Smoky, sultry and swingin’ - A night at The Cotton Club

The OKC Phil salutes the "Hi De Ho" swing of Cab Calloway, (shown here in 1937) and the "Satin Doll" sheen of Duke Ellington. (Photo by James Kriegsmann/Public domain)

Smoky, sultry and swingin’! Enjoy a night uptown as guest conductor Jeff Tyzik and the Oklahoma City Philharmonic take a trip back to the heyday of New York’s Cotton Club with this salute to the “Hi De Ho” swing of Cab Calloway and the elegant “Satin Doll” sheen of Duke Ellington. Featuring the award winning trumpet virtuoso Byron Stripling, Count Basie Band vocalist Carmen Bradford and Broadway hoofer Ted Louis Levy,as we salute the talented performers of the Cotton Club.

Shows Friday and Saturday April 24 & 25 at 8pm at The Civic Center. Call 405-TICKETS, that’s(405) 842-5387.

In the 1920’s Broadway was booming, prohibition pushed parties into speakeasies and juke joints, and midtown audiences looking for more adventure, found themselves in Harlem’s Cotton Club!During this Harlem Renaissance, the Cotton Club emerged as one of the most famous nightclubs in history, known for its lavish stage shows and talented musicians. Its glittering revues provided a medium for performances by the most prominent jazz musicians of the day, and the club’s activities were brought to a wide audience by frequent broadcasts. The Cotton Club helped shape musical history launching the careers of many jazz greats including Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, and Lena Horne. Don’t miss this OKC PHIL event!

Also The Phil announces a Special add on concert event-Video Games Live, an explosive concert experience featuring some of the most famous video games of all time, masterfully performed by Oklahoma City Philharmonic and OKC Philharmonic Pops Chorale, creating the explosive energy of a rock concert. Tickets go on sale to the public Wednesday April 8.

The Oklahoma City Philharmonic is rapidly gaining recognition as one the nation’s premier orchestras. Tracing its roots to 1924, The Oklahoma City Philharmonic, was formed in 1988 under the musical direction of Joel Levine and has remained steadfast in its mission to “provide inspiration and joy for the community through orchestral music.” Through its consistent commitment to excellence, The Oklahoma City Philharmonic Society, Inc.strives to enrich lives, expand cultural development, educate future generations, and provide audiences with diverse and inspirational performance experience. Committed to expanding its reach well beyond the concert hall, The Oklahoma City Philharmonic enjoys a close, collaborative relationship with Oklahoma’s colleges and universities as well as the city’s other premier arts organizations including The Oklahoma City Ballet, Canterbury Choral Society and additionally presents the annual Red White and Boom concert, attended by thousands from across the city each July.

The Gayly – March 31, 2015 @ 1:40pm.