Two free jazz concerts will be performed April 26 and 27 in Port Angeles and Chimacum by The Commanders Jazz Ensemble, an 18-piece big band that is part of the U.S. Air Force Band of the Golden West.
Based at Travis Air Force Base in California, the jazz ensemble is considered to be one of the finest of its kind on the West Coast.
Its program — “100 Years of American Music”‘ — will include the big band sound of the ’40s and today’s hard-pounding jazz styles.
The two free concerts:
* Wednesday, April 26 — Port Angeles High School auditorium, 304 E. Park Ave., 7 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.
No tickets are required. Seating is first-come, first-served. Doors open at 6 p.m.
The Jazz in the Olympics Youth Jazz Band will perform from 7 p.m. to 7:20 p.m. prior to the ensemble’s concert beginning at 7:30 p.m.
* Thursday, April 27 — Chimacum High School auditorium, 91 West Valley Road, beginning at 7 p.m.
This performance will include Chimacum High’s jazz band.
Tickets are required for a guaranteed seat.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Ticket holders must be seated by 6:45 p.m.; non-ticket holders will seated at 6:50 p.m. if seats are still available.
Tickets are available four Jefferson County locations — the Port Townsend Leader, 226 Adams St., Port Townsend; Quimper Sound, 901 Water St., Port Townsend; Ferino’s Pizza, 846 Nesses Corner Road, Port Hadlock; Java Port, 67 Oak Bay Road, Port Hadlock.
The two performances are a prelude to the annual Jazz in the Olympics festival featuring 12 bands at four venues in Port Angeles on April 28-30.
Jazz in the Olympics brochures are available at many local merchants and at PDN offices.
For more information, contact the festival’s organizer, Gary Sorenson, at 360-681-3134, or e-mail garysor@olypen.com.
