Sheldon Concert Hall Presents CORNET CHOP SUEY 10/19-20

The Sheldon presents Cornet Chop Suey on Tuesday, October 19 and Wednesday, October 20 at 10 a.m. in the perfect acoustics of the Sheldon Concert Hall.

The Cornet Chop Suey Jazz Band has enjoyed a meteoric rise in popularity since its arrival on the jazz scene in 2001 with their exciting style of traditional jazz, swing, and blues music. The band's unique front line with Brian Casserly on trumpet, Tom Tucker on cornet, Jerry Epperson on reeds and Brett Stamps on trombone is driven by a powerful rhythm section consisting of Paul Reid on piano, Al Sherman on bass and John Gillick on drums. Best known for a wide variety of styles, Cornet Chop Suey applies its own exciting style to traditional jazz, swing, blues and "big production" numbers. Every performance by Cornet Chop Suey is a high-energy presentation and a memorable experience for the audience.

Brian Casserly plays trumpet, trombone, and provides vocals. A professional musician since the age of 14, Casserly has played for many greats in the music business, including Tony Bennett, Tex Beneke, Stan Kenton, Chuck Berry, and even Tiny Tim. Thomas "L-Jay Cool Poppa" Tucker began playing trumpet at age 11 under a retired Marine bandmaster who Tucker says, "still thought he was in the Marines." He started a band called "All That Jazz" and progressed from there, becoming a fixture in the St. Louis traditional jazz scene. The newest member of Cornet Chop Suey, Paul Reid is an all-around entertainer who's done just about everything in the business. His experience runs the gamut from playing solo piano in bars to performing with big bands, composing, recording, and producing. Jerry Epperson's professional career began in 1959 performing in local dance bands, and continued at Truman State University playing in Dixieland and jazz bands. Epperson makes frequent appearances at jazz festivals, and performs regularly in the St. Louis area. John Gillick started playing drums professionally at the age of 14. Most recently, he has been playing the jazz circuit with the Cornet Chop Suey Jazz Band and is featured in renditions of "Caravan," "Found A New Baby/Sing Sing Sing," "Bugle Call Rag" and Buddy Rich's "West Side Story Medley." Brett Stamps has been the Director of Jazz Activities at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville since he initiated the Jazz Performance Degree program in 1982. He currently holds the rank of Professor of Music. A retired high school band director, Al Sherman began his teaching career in Bismarck , MO in 1960. His professional playing experience began as a trumpet player in the Air Force band at Barksdale Air Force Base, LA in 1953. He began playing bass there, and has played professionally since being discharged from the Air Force in 1957. Sherman has performed with groups ranging from piano and bass duos to jazz combos, Dixieland bands and big bands.

Tickets for Cornet Chop Suey are on-sale now! Tickets are $15 orchestra/$12 balcony. Call MetroTix at 314.534.1111 or visit www.TheSheldon.org. For more information, contact The Sheldon during normal business hours, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

To post a comment, you must register and login.