The Firecracker Jazz Band take the Summer Tracks’ stage for the sixth concert of the season at Rogers Park in Tryon on Sept. 2nd at 7 p.m.
The Firecracker Jazz Band (www.firecrackerjazz.com) revitalizes the energy of the roots of Jazz. With sounds of Dixieland and New Orleans, they pay homage to greats such as Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong and Bix Beiderbeck. People of all ages respond to the upbeat styles of Firecracker, featuring stride piano, trumpet, tuba, trombone, guitar, banjo and drums.
The six band members are Je Widenhouse (trumpet and cornet), Earl Sachais (trombone), Andrew Fletcher (piano), Hank Bones (guitar, banjo), Russ Wilson (drums) and Rick Neiman (tuba). Widenhouse did time in the 90’s with the Squirrel Nut Zippers. Sachais has performed with the Tommy Dorsey Band and has backed Barbara Streisand and Sammy Davis Jr. Bones has played for The Platters and Bill Haley’s Comets. Wilson drives the band’s energy in the style of Gene Krupa. Neiman has performed with The Guy Lombardo Band and The Henry Mancini Orchestra.
Together The Firecracker Jazz Band makes magic happen on stage with a rhythmic element that is joyous, jubilant and happy.
As an added note, due to rain on Aug. 12, the Gigi Dover & The Big Love and Bob Sinclair to perform on Sept. 16 has been rescheduled.
As with all Summer Tracks concerts, both these performances begin at 7 p.m. Giardini’s wood fired pizzas, Cinn-ful Nuts’ desserts, water and soft drinks will be for sale.
Summer Tracks series of six concerts offers a mix of musical styles. Concerts run from 7 – 10 p.m. Scheduled to perform for the next two shows are:
Sept. 2: The Firecracker Jazz Band (music from 1890-1940)
Sept. 16: Gigi Dover & The Big Love (Americana), Bob Sinclair trio (new standards)
Summer Tracks is produced by the Town of Tryon in affiliation with Peter Eisenbrown of Blockparty Productions. Rogers Park is in downtown Tryon on Howard St. with plenty of nearby parking. Folding chairs and coolers are allowed, but no pets please. The popular and well-attended series attract people from all over the region.
For more information about Summer Tracks and the performers, contact Polk County Travel and Tourism at 800-440-7848 or 828-894-2324 and visit www.firstpeaknc.com or the Tryon events website www.tryonevents.org.
– article submitted by Peter Eisenbrown