Feb
19

“East Coast Meets West Coast” with Dave Banks Big Band ft. Jimmy Mulidore The Rubber City's own wildly popular & hard-swingin' big band brings the flavors of the New York City & Los Angeles jazz scenes to Akron, featuring legendary Las Vegas saxophonist and renowned bandleader, Jimmy Mulidore!
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Friday, February 19


Trumpeter & bandleader David Banks has returned to the Northeast Ohio area after a twenty-year career in Las Vegas, Nevada. He performed in over 4,000 shows there including numerous top production shows – including six years with the “City Lights” Show at the Flamingo Hilton and the “Moulin Rouge” at the Las Vegas Hilton.
 
He worked with virtually every major entertainer in show business on the famous Las Vegas Strip and also was a member of the renowned Lou Elias Relief Orchestra. He also found time to perform with the Nevada Symphony Orchestra, The Las Vegas Philharmonic, and the Nevada Chamber Orchestra.
 
It was in Las Vegas where Banks linked up with legendary West Coast saxophonist & renowned bandleader, Jimmy Mulidore, whose resume includes performances with Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, & Louis Armstrong. Moving to Las Vegas in 1957 provided Mulidore the opportunity to work with some of the biggest stars in the business. He began working at the renown Sands Hotel and Casino with the Rat Pack – Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, and Dean Martin. By 1969, Jimmy was musical director at the Las Vegas Hilton, a position he held for eighteen years (and where he also shared the bandstand with trumpeter Dave Banks).
 
Join us at BLU for this very swingin’ show that is sure to bring the East Coast & West Coast jazz sounds together for a dynamic sound all its own! Get your tickets early (as they sell quickly) and enjoy the music of Thad Jones, Duke Ellington, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Tom Kubis, Bill Holman, Bob Florence, Michael Abene and many more!
 
Featuring Don Turoso, Tom Reed, Bob Esterle, Dave Kana, Dick Willis (saxes), John English, Erik Gimbel, Chris DeMarco (trumpets), Phil Brice, Chas Baker, Pete Cumming, Scott Garlock (trombones), Jeremey Poparad (guitar), Alex Hoyt (piano), Aidan Plank (bass), and Jim Rupp (drums).
 


 

About Jimmy Mulidore

Born in Youngstown, Ohio, Jimmy took up the saxophone at the age of ten. Shortly thereafter, he added the classical clarinet, studying with one of the best teachers around, Albert Calderone. He spent his high school years frequenting the Cleveland jazz clubs soaking up the influences of such greats as James Moody, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins and Clifford Brown. When he was old enough, his summers were spent on tour with Billy May, Hal McIntyre and Ralph Marterie. At Ohio State University, he was chosen solo clarinetist for their orchestra.
 
Impatient with his progress at Ohio State, Jimmy took off for New York’s Julliard School of Music where he studied theory and composition with Hall Overton. While studying, he often sat in with Phil Wood’s group at the Pink Elephant. In the late fif ties, Jimmy and bassist Scotty La Faro began a trip to Los Angeles that included a stop in Las Vegas. It proved to be a turning point in Jimmy’s life —he stayed on in Vegas while Scotty went on to L.A.
 
Jimmy’s career blossomed in his new home. He worked with the Red Norvo Quintet; Carl Fontana’s group; a band that included Sweets Edison, Leroy Vinegar and Jackie Wilson; and with Georgie Auld. He also lent his talents to some very special recordings — Louie Bellson “Live At The Thunderbird,” Red Rodney’s “Super Bop,” albums by Sinatra, Streisand and Nat King Cole and, the one of which he’s most proud, a flute solo on Elvis Presley’s “American Trilogy.”
 
Jimmy met Presley through Joe Guercio, then the Las Vegas Hilton’s musical director. When Guercio left the Hilton, Jimmy was chosen to succeed him as musical director for both the Hilton and Flamingo Hotels. Through those years of conducting for such stars as Louis Armstrong, Ann Margaret, Gladys Knight, Liberace, Barbara Streisand, Natalie Cole, Raquel Welch, Pearl Bailey, & Olivia Newton-John. Jimmy kept in touch with his old friend Phil Woods. In 1974 and ‘75, when Woods was based in L.A., Jimmy commuted regularly from Las Vegas to study with him.
 
So, while his first love is still the sax (alto and soprano), Jimmy’s impeccable style comes through just as lovingly on the English horn, flute, clarinet and bassoon. His rainbow of talents is excitingly displayed on this first solo album.
 

$20

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BLU Jazz+

47 E. Market Street

Akron, OH 44308

(330) 252-1190


Open Tuesday & Thursday-Saturday, 7pm - 11:30pm

 
 
BLU Jazz+ named one of the "Best International Jazz Venues" by DownBeat Magazine
   
 
Committed to the preservation of America's treasured art form of jazz, BLU Jazz+ Masterclass Foundation (BJMF) is a new program developed by the founders of BLU Jazz+ Akron that brings “front-row” jazz education performance & mentorship opportunities to student musicians and art lovers alike through an ongoing series of special events throughout the year.
   
 

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