Doug Lawrence

Live Jazz Venue Parker Jazz Club Announces Winter 2021 Programming

Austin's premier live jazz venue Parker Jazz Club, located at the heart of Downtown Austin's booming Warehouse District has shared its November calendar.

Austin's Premier Live Jazz Venue Parker Jazz Club Announces October Programming, Including Roaring '20s Halloween Weekend

Austin’s premier live jazz venue Parker Jazz Club is excited to share its October calendar and upcoming programming for fall 2021. Highlights include the Marcos Varela Quartet on Oct. 12 during Parker Jazz Club’s Jazz Therapy Session, The Adderley School Presents Broadway & Jazz with Nat Adderley, Jr. on Oct. 17, and Dale Watson is scheduled to perform as one of the first guest in the club’s new Parker Jazz Orchestra Series on Oct. 27. 

Photo Coverage: On the Opening Night Red Carpet for SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS!

SpongeBob SquarePants on Broadway officially opened just last night, December 4th, at The Palace Theatre. SpongeBob SquarePants is a new musical with a book by Kyle Jarrow, music supervision, orchestrations and arrangements by Tom Kitt, choreography by Christopher Gattelli, and conceived and directed by Tina Landau.

Photo Coverage: Sponges Unite! SPONGEBOB Cast Parties Hard on Opening Night!

SpongeBob SquarePants on Broadway officially opened just last night, December 4th, at The Palace Theatre. SpongeBob SquarePants is a new musical with a book by Kyle Jarrow, music supervision, orchestrations and arrangements by Tom Kitt, choreography by Christopher Gattelli, and conceived and directed by Tina Landau.

Photo Coverage: The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra Plays Birdland

 Birdland is 63, The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra is 80, and  Frank Sinatra is 100.  Gianni Valenti, Birdland owner announced the orchestra and the swinging engine of the Basie Band blasted off with "Come Fly With Me" at the "Jazz Corner of the World" last night. Regardless of how good the fidelity is on your Beats Headphones and McIntosh Amplifier, it doesn't come close to the sound being heard on 44th Street. The original charts might have some wear and tear from page turning by Basie musicians over the years, but the music was clear, precise, and  exciting as when the band made their home at Birdland in the 1950's. Scotty Barnhart is now the Director of The Count Basie Orchestra which has won 18 Grammy Awards and 20 Downbeat and Jazz Times polls. He follows in a long line of Jazz greats that have led the orchestra since Basie's passing in 1984. Thad Jones, Frank Foster, Brover Mitchell, Bill Hughes, and Dennis Mackrel have been prior directors.  Scotty pointed out that the band might have been formed in 1935, but they are very current and are on Facebook, and have a great website. Carmen Bradford, a Basie choice supplied the vocals. 

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.