JAZZ GOES WILD FOR MORE GOOD TIMES AT ST. PHILIP'S PLAZA

JAZZ GOES WILD FOR MORE GOOD TIMES AT ST. PHILIP’S PLAZA

WOW….anybody that missed last Sunday’s kick-off concert for the fall season of “Jazz Under The Stars” produced by Pete Swan for the Tucson Jazz Society at St. Philip’s Plaza missed a momentous debut. Sergio Mendoza y la Orkesta is an 11-piece ensemble with an absolutely screaming horn section. Pumping rock ’n’ roll energy into Latin rhythms, this orkesta is hot, Hot, HOT!

Start your personal campaign right now to get Mendoza’s band back up on that bandstand for another round of pure dancing fun.

At the same time plan on even more good times at St. Philip’s Plaza this Sunday, Sept. 20, when the bright-eyed and smiling Original Wildcat Jass Band will be jumping with Rob Wright’s banjo rave-ups helping propel good-time horn solos by trumpeter Jason Carder, reed man Kelland Thomas and trombonist Rob Boone. This sextet is dedicated to playing jazz that’s fun to listen to, dance to and feel nostalgic about.

One thing we know for sure whenever the OWJB begins to blow, with tuba meister Kelly Thomas and pianist/drummer Ray Templin swinging the beat, everybody starts to smile. Just look around the plaza…and get ready for lots of foot-tapping, too.

Tickets are $20 general admission, $15 TJS members, $10 students and military. The music starts at 7 p.m. in St. Philip’s Plaza, North Campbell Avenue at East River Road. For details and tickets,

The series will take a break Sept. 27 as TJS co-sponsors the Downtown Tucson Latin Jazz Festival Sept. 23-26.

Then Jazz Under The Stars continues with:

Oct. 4 – Kristin Korb, nationally known singer and bassist; opening are jazz harpist Christine Vivona with keyboards/trombonist Rob Boone

Oct. 18 – Super Jam, a tribute to Steve Emerine