Tag Archive for Arizona Classic Jazz Society

Jazz appreciation month

The Dixie Cats

Helen Daley The Dixie Cats from Tucson have been playing together for more than 20 years and have a combined experience of hundreds of years. They are comprised of Keith Thoreson (clarinet), Jim Nickerson (trombone), John Reitz (trumpet), Wade Poteet (bass), Al Farmer (banjo) and Ray Vidal (drums). This good, old-fashioned Dixieland band will get…

52nd Street Jazz

Gary Church and Cheryl Thurston

Helen Daley There was a time when 52nd Street in Manhattan was the epicenter of jazz. It was a 1.9 mile one-way street and in the 1930s to 1950s you could find more than 20 nightclubs in one city block. That time has long passed but we have the 52nd Street Jazz Band right here…

A jazzed-up birthday

Cheryl Thurston and Gary Church play at Palo Verde.

What makes the May Arizona Classic Jazz Society’s monthly event even more special than usual? We’ll be celebrating the birthday of our beloved Cheryl Thurston. Cheryl is a Sun Lakes resident and will be celebrating her birthday by entertaining with her Mardi Gras Jazz Band on Sunday, May 15. New Orleans songs and music will…

Extra special Arizona Classic Jazz Festival

Helen Daley The Arizona Classic Jazz Festival will be November 5-8 and its purpose is to bring first class bands to Arizona to present the traditional jazz and swing music made famous during the first half of the 1900s. Festivals are an important venue for presenting this original American art form and keeping live music…

Classical versus Jazz – A classic explanation

Helen Daley The story this month is borrowed from a jazz friend by the name of Doohira. My pal Percy is a great lover of classical music, so when I set out to discover the true difference between classical music and jazz, naturally, I looked him up. He loves playing live too, especially after investing…

Sentimental journey

Take a sentimental journey with Diana Perez every other Wednesday from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at the Oakwood Clubhouse!

A native of the Chicago area, Diana Perez began her career as a professional singer performing at the Gaslight Club at the O’Hare Hilton. She went on to perform at major hotel chains throughout the country doing convention shows with a musical score for a 16-piece orchestra. Moving in 1978 to the Phoenix area, Diana…

Extra special Arizona classic Jazz festival

Helen Daley The purpose of the Arizona Classic Jazz Festival is to bring first class bands to Arizona and showcase superb Arizonian bands that play the traditional jazz and swing music made famous during the first half of the 1900’s. The music starts at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 6 and concludes on Sunday, November…