Lou Marini
Gas up the Bluesmobile. The LaPorte High School Jazz Bands will present their 25th annual JazzFest on Friday, May 9, at 7 p.m. in the LaPorte High School Auditorium, and their special guest will be saxophone great Lou Marini. Lou was the long-haired sax wailer in the “Blues Brothers” movies and has also been a “Saturday Night Live” band fixture.
Marini continues to be one of the most sought-after sidemen and session musicians on the New York scene. He is accomplished on soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxes, piccolo, flute, alto flute, bass flute and clarinet. Among bands in which he has played are the Woody Herman Orchestra; Doc Severinsen; Blood, Sweat and Tears; The Band; Dr. John; Frank Zappa; SNL Band; The Blues
Marini (right) in the “Blues Brothers.”
Brothers; and Eric Clapton. He has toured four times with James Taylor’s Band of Legends.
The May 9 performances will feature all LPCSC Jazz Bands, as well as six more professional guest artists besides Marini:
– Jim Widner, bass: An alumnus of the Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, and Glenn Miller big bands,
Jim is celebrating his 24th year of hosting summer camps all across the United States.
– Clay Jenkins, trumpet: Clay is associate professor of jazz trumpet at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. He has toured with the big bands of Harry James, Buddy Rich and the Count Basie Orchestra.
– Stockton Helbing, drums: A drummer, composer, arranger, producer, bandleader, educator, music director, author, and entrepreneur, Stockton most recently played drums for American music icon and trumpet player extraordinaire Doc Severinsen.
– Brett Stamps, trombone: Stamps is professor of music at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. He has performed worldwide with the Stan Kenton Orchestra, the United States Army Jazz Ambassadors and the University of Miami Concert Jazz Band.
– Rick Haydon, guitar: A professor of music at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, Haydon heads the guitar program and manages the recording studio. In 2004 Rick performed with John Pizzarelli at the Classic American Guitar Show in Long Island, NY, as part of the Jazz Cabaret Series.
– Ken Kehner, piano: Ken teaches jazz piano at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, where he also directs jazz combos. He has appeared with Bill Watrous, Bobby Shew, Buddy DeFranco, Pete Christlieb, Louie Bellson, and Clark Terry.
Tickets for the LPHS concert are $10 for adults, and $7 for students age 12 and over and senior citizens. Kids under age 12 may attend for free. Tickets will be available at the door and in advance from LPHS jazz, lab and studio band members.
