Tribute to Ray Charles and The Raelettes, with Dee Alexander, Joan Collaso, Perrian Jordan, and Tammy McCann
JEFF LINDBERG’S CJO. Tribute to Ray Charles featuring Perrian Jordan, Dee Alexander, Joan Colasso, and Tammy McCann. The Chicago Jazz Orchestra (CJO), founded in 1978 by Jeff Lindberg as the Jazz Members Big Band, was the opening band for the inaugural Chicago Jazz Festival in 1979. Called “the best big band in the country” by Clark Terry, the CJO has performed with such artists as Dizzy Gillespie, Nancy Wilson, Louie Bellson, and Herbie Hancock. For the past twenty years, the CJO has been invited to perform at the Kennedy Center Honors. Brother Ray: Perrian Jordan, a former drummer for Gene Chandler, has performed vocally with James Brown, Chubby Checker, Tony Orlando, Lou Rawls and Willie Nelson. The Raelettes: Dee Alexander was voted best singer of 2009 by Chicago Magazine. See under Dee Alexander. Joan Collaso received rave reviews at the North Sea Jazz Festival in The Netherlands. She appeared in the history-making movie, Soul Food, and recently completed her fifth CD. Tammy McCann trained as an opera singer but found her way into jazz. A powerful and versatile singer, Howard Reich has described her as a “potentially significant force in jazz.” Tammy actually performed as a Raelette with Ray Charles. Orchestra—Saxophones: John Wojciechowski; Chris Lega; Rob Haight; Hank Ford; Jerry DiMuzio. Trumpets: Danny Barber; Doug Scharf; Art Davis; Pharez Whitted. Trombones: Scott Bentall; Tom Garling; Kendall Moore; Michael Young. Piano/Organ: Ben Paterson. Bass: Dennis Carroll. Drums: George Fludas.
Website: http://www.chicagojazzorchestra.com/
