The Hollywood Jazz Orchestra
May 23 @ 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
$20 Presale Tickets available here
$25 at the door (subject to availability)
THE HOLLYWOOD JAZZ ORCHESTRA
is coming to THE GRAPE, Ventura’s only Jazz Club
THURSDAY MAY 23RD @ 7.30 P.M.
The Orchestra, which has performed L.A. Jazz venues including Catalina’s and LACMA, bring their eclectic mix of new and relevant music to Ventura for the first time.
The 18 piece Hollywood Jazz Orchestra is led by conductor, composer, arranger Charley Harrison, the ensemble’s conductor who has also been the Director of the UCLA Jazz Orchestra since 2004. Over the years, Harrison has had compositions and arrangements performed by jazz greats like Kurt Elling, Marcus Miller, Cedar Walton, Joe Williams and The Count Basie Orchestra.
“I’m excited for the upcoming HJO performance at The Grape, as it provides an opportunity to showcase the virtuosity and versatility of the HJO musicians” says Harrison.
“We will be premiering new music from our composers, arrangers, (Tom Garling, Conrad Herwig and Harrison himself), that will highlight the breadth of the HJO repertoire”
The nucleus of The Hollywood Jazz Orchestra were members of the second iteration of the Buddy Collette Big Band, which formed in the mid-2000’s during the saxophone legend’s later years. After rejoining forces with many new performers in 2022, the new Orchestra (featuring many younger members) made it’s debut at Catalina’s in Hollywood and later headlined at LACMA and the Rochester International Jazz Festival in New York. It’s arrangers include Harrison, Tom Garling, Nick DePinna, Conrad Herwig and Bob Mintzer.
Until recently a resident of Ventura, David Payne, Executive Director of HJO, says “We’ve played Sold Out concerts at traditional venues like Rochester Jazz Festival and LACMA, but we’re looking to bring the Orchestra to venues where no Big Bands have played before”
Continuing that theme, The Hollywood Jazz Orchestra will be playing a concert at The ROXY on Sunset, with Grammy-winning Singer-Songwriter BRENDA RUSSELL later this year.
The first time a Big Band/Jazz Orchestra has played at that historic venue.
“We’re trying to change the preconceptions and expectations the public has about big band concerts” says Payne “We’re not a group of old white guys playing tired arrangements of Ellington, Basie, and Dorsey. We rock! We’re going to blow the roof off The Grape!”
The Hollywood Jazz Orchestra includes some of L.A.’s most storied and in demand musicians, including Justo Almario, Gerry Pinter, Clayton Cameron, Les Benedict, Ian Vo, Randall Willis, Anne King, Ann Patterson, and Brian O’Rourke.
Led by Conductor Charley Harrison THE HOLLYWOOD JAZZ ORCHESTRA Is comprised of some of the most heralded musicians in the Los Angeles Jazz Community, while also reflecting the great diversity of LA’s population.
The members of HJO have played with the the likes of Count Basie, Tony Bennett, Woody Herman, Frank Sinatra, Clark Terry, Elvis Presley and many more. HJO musicians can be heard on high profile recordings, Film scores, and commercials, along with innumerable live concerts, domestically and abroad.
“SMOKING HOT BIG BAND MAGIC!” ~ Agenda Magazine