BELLOWS FALLS — The Keene Jazz Orchestra (KJO) and Bellows Falls Union High School (BFUHS) Jazz Ensemble will be presenting a concert on Friday, March 6, at 7 p.m., at the Bellows Falls Union High School auditorium. The music for the evening will be traditional Big Band Swing as well as contemporary big band jazz music.
The BFUHS Jazz Ensemble will open the concert under the direction BFUHS director of bands Nick Pelton, who is also a saxophonist with the Keene Jazz Orchestra.
Singing with the KJO is Smith College graduate Rebecca Holtz, who grew up in Alstead, N.H. She is singing with the Compaq big band and her own trio called “€‹The Once Hollow.” She has studied at the Vermont Jazz Center with Sheila Jordan and Jay Clayton.
The 17-piece Keene Jazz Orchestra is under the direction of local saxophonist Scott Mullett, who is an alumnus of many world-class touring bands including Woody Herman and Artie Shaw.
Mullett teaches privately, plays throughout New England, and is an adjunct faculty member at Keene State College. The orchestra is comprised of local musicians, music teachers and music students between the ages of 17-58.
Many of the Keene area's finest instrumentalists are involved with the orchestra. Included are notable local music educators: Eric Anderson and Tom Martin (Keene High School), Dr. Craig Sylvern (Keene State College), Vicki Moore (St. Joseph's€‹ School), Steve Cady (Vermont Academy), Nick Pelton (Bellows Falls), Donna Morse, Charlie Schneeweis, George Robinson, and Anna Johnson (private instructors).
The KJO and BFUHS encourage people of all ages to attend this concert for a rare opportunity to hear an authentic Big Band sound live as part of the KJO'​s​ mission is to keep alive the big band genre of American music.