Iconic trumpeter and legendary Tonight Show bandleader, Doc Severinsen will return to Rochester Wednesday, April 17 performing with the new, Sonic Era Jazz Orchestra, conducted by Jeff Tyzik. The concert, produced by Sonic Era and Jazz90.1 WGMC-FM will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Greece Central Performing Arts Center. It is presented by Simcona Electronics Corporation

Tickets

Tickets are $24.25, $34.25, $44.25, $54.25 and $64.25 plus service charges and go on sale Thursday February 28 at 10 a.m. Buy online at SonicEra.com, Call (866) 967-8167. 

Proceeds of the concert benefit Jazz90.1 – a non-profit public jazz radio station in Rochester.

The 1483-seat Greece Central Performing Arts Center is located at 800 Long Pond Road at Greece Athena Middle and High School. Parking is free. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Will Call is located at the Art Center’s Box Office. The concert is two hours with a 20-minute intermission. 
 
Doc Severinsen last performed in Rochester with Jeff Tyzik in 2016. Now in his 91st year, Severinsen remains one of the greatest trumpeters and musicians of his time, respected in the worlds of classical music, jazz, big band, and now even world music.

The concert will celebrate the long-standing collaboration of Severinsen and Tyzik, one of America’s most innovative and sought after pops conductors, who has orchestrated many of the great band leader’s symphony orchestra programs and produced the GRAMMY Award winning album, The Tonight Show Band with Doc Severinsen, Vol. 1. Tyzik’s subsequent recordings with Severinsen garnered three more GRAMMY nominations.

“I’m extremely excited to present Doc Severinsen in conjunction with Jazz90.1 WGMC,” said Stabnau, producer and founder of Sonic Era. “Having grown up hearing his music it’s been a dream of mine to bring him to Rochester to perform with the big band sound, for which he is known. He is a jazz legend and an incredible entertainer.”

“Jazz90.1 is honored to be a part of such an amazing concert, and we are grateful to be able to present Doc Severinsen and this wonderful orchestra to Rochester music fans,” said Jazz90.1 Station Manager Rob Linton. “As Jazz90.1 celebrates our 45th anniversary this year, we remain committed to presenting amazing live jazz to our listeners and members. To have a legend like Mr. Severinsen perform is truly a dream come true for us.”

Debut of the New Sonic Era Jazz Orchestra

The concert also marks the debut of the new, 16-member Sonic Era Jazz Orchestra, which was founded by Stabnau, and will feature all-star jazz musicians from the Western New York region.

“The Sonic Era Jazz Orchestra is something that I have envisioned for a long time – a professional jazz big band in Rochester with the best players living in or from the region,” said Stabnau. “Just as Rochester has a professional orchestra it’s equally important that jazz and improvised music have a group that represents the same standards of artistic integrity and accomplishment. The Sonic Era Jazz Orchestra is that group!”

The Sonic Era Jazz Orchestra includes:

• Bobby Militello, sax and flute, who played with Doc for four years with the Tonight Show Road Band
• John Nugent, tenor sax, Artistic Director and Co-Producer of the CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival
• Erik Stabnau, tenor sax, lead tenor and assistant road manager with the Glen Miller Orchestra (they are on break that week from tour)
• Karl Stabnau, baritone sax, founder of Sonic Era and Sonic Era Jazz Orchestra, Eastman School graduate
• Herb Smith, trumpeter with the RPO, Broadway shows, and his own jazz groups; Director of Jazz Bands at Rochester Institute of Technology
• Charlie Carr, trumpet, Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) graduate, Eastman School of Music
• Mike Cottone, trumpet, Graduate of the Eastman School of Music and Juilliard, tours with Postmodern Jukebox and the Eagles
• Brendan Lanighan, trombone, Bachelor of Music graduate, Eastman School of Music, former trombonist with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, currently studying at The Juilliard School
• Nelson Campbell, trombone, Studying Jazz trombone at Brigham Young UniversityJeff Campbell, bass, Director of Jazz Studies at Eastman School of Music
• Rich Thompson, drums, tours with Doc and Byron Stripling Quartet, Associate professor of drums at Eastman School
  And others!