American male recipient of a Grammy Award and his music continues to inspire young jazz players. And when your records have been chosen for Desert Island Discs by fellow musicians of the caliber of Tony Bennett, Nelson Riddle and Buddy Rich, you can be sure you created a legacy that will survive.

Current members include musicians hired by Basie himself: Carmen Bradford (joined in 1983), Clarence Banks (joined in 1984), as well as Mike Williams (1987, formerly w/Glenn Miller, NTSU 1 O' Clock), Doug Miller (1989, formerly w/Lionel Hampton), and members who have joined in the last 15 years: David Keim (formerly w/Stan Kenton), Alvin Walker, Will Matthews, Marshall McDonald (formerly w/Lionel Hampton, Paquito D'Rivera's United Nations Jazz Orchestra), Doug Lawrence (formerly w/Benny Goodman, Buck Clayton), Cleave Guyton (formerly w/Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington Orchestra), and our newest members: Mark Williams (Howard University), Bruce Harris, Jay Branford, Bobby Floyd and Marcus McLaurine (formerly w/Clark Terry).

Scotty Barnhart is an internationally acclaimed jazz trumpeter, composer, arranger, educator, author, and Director of The Count Basie Orchestra. Prior to his being selected Director of the Basie orchestra in September 2013, he was its featured trumpet soloist for 20 years, and is also a two-time Grammy Award winner with the orchestra. He appears on three critically acclaimed recordings with pianist Marcus Roberts and over fifteen others with artists as diverse as Tony Bennett, Diana Krall, Ray Charles, and Tito Puente. Scotty is Professor of Jazz Trumpet/Jazz Studies at Florida State University where two of his former students won First Place in the National Jazz Trumpet Competition. Acknowledged as an authority on the history of jazz trumpet, he gives lecture-demonstrations on the history of jazz trumpet at schools and universities all over the United States as well as in South America, Japan, China, Europe, and South Africa.

Carmen Bradford was discovered and hired by Count Basie and was the featured vocalist in the legendary Count Basie Orchestra for nine years. She has since performed and/or recorded with: Wynton Marsalis, Shelly Berg, John Clayton along with the Clayton Hamilton Orchestra, Nancy Wilson, Doc Severinsen, Tony Bennett, James Brown, Patti Austin, Byron Stripling, Dori Caymmi, George Benson, Lena Horne, Frank Sinatra, Joe Williams, DIVA Jazz Orchestra, the National Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, and countless artists around the world. Carmen performed on two Grammy Award-winning albums with the Basie band in the 1980s and later collaborated on a third Grammy Award-winning album, Big Boss Band, with guitarist George Benson in 1991. Her soulful voice warmed the hearts of Americans through the celebrated performance of the classic duet, "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" on the Johnny Carson Show that same year.

At present, Carmen Bradford is doing it all; whether it's a duo concert with Shelly Berg, Big Band with the ladies of DIVA, or her new favorite, performing with symphony orchestras around the world. Carmen Bradford's body of work reflects a vast depth of musical experience and technical brilliance. She is also recognized for the overwhelming passion she brings to the lyric. She has truly contributed to the perpetuation and preservation of this Great American art form called jazz, and continues to do so.

Performances will be opened by comedian Robert Lee.

Same Three Stages, Brand New Name!

Originally named Three Stages at Folsom Lake College in 2011, the facility has been renamed to honor Brice Harris, Chancellor Emeritus of the Los Rios Community College District, for his many contributions to the capital region, including the vision and leadership he provided in opening this regional arts center. Harris Center for the Arts at Folsom Lake College presents touring artists from around the world; partners with the best regional arts organizations, and supports productions by FLC students and faculty.

The Harris Center is a $50 million facility built with a combination of state, regional, local and private funds. Harris Center has three intimate theaters, an art gallery, a recording studio, elegant teaching spaces, plenty of safe parking and all the other amenities of a state-of-the-art performing arts venue.

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