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  • HB
  • BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY JUMPS, JIVES AND SWINGS AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL
  • Aug. 24, 2007
  • Swing Dancing and Fireworks Featured

    FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, AUGUST 24 AND 25, AT 8:30 PM

    WaMu is the sponsor for the August 24 performance;

    Fidelity Investments and Gelson's are the sponsors for the August 25 performance

    The new sound of swing is alive and well at the Hollywood Bowl as retro-hip Big Bad Voodoo Daddy jumps, jives and swings on the stage of the legendary venue with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Friday and Saturday, August 24 and 25, at 8:30 p.m. Led by conductor Michael Krajewski, the lively evening features a swing dancing performance and wraps with the Bowl's brilliant fireworks show.

    Responsible for the modern-day swing resurgence, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy has toured virtually nonstop since exploding on the scene in 1996 with their appearance in the hit comedy feature Swingers. The nine-member band includes: Scotty Morris, lead singer and guitar; Andy Rowley, saxophone and vocals; Dirk Shumaker, string bass and vocals; Kurt Sodergren, drums and percussion; Joshua Levy, piano; Glen "The Kid" Marhevka, trumpet; Karl Hunter, tenor saxophone and clarinet; Tony Bonsera, trumpet; and Alex Henderson, trombone.

    The much sought-after Michael Krajewski serves as principal pops conductor of the Houston Symphony and the Jacksonville Symphony. He recently ended his tenure as the New Mexico Symphony's principal pops conductor.

    MICHAEL KRAJEWSKI is a favorite with concertgoers across the country. The much sought-after pops conductor is known for his imaginative and entertaining programs and his delightfully wry sense of humor. Audiences who attend his concerts leave smiling, remembering the evening's music and surprises. Krajewski serves as principal pops conductor of the Houston Symphony and the Jacksonville Symphony. He completed his long tenure as principal pops conductor at Long Beach in the 2004/2005 season and at the close of the 2006/2007 season, completed his tenure as the New Mexico Symphony's principal pops conductor. As a guest conductor, he has appeared with the Boston Pops Orchestra and the orchestras of St. Louis, San Francisco, Detroit, Baltimore, Atlanta, Minnesota, Oregon, North Carolina, San Jose, San Diego, San Antonio, Phoenix, Ottawa and many more. He has performed with Judy Collins, Roberta Flack, Doc Severinsen, Cab Calloway, Al Hirt, The Kingston Trio, The Canadian Brass and Ben E. King, among others. Born in Detroit, Michael Krajewski holds degrees from Wayne State University and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and furthered his training with studies at the Pierre Monteux Domaine School for Conductors. He was a Dorati Fellowship Conductor with the Detroit Symphony and an artist intern with the Michigan Opera Theatre. For eleven years he served as music director of the Modesto Symphony Orchestra. He has also held positions as music director of the Detroit Symphony Civic Orchestra, assistant conductor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and resident conductor of the Florida Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Krajewski has twice received awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) for adventuresome programming of contemporary music.

    BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY, the little Big Band that helped define the lounge scene as it was featured in the hit film Swingers, was dubbed with the unusual moniker after a fellow musician signed an autograph to the band's sing-songwriter-guitarist Scott Morris, "To the big bad voodoo daddy." It also became the title of the group's first album, self-produced and distributed by indie distributor Hep Cat in 1993. By 1995, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy was already a staple on the underground Hollywood club scene when actor friend Jon Favreau, who hung out at the band's Wednesday night appearances at the Derby, asked Morris if he was interested in being in his movie. A year later, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy was tagged as one of the hottest, hippest, coolest bands around. The first release for the Coolsville label, was the band's long-awaited major label album debut. Eleven of the twelve tracks are originals, including two songs ("You & Me & the Bottle Makes 3 Tonight" and "Go Daddy-O") heard on the soundtrack album. Their major label debut stayed in the Top 100 for most of 1998 and achieved platinum status, selling 1.2 million copies to date. While their sound is often described as retro, Morris says, "We're an alternative to retro. We're high-octane nitro jive - loud, wild, total edge… it's our own modern version of swing." Since 1994 Big Bad Voodoo Daddy has toured virtually nonstop, performing more than 1,200 concerts on stages around the world. Their talent can be seen on the stages of the world's biggest and best music festivals, jazz and blues festivals, night clubs, county fairs, symphony shows, black-tie events and wineries. The band also has been called upon to perform at some major entertainment events and behind-the-scenes parties including the Grammy awards, Billboard Awards, Espy Awards, the opening of the art world's Getty Center Museum, and the halftime shows at the 1999 Super Bowl and Orange Bowl. Additionally, BBVD has been called on to play private events for President Bush (both of them) and President Clinton.

    One of the largest natural amphitheaters in the world, with a seating capacity of nearly 18,000, the HOLLYWOOD BOWL has been the summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since its official opening in 1922, and in 1991 gave its name to the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, a resident ensemble that has filled a special niche in the musical life of Southern California. The 2004 season introduced audiences to a revitalized Hollywood Bowl, featuring a newly-constructed shell and stage and the addition of four stadium screens enhancing stage views in the venue. To this day, $1 buys a seat at the top of the Bowl for many of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's concerts. While the Bowl is best known for its sizzling summer nights, during the day California's youngest patrons enjoy "SummerSounds: Music for Kids at the Hollywood Bowl," the Southland's most popular summer arts festival for children, now in its 39th season. Attendance figures over the past several decades have soared: in 1980 the Bowl first topped the half-million mark and close to one million admissions have been recorded. In February 2007, the Hollywood Bowl was named Best Major Outdoor Concert Venue for the third year in a row at the 18th Annual Pollstar Concert Industry Awards; the Bowl's summer music festival has become as much a part of a Southern California summer as beaches and barbecues, the Dodgers, and Disneyland.

    EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

    FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 2007, AT 8:30 PM

    SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 2007, AT 8:30 PM

    HOLLYWOOD BOWL, 2301 N. Highland Ave. in Hollywood

    JUMP, JIVE AND SWING! WITH BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY

    HOLLYWOOD BOWL ORCHESTRA

    MICHAEL KRAJEWSKI, conductor

    BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY

    WaMu is the sponsor for the August 24 performance;

    Fidelity Investments is the sponsor for the August 25 performance. Media Sponsor for August 25 is Gelson's.

    Tickets ($7 - $111) are on sale now at HollywoodBowl.com, at the Hollywood Bowl Box Office (Tuesday - Saturday, 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.), or by calling Ticketmaster at 213.480.3232. Groups of 10 or more may be eligible for a 20% discount, subject to availability; call 323.850.2050 for further details. For general information or to request a brochure, call 323.850.2000.

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  • Contact:

    Adam Crane, 213.972.3422, acrane@laphil.org; Rachelle Roe, 213.972.7310, rroe@laphil.org; Lisa White, 213.972.3408, lwhite@laphil.org; Laura Stegman, 310.470.6321, laura.stegman@verizon.net; For photos: 213.972.3034