PRESS  RELEASE:   “Stan  Kenton  Legacy  Orchestra”  set  to  perform  in  Cedar  Rapids    DATE  &  TIME:   Saturday,  April  9,  7:00  PM      LOCATION:   The  Concert  Hall  at  College  Community,  located  at  Prairie  H.S.     401  76th  Ave  SW,  Cedar  Rapids,  IA    52404    COST:   Advance  tickets:    $17  Adults  /  $8  Students     A  portion  of  the  proceeds  will  benefit  Prairie  High  School’s  Band  Program    TICKETS:   Order  in  advance  Online:    www.prairiemusic.com  (for  delivery  or  will  call)     Tickets  also  Available  at  the  Door  ($20  Adults  /  $10  Students)    CONTACT  INFO:   Deron  Jimmerson,  PHS  Associate  Band  Director  –  djimmerson@crprairie.org  -­‐  (319)  848-­‐5340  x2073    DETAILS:     Performances  by  Prairie  High  School  Jazz  I,  under  the  direction  of  Deron  Jimmerson,     and  the  STAN  KENTON  LEGACY  ORCHESTRA,  under  the  direction  of  Mike  Vax.    Made   up   of   alumni   from   the  world-­‐famous   “Stan   Kenton   Orchestra”   (1956-­‐1978),   along  with   some   of   the   finest   studio  musicians  from  the  across  the  country,  the  STAN  KENTON  LEGACY  ORCHESTRA  comes  together  regularly  to  perform  for  festivals,  clinics,  concerts,  cruises,  and  dances.    The  19-­‐piece  band  also  makes  tours  around  the  United  States  every  year,  with  many  of  its  concerts  in  schools.      While  performing  some  of  the  well-­‐known  music  of  the  famed  Stan  Kenton  Orchestra,  the  band  honors  Kenton’s  insistence  on  not  just  performing  “nostalgia  music.”    Director  Mike  Vax,  former  lead  trumpeter  and  road  manager  with  Kenton,  says,  “We   have   an   entire   library   of   fresh   new   material   written   in   the   Kenton   style,   as   well   as   original   material   written   by  members   of   the   current   band.    We   are   not   trying   to   be   the   Stan  Kenton  Orchestra,   but  we   are  working   to   carry   on   his  tradition  of  dedication  to  creative  music  and  to  jazz  education.”    With  the  blessing  of  the  Kenton  family,  the  main  goals  of  the  band  are  to  bring  jazz  music  to  young  people  around  the  country,  talk   about   the   importance   of   jazz   heritage   in   America,   and   offer  audiences  a  relaxed,  entertaining  atmosphere  with  meaningful  music.            “FRIENDS  OF  BIG  BAND  JAZZ”  is  the  support  group  for  The  Mike  Vax  Jazz  Orchestra  and  the  Stan  Kenton  Legacy  Orchestra.    This  nonprofit  corporation   sends   students   to   summer   jazz   camps   on   scholarships,  donates   funds   to   high   school  music   programs   and   youth   orchestras,  and   raises  money   for  many   good   causes   that   have   to   do  with  music  and  education.  

   Bandleader  Mike   Vax   is   a   product   of   the  Oakland,   CA,   having   graduated   from  Oakland  High  School  in  1960.    He  has  led  a  big  band  off  and  on  since  his  days  at  College  of  the  Pacific  over  45  years   ago.    A   few  of   his   credits   include  being   first   trumpet,   soloist   and   road  manager  of   the  Stan   Kenton   Orchestra;   leading   the   Dukes   of   Dixieland   in   New   Orleans;   producing   and  directing  music  for  over  50  jazz  festivals;  and  performing  workshops  for  more  than  2500  high  schools,   college  &   universities   all   over   the  world.    Mr.   Vax   is   an   International   Artist   for   the  GETZEN  COMPANY.