Move over Ella, here come the fellas. Kurt Elling’s Four Brothers concert, featuring himself, Mark Murphy, and Jon Hendricks as tenors, along with Kevin Mahogany singing baritone, will be the first ” ‘vocal summit’ of leading jazzmen ever.” Elling (pictured left) takes the name “Four Brothers” from a 1940s Woody Herman Orchestra tune. What’s the connection? Herman’s Orchestra was built around three tenor saxophones and a lonely baritone, a combination that was unique until now. This will also be the first time since 1962 that any such gathering of star vocalists has taken place; forty years ago Dave Brubeck brought Louis Armstrong, Carmen McRae, Jon Hendricks and other famous crooners together on his album The Real Ambassadors.
It all happens Sat., June 15 at the Park West Theatre in Chicago, but tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Sat., April 6th, at all Ticketmaster outlets and the Park West box office. Tickets cost $32.50 plus applicable service charges. The Park West Theatre is located at 322 West Armitage St. in Chicago.
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