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THE IOLA REGISTER, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1993 PAGE 5
Bella Vista Big Band brings crowd to feet
By MARY MARTIN
Director of the Bowlus Fine Arts Center
The spirits of Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Benny
Goodman and Gene Krupa would have felt right at home
at the Bowlus Saturday night at the Friends of the
Bowlus kickoff.
From the time the Bella Vista Big band was introduced
by emcee Bob Talkington to the moment the crowd surged
to its feet in a spontaneous standing ovation, it was
a memorable concert.
The band's leader and spokesperson, Jack Mitchell,
kept things moving with grace and humor as they moved
through many of the great songs of the 1930s and '40s
big band era. The audience od'd and ah'd as he
announced song titles that obviously struck chords of
memory.
Mitchell, who is also the band's drummer, played with
a flair reminiscent of the great Gene Krupa. His solo
stints in "Drummin' Man" and "Sing, Sing, Sing" left
the crowd asking for more. As a show drummer in
Chicago, Mitchell has worked with singers and dancers
such as Tony Bennett, Connie Francis, Anita Bryant,
Steve Lawrence and Gregory Hines. He also was the
drummer on all of the Danny Thomas st. Jude Childrens'
Hospital fund raisers in Chicago.
The band featured many well-experienced musicians,
most of whom shone in solos, sometimes during the
evening. One particularly moving piece was the
spiritual "Closer Walk With Thee," performed by Nina
Erickson on clarinet. Erickson also brought laughter
and cheers later in the program with a comic version
of "C'est Si Con."
Former Allen Countains Dick Stitzel and Eric Copening
got big applause from their friends and relatives when
they were introduced. Copening, to those who remember
his past performances on the piano, seemed to have
lost none of his musicianship and has perfected a
comic touch ala Victor Borge. He thanked several local
people who had contributed to his musical training and
dedicated the "2nd Piano Prelude" by Gershwin to the
late Florence Hobart.
After the two-hour concert, the band played on for
another house, so that those who had been having
trouble keeping their feet still could finally move
with the beat. In a surprise for the crowd, local
musicians Kendall Ashford and Larry Jones Humboldt
were invited to sit in for a couple of the dance tunes
as a reward (or revenge?) for introducing Eric to
popular music. The crowd dancing in the orchestra pit
was large enough at times to send some folks to the
lobby to do their stepping.
The evening was a kickoff and benefit for the
newly-formed Friends of the Bowlus, Inc. More than
$1,800 was raised in memberships and donations for the
fledgling endowment association.
Bella Vista Big Band brings crowd to feet
By MARY MARTIN
Director of the Bowlus Fine Arts Center
The spirits of Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Benny
Goodman and Gene Krupa would have felt right at home
at the Bowlus Saturday night at the Friends of the
Bowlus kickoff.
From the time the Bella Vista Big band was introduced
by emcee Bob Talkington to the moment the crowd surged
to its feet in a spontaneous standing ovation, it was
a memorable concert.
The band's leader and spokesperson, Jack Mitchell,
kept things moving with grace and humor as they moved
through many of the great songs of the 1930s and '40s
big band era. The audience od'd and ah'd as he
announced song titles that obviously struck chords of
memory.
Mitchell, who is also the band's drummer, played with
a flair reminiscent of the great Gene Krupa. His solo
stints in "Drummin' Man" and "Sing, Sing, Sing" left
the crowd asking for more. As a show drummer in
Chicago, Mitchell has worked with singers and dancers
such as Tony Bennett, Connie Francis, Anita Bryant,
Steve Lawrence and Gregory Hines. He also was the
drummer on all of the Danny Thomas st. Jude Childrens'
Hospital fund raisers in Chicago.
The band featured many well-experienced musicians,
most of whom shone in solos, sometimes during the
evening. One particularly moving piece was the
spiritual "Closer Walk With Thee," performed by Nina
Erickson on clarinet. Erickson also brought laughter
and cheers later in the program with a comic version
of "C'est Si Con."
Former Allen Countains Dick Stitzel and Eric Copening
got big applause from their friends and relatives when
they were introduced. Copening, to those who remember
his past performances on the piano, seemed to have
lost none of his musicianship and has perfected a
comic touch ala Victor Borge. He thanked several local
people who had contributed to his musical training and
dedicated the "2nd Piano Prelude" by Gershwin to the
late Florence Hobart.
After the two-hour concert, the band played on for
another house, so that those who had been having
trouble keeping their feet still could finally move
with the beat. In a surprise for the crowd, local
musicians Kendall Ashford and Larry Jones Humboldt
were invited to sit in for a couple of the dance tunes
as a reward (or revenge?) for introducing Eric to
popular music. The crowd dancing in the orchestra pit
was large enough at times to send some folks to the
lobby to do their stepping.
The evening was a kickoff and benefit for the
newly-formed Friends of the Bowlus, Inc. More than
$1,800 was raised in memberships and donations for the
fledgling endowment association.
The Bella Vista Big Band
The Bella Vista Big Band was formed in 1989,
comprised of retired singers and musicians who had
moved to Bella Vista and the surrounding area and
who wanted to continue to play the big band music
that had been so important in their lives.
Lee Williams, who had traveled the mid-west with
his own band in the late thirties, forties and
early fifties, was the band's founder and first
director. When a stroke forced Lee to retire in
1991, Chuck Davis became the new voted it's
drummer, Jack Mitchell, to be the new director.
In September of 1995, Lee Williams passed away and
the band honored his request to play at his
service, playing the tunes that Lee had loved so
well, and featuring the song that Lee has used as
the theme song for his own band. The Bella Vista
Big Band continues to use Lee's "Blue World" as
it's own theme song in a tribute to Lee.
In 1992, the Bella Vista Big Band was selected, by
blind audition, out of several hundred applicants
to perform at the Arkansas Ball during President
Clinton's inauguration. Originally scheduled to
play for one and a half hours, the crowd's
enthusiasm for the band caused the musical director
of the ball to hold the Bella Vista Big Band on
stage for four and a half hours! The band was
invited back in 1997 to play an encore performance
for the same event at President Clinton's second
inauguration.
Many of the original players remain in the band,
but as band members retired or moved from the area,
new singers and players have joined. There is
always a waiting list of musicians who want to
become part of this popular group.
Now under the direction of Charlie Danielson, the
Bella Vista Big Band plays for dances, concerts and
fund-raisers throughout Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas
and Oklahoma. It has recorded it's concerts in
Iola, Kansas, Rogers, Arkansas (with guest star
Henry Cuesta from the Lawrence Welk show) and at
Pops In the Park in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. These
are available in both video and audio cassettes and
CDs.
Order Information
The Bella Vista Big Band was formed in 1989,
comprised of retired singers and musicians who had
moved to Bella Vista and the surrounding area and
who wanted to continue to play the big band music
that had been so important in their lives.
Lee Williams, who had traveled the mid-west with
his own band in the late thirties, forties and
early fifties, was the band's founder and first
director. When a stroke forced Lee to retire in
1991, Chuck Davis became the new voted it's
drummer, Jack Mitchell, to be the new director.
In September of 1995, Lee Williams passed away and
the band honored his request to play at his
service, playing the tunes that Lee had loved so
well, and featuring the song that Lee has used as
the theme song for his own band. The Bella Vista
Big Band continues to use Lee's "Blue World" as
it's own theme song in a tribute to Lee.
In 1992, the Bella Vista Big Band was selected, by
blind audition, out of several hundred applicants
to perform at the Arkansas Ball during President
Clinton's inauguration. Originally scheduled to
play for one and a half hours, the crowd's
enthusiasm for the band caused the musical director
of the ball to hold the Bella Vista Big Band on
stage for four and a half hours! The band was
invited back in 1997 to play an encore performance
for the same event at President Clinton's second
inauguration.
Many of the original players remain in the band,
but as band members retired or moved from the area,
new singers and players have joined. There is
always a waiting list of musicians who want to
become part of this popular group.
Now under the direction of Charlie Danielson, the
Bella Vista Big Band plays for dances, concerts and
fund-raisers throughout Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas
and Oklahoma. It has recorded it's concerts in
Iola, Kansas, Rogers, Arkansas (with guest star
Henry Cuesta from the Lawrence Welk show) and at
Pops In the Park in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. These
are available in both video and audio cassettes and
CDs.
Order Information
* bella vista big band *
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720 In the Books
The Opener
Moonlight Serenade
Sentimental Journey (vocal)
It's Only A Paper Moon (vocal)
Dream
Tea For Two
Moon River (vocal)
Somewhere My Love
Shake, Rattle & Roll
Don't Get Around Much Anymore
(vocal)
Blue Tango
In the Mood
Groovin' Easy
The Opener
Moonlight Serenade
Sentimental Journey (vocal)
It's Only A Paper Moon (vocal)
Dream
Tea For Two
Moon River (vocal)
Somewhere My Love
Shake, Rattle & Roll
Don't Get Around Much Anymore
(vocal)
Blue Tango
In the Mood
Groovin' Easy
| Almost Like Being In Love (vocal) Blue Moon (vocal) Proud Mary Twist & Shout Jumpin' At the Woodside Spanish Eyes (vocal) Orange Colored Sky (vocal) Inagination (vocal) Route 66 (vocal) Latin Fantasy Leap Frog Kansas City (combo & vocal) Barbra Polka Let's Say Goodnight (vocal |
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song list
song list