A 'BIG-BAND SPECTACULAR': MUNY BAND, FORD ORCHESTRA TO PLAY

Lovers of big-band music have a unique experience awaiting them Wednesday night when the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band and the Jerry Ford Orchestra combine forces in a concert billed as a "Big-band Spectacular." The performance is the final one of the municipal band season.

During the concert, the municipal band and the Jerry Ford Orchestra will trade renditions of well-known big-band numbers, an approach the municipal band has never attempted before, director Ronald Nall says.

In some cases, one band will start a number and the other will finish. On other tunes, both bands will play contrasting renditions. One version will segue quickly into the other, but, Nall said, "We don't have to worry about playing in the same key."

One selection of Big Band arrangements includes a number of classics, including "String of Pearls," "Satin Doll" and "Sophisticated Lady."

On "But Beautiful," the Ford Orchestra will start and the municipal band will finish.

Ford said the idea for the concert came from radio. "Occasionally you hear a radio station play a song like "Unforgettable" by an orchestra and it's segued on top of the Nat King Cole version," he said. "That's kind of where we got the idea.

"The idea was for the audience to be able to compare the concert band and jazz versions," he said. "We thought it would be interesting and fun to do."

The two bands share some of the same musicians -- trumpet player Ford, woodwind player John Quinn, trumpet player Narvol Randol and trombonist Dr. Dan Cotner.

Pat Blackwell, vocalist for the Ford Orchestra, will be featured on a number of the songs, including "But Beautiful" and "I'm Old-fashioned." Ford will sing "Kansas City."

The free concert will begin at 8 p.m. at the Capaha Park Band Shell. Those who attend are reminded to bring lawn chairs.

Celebrity guest conductors for the concert will be any children in the audience. They will be invited to come forward and help conduct. The batons will be given to the children as keepsakes.

Other numbers will include "Change of Pace March" and selections from "Porgy & Bess."