The Downtown Live Concert Series continues with the MCC Wind and Jazz Ensembles, along with local rock band Whoopee Kat, performing on Saturday, April 13, at 7:30 p.m. at the Frauenthal Center, 426 W. Western Ave.
Tickets for the concert, which begins at 7:30 p.m., are $8 for adults and $2 for students. Tickets are available online at https://www.startickets.com/events/item/mcc-wind-jazz-ensemble-concert-2.
Directed by Daniel M. Meyers, the Wind Ensemble will perform:
- “Full Tilt!” by Richard Saucedo. Stretching harmonic boundaries while using rhythmic vitality, sections of mixed meters and a variety of unique orchestral effects, “Full Tilt!” creates a stunning concert opener.
- “First Suite in E Flat” by Gustav Holst. Widely acclaimed as the first major wind band composition of the 20th century, this excellent work is as fresh today as when it was first written.
- “On a Hymnsong of Phillip Bliss” by David R. Holsinger. A restful, gentle, and reflective composition based on the 1876 Philip Bliss/Horatio Spafford hymn, “It is Well with my Soul.“
The Jazz Ensemble, directed by Patrick Parrish, will play:
- “Vehicle” by James M. Peterik arr. Paul Murtha. The song, recorded in 1970 by The Ides of March and written by the group’s front man, has a distinctive horn section riff, often mistaken for the band Blood, Sweat and Tears.
- “South Side Shuffle” by Doug Beach. The tune features a driving groove from the rhythm section, a strong melody and blues-based harmonies.
- “Lisette” by Sammy Nestico. Lush harmonies and distinctive unisons combine in this superb chart written by one of the premier big band writers.
- “25 or 6 to 4” by Robert Lamm arr. Peter Blair. An indelible song recorded in 1969 by the band Chicago, it was written by one of its founding members. Fifty years later, the song, with its unmistakable descending five-chord opening riff, remains one of the group’s finest.
Whoopee Kat, one of Muskegon’s premier rock and dance cover bands, has been rocking West Michigan since 2004. The group features Jerry Martin on vocals, Jim Martin on guitar, Geoff Cook on bass guitar, Bob Barrett on drums, and Mike Alstrom on keyboards. Whoopee Kat plays a wide range of music, covering songs from Boston, Rush, and Styx to DNCE, Bruno Mars, and Maroon 5.