Klarinet Archive - Posting 000419.txt from 1997/05

From: aqrlw@-----. Walzel)
Subj: ClarinetFest '97 Update
Date: Wed, 14 May 1997 09:34:45 -0400

ClarinetFest '97 Update

Every evening of ClarinetFest will feature a Gala Concert. Wednesday
evening will be "A Tribute to Clarinet Features of the Big Band Era." Leon
Breeden, founder of the legendary jazz program at the University of North
Texas and retired leader of the Grammy Award-Winning One O'Clock Lab Band
at UNT, will lead a Big Band which will include some distinguished UNT
alumni who have toured internationally with some of the biggest names in
jazz (the band will also include Annette Luyben's husband, Rich, in the
trombone section). Leon tells me that there is a good chance Lou Marini,
famed tenor player of the original Saturday Night Live, will be in the sax
section. Leon is a clarinetist who has performed all over the world. His
son David Breeden is Principal Clarinet in the San Francisco Symphony.

Joining Leon as featured artists for this concert will be Peanuts Hucko and
Al Gallodoro. Peanuts was the clarinet player with Glenn Miller during
World War II and has played with many of the greatest names in jazz and has
an extensive discography. He is still quite active, having recently played
in Australia and in Europe as well as throughout North America. Peanuts now
lives in Denton, Texas and is a delightful person to meet.

Al Gallodoro, "The Incomparable Al Gallodoro," is a legend, perhaps without
equal in the clarient and saxophone worlds. He has been playing clarinet
for 77 years and still works regularly even though he retired from the
studios of New York in the early 1980's. When I called Al to invite him to
perform, he told me, "OK young man, but I don't play Hora Staccato anymore
in public." I'm not sure what he meant at the time, but since then he sent
me a tape of Hora and it has to be one of the most dazzling things I've
ever experienced.

These 3 gentlemen will not only be featured performers on Wednesday
evening, but they will be interviewed about their careers with the audience
being able to ask questions. We will do this during the lunch hour on
Wednesday.

ClarinetFest '97 runs July 9-13, 1997. Please contact me at the numbers
below for more information.

BOB

PS-I have had a very positive response from people intersested in having a
KLARINET gathering at ClarinetFest. We should have something put together
very soon.

Robert Walzel, Festival Coordinator - ClarinetFest '97
Texas Tech University School of Music
PO Box 42033 Lubbock, TX 79409-2033
ph#806-742-2270 FAX#806-742-2294
ClarinetFest '97 http://www.ttu.edu/~music/clarinetfest