PlacesA preview of Performing Arts at

Johnson County Community Collegewww.jccc.edu/TheSeries

LeAnn Rimes

DRUMLine LIVE

beatlegras

JIGU! Thunder Drums of China®

LeAnn Rimes

Naturally 7

If You Give a Cat a Cupcake

Christmas Bells Are Swingin’

November/December 2010

DRUMLine Live is not your Big 12 halftime show. Put together a drummajor, five dancers and 33 wind and percussion players assembled fromHistorically Black Colleges and Universities across the Southeast, andsuddenly halftime becomes the reason to pack the auditorium. Createdby the team behind the hit movie Drumline, DRUMLine Live brings thestyle and energy of the HBCU marching band tradition to Yardley Hall at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5.

With riveting rhythms, bold beats and ear-grabbing energy, DRUMLine Liveis a synchronized musical showcase. Incorporating original compositionsand soul-infused interpretations of Top 40 hits, group performances rangefrom colorful, choreographed routines to heavy doses of drum riffs and cadences.

DRUMLine Live is doing for “band heads” what television’s Glee is doingfor “choral geeks.” Musically talented as well as physically athletic, these high-stepping players are at last receiving the attention they deserve.

Their music is intense and emotional, founded in traditional brass and percussion compositions mixed with R&B, Motown, swing, hip-hop andeven gospel music. The two-act program reflects those styles.

HBCU was established after the Civil War, but some institutions dateback to 1837. Their primary purpose was to educate freed slaves. The

first great expansion in black higher education came after the war duringthe period of Reconstruction.

It was in these bastions of higher education that the tradition of the show-style marching band was born. The tradition began more than 60years ago at Florida A&M University, which has been long considered thenation’s preeminent black college marching band school. HBCU marchingbands began, as most do, as support for the college football team. Theyhave since grown into a sport of their own, featuring characteristic highstepping, funky dance rhythms and exciting musical repertoire. Celebrationsof HBCU marching culminate in competitions such as the Big SouthernClassic and Bayou Classic. These competitions, which draw audiences ofroughly 60,000 fans each, are a testament to the popularity of the sport.But it is only recently, with films such as Drumline, that this tradition hasbegun to capture the imagination of the American public.

Don P. Roberts, musical director of DRUMLine Live, continues to serve as instrumental music coordinator for the Dekalb County School System andchief consultant of the Metro Atlanta Battle of the Bands. Roberts has ledbands to perform at major events such at the Centennial Olympic Gamesand Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Tickets $36, $46

DRUMLine Live brings marching band to stage

The band beatlegras was born when Dave Walser, George Anderson andMilo Deering completed a successful studio project playing Beatlessongs with bluegrass arrangements in 2004. Luckily for audiences, thethree world-class musicians have moved from the studio to live stage,performing at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, in Polsky Theatre.

Imagine the music of the Fab Four shaken up with infusions of bluegrassand jazz and topped off with a classical twist. The result: a satisfying musicalcocktail called beatlegras.

“This isn’t your same old Beatles band,” says Walser, founder of the innovative group.

A fan of the classic quartet since he first saw them on the Ed Sullivan Show,Walser was inspired to create beatlegras after seeing McCartney’s Back inthe U.S. tour in 2002.

“I thought it would be fun to get some great musicians together and playall acoustic versions of Beatles songs. Hooking up with George and Milowas the best thing that could happen. Each of us adds a little somethingdifferent to the mix,” Walser said.

A longtime Dallas musician, Walser owns and operates Blue Moon Recording and Post, where most of the beatlegras CDs were recorded.

Anderson has been playing classical upright bass since junior high, which

he now plays occasionally for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. He has alsoplayed with such notables as Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald and Woody Hermanto name a few. His jazz album Faces was listed for a Grammy Award in thespring of 2003, and he is much in demand for his smooth jazz and R&Bsound.

Walser says “When I first asked George to be in beatlegras, he said he didn’t really know anything about playing bluegrass on the bass. I said,‘Great! You’ll be perfect!’”

Deering is a virtuoso player of stringed instruments, including the mandolin,fiddle, guitar and dobro. He is in constant demand as a session player and also as a composer, recently recording with Don Henley. Milo hastoured and recorded with LeAnn Rimes (four platinum records) and otherwell-known artists. You’ve probably heard his fiddle playing on the infamousMotel 6 theme song ("We’ll leave the light on for you"), which he also co-wrote. He even graced the silver screen in a cameo in Hope Floats, amovie with Sandra Bullock.

“One of the best things to me about the Beatles,” says Deering, “is thatthey weren’t afraid to think outside of the box. Neither are we.”

With 50 songs in its repertoire, beatlegras is working on its fourth album.

Tickets $25

Band adds bluegrass twist to Beatle classics

beatlegras

Hailing from the Shanxi Province in China, JIGU! Thunder Drums ofChina® brings the culmination of thousands of years of Chinese musicaltradition to modern audiences at 8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 12, in Yardley Hall.

JIGU! (pronounced jee Goo) means to “beat or touch the drums” and theperformers in this troupe do just that plus singing, dancing and performingon other Chinese wind and percussion instruments. More than a drum concert, each choreographed piece tells a story and immerses the audiencein Chinese cultures.

“JIGU! is much more than a wild percussion concert. Like Riverdance orBelly Dance Superstars, the show presents a tradition that’s foreign to mostwho are not Chinese.” — Kalamazoo Gazette.

China has a long and rich theatrical history dating back 3,000 years to the Shang Dynasty, and good Chinese theater must show the real struggleof humans to succeed and survive as well as display the trials and joys ofliving. The fundamental belief of Chinese theatergoers is that theater shouldbe an illusion of life.

Scenes celebrate ancient battles, vignettes about mythical characters, legendary fables and elements of nature (Dogs Chasing Ducks, Sounds ofRolling Walnuts, Garden City Gathering). Colorful stage lighting and

traditional costumes underscore the two-hour performance.

The award-winning group of 28 drummers comes from 28 villages withinthe Shanxi Province (northern part of the People’s Republic of China) andrange in age from 18 to 30. Their families have passed down their skillsfrom generation to generation. One of the performance scenes portraysShanxi emperor Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty, who is still celebrated for his drum and percussion orchestra.

In China, music is written for percussion instruments, and each type ofdrum has a specific style. In Chinese opera, the bangu (single-headed framedrum) player directs the rest of the orchestra. A large gong creates a statelyand imposing atmosphere. Dramatic effects and an atmosphere of mysterycan be achieved with the addition of the tanggu (a medium-sized barreldrum) and the muyu (a woodblock or slit drum). Other popular Chinese percussion instruments are the lion drum, luo, bo, gu and bianzhong (a collection of bronze bells).

JIGU!Thunder Drums of China® is award-winning family entertainmentwith music so intense that you feel it in your soul.

Tickets $18 youth, $22

JIGU! Thunder Drums of China® ‘touches the drum,’ touches the soul

JIGU! Thunder Drums of China

Country music star LeAnn Rimes comes of ageAt age 28, LeAnn Rimes has been in the country musicbusiness 14 years. We first knew her as the prettyteenager with the incredible voice who burst on the national scene with the hit Blue. Along the way countrymusic’s sweetheart has turned a little sassy while maturing as a vocal artist, songwriter and actress.

The talented country music star will perform at 7 p.m.Sunday, Nov. 14, in Yardley Hall. Rimes’ performancewill be an all-acoustic concert, showcasing her vocalexcellence and signature tunes — How Do I Live(Without You), Can’t Fight the Moonlight and ‘Til WeAin’t Strangers Anymore (originally recorded with Jon Bon Jovi).

With a rise to fame at age 13, Rimes is the youngest person to win a Grammy (1997) since Tanya Tucker(1972). Since her Blue debut, she has continued a successful career as a singer with multiple awards (two Grammys, three Academy of Country Music, one American Music, one Country Music and 12 BillboardMusic awards) and as an actress (Coyote Ugly andNorthern Lights).

Rimes has placed more than 40 singles on American and international charts. Through the years, her styles haveranged from country to inspirational tunes to countrypop and back to country. Fans welcomed the debut ofher newest single, John Anderson’s 1983 Swingin’, at the2010 Country Music Television music awards in June.Swingin’ is the cover song for Lady and Gentleman, thecountry artist’s 11th album consisting of Rimes’ favoriteclassic country love songs, all originally recorded by men(scheduled for release in October as of this writing).

News about Rimes’ career and life is widespread on aCMT blog, Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, iLike and her official website. Rimes, however, says she doesn’t readthe tabloids.

Tickets $40, $50 $100 (orchestra pit, which is almost sold out)

The Omaha Theater Company brings to life Laura Numeroff’s belovedchildren’s book, If You Give a Cat a Cupcake, at 9:45 a.m. and noonTuesday, Nov. 16 in Yardley Hall.

Based on Numeroff’s If You Give a … book series, this production addsmusic to the antics of Cat, his human friend Laura and the full circle of“misadventures” leading back to cupcake sprinkles.

The Omaha Theater Company is the third largest professional children’stheater in the nation, with its programs reaching more than 700,000 people each year in Omaha and on national tour. The Omaha Theater Company’s National Tour is one of the largest in the country, with productions touring to more than 65 venues in 25 states each year.

Tickets $5

With their rich harmonies, an unbelievable ability to replicate instruments and a stage presence that can be felt in every seat of the house, Naturally 7, an award-winning septet with a distinct a cappella style, will amaze and charm fans at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, in Yardley Hall.

Kansas City audiences are already familiar with the group as it brought thehouse down and onto their feet as the warm-up act for Michael Bublé atthe Sprint Center in June.

Today Naturally 7 are Roger Thomas (musical director, arranger, first baritone, rap), Warren Thomas (percussion, guitar, clarinet, third tenor), Rod Eldridge (first tenor, scratching, trumpet), Jamal Reed (fourth tenor,electric guitar), Dwight Stewart (second baritone), Garfield Buckley (secondtenor, harmonica) and “Hops” Hutton (bass). Their seven-part harmoniesartfully blend gospel, jazz, R&B, hip-hop and even classical vocal genres(like Motown).

The origins of the group date back to New York City in 1999 when Roger Thomas started the group with his brother, Warren, and five other talented singers. Having been in and out of several traditional male groupsover the years, Roger developed an affinity for a cappella sounds and aunique ability to create distinct harmony arrangements. When invited tosing at a major a cappella competition in New York, they won and movedon to the nationals.

Riding the wave of this newfound success and still unable to decide if Naturally 7 was going to be an a cappella group or a traditional band,Roger had a novel idea: they could be both.

He remembered as a child, his brother Warren always wanted a drum set,but their mother told him “no” because it was too noisy. So Warren learnedto make drum sounds, with different ways of making the kick, toms, snare,cymbals and other drum sounds, to compensate for not having real drumsto play. Roger approached Warren with the idea from their childhood, andasked if he could become the band’s drummer, so to speak, to accompanyNaturally 7 on up-tempo songs.

The idea evolved, and the other band members found unique aspects oftheir own voices to determine which member would be which instrument,giving birth to the term “vocal play.”

What makes Naturally 7 unique is that every instrument sound is createdfrom the human voice. There are no actual drums, guitars, horns or flutes.Rather instrument sounds are created by the band members’ vocals.

The band has recorded five albums – Non Fiction (2000), the aptly titledWhat Is It (2003), Christmas … It’s a Love Story (2004), Ready II Fly (2006)and VocalPlay (2010), featuring duets with Grammy Award-winner MichaelBublé (Relax Max) and German Superstar Xavier Naidoo (Wild vor Wut).

March 2010 saw them join as special guests with Bublé on his Crazy Loveworld tour.

The phenomenal talent of these unique young men makes them one of the Naturally 7 wonders of the world.

Join members of Naturally 7 for a master class on Friday afternoon. For information, call 913-469-8500, ext. 4221.

Tickets $30, $40

PAS serves ‘Cupcake’ story with music and sprinkles

Naturally 7 is new vocal wonder

Naturally 7

November 2010Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

December 2010Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

For best seats, order early. Call 913-469-4445or buy tickets online www.jccc.edu/TheSeries for tickets andinformation. Service fee applicable.

Purchase live online

Box Office: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday • Call 913-469-4445 • Tickets are required for most events in Polsky Theatre and Yardley Hall. Programs, dates and times are subject to change. Discounts are available for music, theater and dance students.

PAS Administrative Office: Open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday • Call 913-469-4450 • A request for interpretative servicesmust be made 72 hours before a performance. Call the ox office at 913-469-4445 or TDD/TTY 913-469-4485. Persons with disabilities who desire additional support services may contact services for patrons with disabilities, 913-469-8500, ext. 3521,or TDD/TTY 913-469-3885.

*free-admission event

*Sarah Tannehill, soprano

Ruel Joyce Recital Hallnoon Recital Hall

*Megan Birdsall QuartetJazz Series

noon Recital Hall

*Chamber Choir and MadRegalia

7:30 p.m. Polsky Theatre

Christmas Bells Are Swingin’!

8 p.m. Yardley Hall$30, $40B&G $5 off

*KU Vespers on the Road

7:30 p.m. Yardley Hallreserve tickets at

box office

American Youth BalletThe Nutcracker2 and 7 p.m., Yardley Hall

$18, $15 students and seniors

*JCCC Jazz Nights7:30 p.m.

Polsky Theatre

*Johnson County Chorus

3 p.m. Yardley Hall

*Johnson County Chorus

3 p.m. Yardley Hall

DRUMLine LIVE8 p.m. Yardley Hall

$36, $46

beatlegras8 p.m. Polsky Theatre

$25

*Jeffrey Brown, piano

Ruel Joyce Recital Series

noon Recital Hall

JIGU! Thunder Drumsof China ®

8 p.m. Yardley Hall$18 youth, $22

India NiteIndia Association of

Kansas City4 p.m. Yardley Hall

$12 (age 4 and above)

Naturally 78 p.m. Yardley Hall

$30, $40

*GodspellJCCC music and theatre department, 7:30 p.m. Polsky Theatre

LeAnn Rimes7 p.m. Yardley Hall$40, $50, $100

*GodspellJCCC music and

theatre department2 p.m. Polsky Theatre

If You Give a Cat a Cupcake

9:45 a.m., noon Yardley Hall, $5

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*GodspellJCCC music and theatre department

7:30 p.m., Polsky Theatre

JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

12345 COLLEGE BLVD

OVERLAND PARK KS 66210-1299

NONPROFIT ORG

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

Johnson County

Community College

www.jccc.edu/TheSeries

Kenton’s tunes are a gift to jazz fansMerry Christmas, jazz fans. The Boston Brass and Brass All-Star Big Bandare here to provide a welcome holiday concert with selections arrangedby jazz legend Stan Kenton in Christmas Bells Are Swingin’ at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3, in Yardley Hall. Artists Insights, presented by Bill Everett,musicologist, University of Missouri-Kansas City, begin at 7 p.m. Sponsored in part by the JCCC Brown & Gold Club.

For this holiday show, the five-member Boston Brass teams ups with nineall-star brass players from around the globe to perform as the Boston Brassand the Brass All-Star Big Band. The ensemble of all brass (trumpets, French horns, trombones and tubas with jazz rhythm section) features thesignature big-band arrangements of Kenton classics, both secular and sacred, like White Christmas, Greensleeves, a Motown Jingle Bells and GodRest Ye Merry Gentlemen in a setting that will delight audiences of all ages.

One of the busiest brass bands around, Boston Brass will be 25 years old in 2011. The ensemble’s lively sense of humor engages the audience in afriendly atmosphere.

The Boston Brass is today composed of Jose Sibaja, trumpet; Jeff Conner,trumpet; Chris Castellanos, French horn; Lance LaDuke, trombone/

euphonium; and Andrew Hitz, tuba. The Boston Brass has been featured on The CBS Early Show, and National Public Radio’s Performance Todayand has recorded diverse albums from Latin Nights to classical music inWithin Earshot.

Famed tubist and producer Samuel J. Pilafian conducts not only the magnificent virtuosos of the Boston Brass but additional players fromaround the world such as Jens Lindemann, Jeff Nelsen, Chris Cooper (formerly of Canadian Brass), Scott Hartman (formerly of Empire Brass),Scott Thornberg and Mark Frost (from the Brass Band of Battle Creek), Dan Hostetler (formerly of Dallas Brass), and many more to complete theBrass All-Star Big Band.

Kansans have a special kinship to Kenton (1911-1979), a Wichita native, pianist, composer, arranger and American jazz bandleader. While Kenton experimented widely as a band and orchestra leader, he remains famous for his “progressive jazz” and swing periods. His legacy, the Kenton style, permeates big-band education today, and his music had enjoyed resurgence in recent years.

Tickets $30, $40 (B&G $5 off)