"Boogie Blues - A Tribute to Anita O´Day" concert tour is dedicated to the great lady of jazz, Anita O'Day (1919-2006). The concert tour memorises and respects her genuine vocal style, charisma and astonishing rhythmic and improvisational skills.
I initiated this big band project already in April 2006 I wanted to create something inspiring in the swing style and with the big bands. Therefore I was so happy when composer, trumpet player Mika Myllari took the challenge and promised to write me brand new arrangement material on twelve selected tunes that Anita made famous with her genuine interpretation. The program consists of tunes from the 40's and the 50's the period when Anita was very active with recording and touring.
The concert program has been very well received during 2007-2010 and I have had the pleasure of performing the ultimately swinging material with the following fine sounding big bands with their excellent conductors :
Lappeenranta Big Band/Ismo Varis * The Great Helsinki Swing Big Band/Mika Mylläri * Lohja Big Band/Eugen Stenman * Kotka Big Band/Ari Ismälä * Opera Big Band/Mika Mylläri * Nokia Big Band/Petri Juutilainen * Grani Big Band/Jan Takolander * Oulu All Stars Big Band/Tapio Maunuvaara * Ilmavoimien Big Band/Tomi Väisänen
The next concerts in 2010:
Otava Happy Jazz Festival, August 7, together with Opera Big Band led by Mika Mylläri
Kokkola - together with Kokkola Conservatorium Big Band led by Pekka Annanperä
Please see more on
Anita O'Day
Mika Myllari
