Jazz Trombonist John Allred Performs with Valencia Jazz Band in Orlando Tonight

Jazz trombonist John Allred, who has played with such jazz greats as Harry Connick Jr., Wycliffe Gordon and Woody Herman, will perform in a free concert at Valencia College's Performing Arts Center tonight, April 3 at 7:30 p.m.

Accompanying Allred will be Michelle Mailhot, who teaches jazz vocals at Valencia, and the Valencia Jazz Lab Band, a student group directed by Chris Dolske.

The musicians will perform Duke Ellington's "In A Sentimental Mood," and Quincy Jones' arrangement of "Honeysuckle Rose."

Also performing will be solo guest trombonist Bill Allred, John's father. One of the original staff musicians hired to perform at Disney World in 1971, he is known today as the leader of Bill Allred's Classic Jazz Band.

Raised in Orlando, John Allred moved to southern California after graduating from high school to perform with the Jazz Minors, a six-piece Dixieland group that performed at Disneyland.

Allred later performed with Harry Connick Jr.'s Big Band and, in 1999, moved to New York, where he has played with Toshiko Akiyosho Big Band, the Woody Herman Orchestra and the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band. He is currently the trombonist for the new Broadway play, Cinderella.

Valencia College's Performing Arts Center is located on Valencia's East Campus, 701 N. Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando.

The public is also invited to an open rehearsal prior to the concert. The rehearsal will be held today, April 3 from noon to 1 p.m. at Valencia's East Campus, Building 3, Room 126.

For more news from Valencia College, go to www.valenciacollege.edu/news.