Vocalist Carmen Bradford Joins the Capital Jazz Orchestra for Special Christmas Performance

Grammy-winning Count Basie vocalist Carmen Bradford joins the Capital Jazz Orchestra for A Carmen Bradford Christmas at the Concord City Auditorium "The Audi" Located at 2 Prince Street Concord, NH, on Sunday, December 13, at 4pm. Tickets for this festive performance start at $25 and are on sale now.

In the early eighties, Carmen was heard by the great Count Basie and hired as the vocalist with his world renowned orchestra. After performing on two Grammy award winning albums for Basie, guitarist George Benson heard Carmen and asked if she would perform a duet on his 1991 recording titled Big Boss Band. The song was "How Do You Keep The Music Playing?", another Grammy award winner!

After nine years of touring as a feature with the Basie Band, Carmen embarked on her solo career with resounding success. "Finally Yours" (Evidence Records), her critically acclaimed first album, began another chapter in her illustrious career in 1992. Her 1995 album, "With Respect" (Evidence Records), established the Los Angeles based singer as one of the decade's most exciting vocal stylists.

Making more history, Carmen teamed with singer Kenny Rankin for Benny Carter's Songbook Project. "What An Honor!" she screamed as she looked around the room at the many faces of music history, Joe Williams, Ruth Brown, Bobby Short, Peggy Lee, Shirley Horn, Jon Hendricks, Dianna Krall, Dianne Reeves and many more. Carmen was chosen to sing in the great Key Largo for the Grammy award winning album, "The Benny Carter Song Book".

Carmen was also included in a two hour world premier BIOGRAPHY Special on the A & E Network, titled FOREVER ELLA. This documentary about Ella Fitzgerald is narrated by Nancy Wilson and consists of interviews with Benny Carter, Billy Taylor, Quincy Jones, Shirley Horn, Rosemary Clooney, Al Jarreau and many others.

The Capital Jazz Orchestra is a distinguished group of big band veterans comprised of alumni from such well known Orchestras as Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Maynard Ferguson, Duke Ellington, Artie Shaw, as well as the more recent Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band and the band of Toshiko Akiyoshi. They have collectively shared the stage with such stars as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Natalie Cole, Jack Jones and Joe Williams to name only a few. This hand picked ensemble, comprised of some of the best big band jazz musicians across the United States have enjoyed capacity houses on a recent national tour and have been met with critical acclaim for their exciting performances.

Music Director Clayton (or "Skip" as he is known to his family and friends) is enjoying his 34th year of bringing professional quality music to appreciative audiences. He has served as music director for such diverse groups as the The Northeast Symphony Orchestra, The New England Society Orchestra, The New England Wind Symphony and The Capital Jazz Orchestra.

Tickets are $35 for Front and Center Orchestra and $25 Rear . Tickets are available by calling 603-225-1111, online at www.ccanh.com, and at the box office, located at 44 South Main Street, Concord, NH on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Please note this performance occurs at the Concord Audi on December 13 at 4pm.

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