HOW TO GO
Who: John Tesh Big Band
Where: Fraze Pavilion, 695 Lincoln Park Blvd., Kettering
When: 8 p.m. Friday, July 27
Cost: $25 lawn/terrace, $35 side orchestra (sections A&D), $40 center orchestra (sections B&C), $50 plaza
More concert info: (937) 296-3300 or www.fraze.com
Artist info: www.teshmusic.com
UPCOMING AT FRAZE
Also at Fraze Pavilion this week:
Wednesday, July 25: Good Time Gospel Night with The Hoskins Family and The Penny Loafers, 7 p.m., free.
Saturday, July 28: Swamp Romp 2012 with Mo' Mojo, Malkum Gibson & the Mighty Juke, Lil Malcolm & the Zydeco House Rockers and Lil Brian & the Travelers; starts at 1 p.m. and runs into the night; free.
For more information about Fraze shows, call (937) 296-3300 or go online to www.fraze.com.
The songs of the big band-era are timeless, and John Tesh knows it. People, regardless of age, are still enamored by classics such as “Summer Wind,” “World on a String” and “In the Mood.”
Unfortunately, it has become cost-prohibitive for most band leaders to hit the road and pay musicians a living wage to recreate these songs on stage. That’s why audiences tend to eat it up when someone comes along with the financial ability and skill to take these classic tunes on tour like Tesh, who performs with his big band at Fraze Pavilion in Kettering on Friday.
Tesh is best known for his long-running stint hosting “Entertainment Tonight” on television, but years after he left that gig, his music career thrives.
Tesh, whose latest album features a variety of songs popularized by Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Duke Ellington and other legends, recently submitted to a brief Q&A.
Q Why do you think this music is so enduring all these years later?
A “You’ve got the swing element, which is fun to dance to, the lyrics are romantic and cute, and the melodies are so easy to sing along to. Then the people who are really serious musicians are like, ‘Wow, this is totally cool. It’s like listening to Yes or Emerson, Lake & Palmer.’ It’s that multi-part thing that works so well.”
Q What’s been most surprising about taking the big band to the people?
A “It’s freaky how many generations know the lyrics to these songs. I’m so used to just playing my own stuff, and we do play a fair amount of originals, but you look out at the audience and everybody knows the words.”
Q Why do you think that is?
A “All the way through the generations you’ve had people playing this music. It was Count Basie for people from the World War II-era like my mom and dad, Frank Sinatra and Harry Connick Jr. for the baby boomers like me and Michael Buble for my daughter. Who knows how much further down it’s going to go.”
Q The big-band album is still new, but do you see yourself exploring this again?
A “I’d love to hold onto this. It fits so nicely into my life. It’s in my wheelhouse. Sometimes you get into your comfort zone and need to challenge yourself. That’s how I felt when I was on ‘Entertainment Tonight.’ I loved doing that show, but because of the way I grew up I always get this thing where I need to do something to prove myself worthy of taking up space on this earth. That’s what it is with big-band music. It’s hard for me.”
About the Author