Jazz concerts begin soon

The Big Band & Jazz Hall of Fame Orchestra will present its third season of diverse jazz concerts at Vista’s Moonlight Amphitheatre beginning with the July 31 “Tribute to Nelson Riddle.” Considered one of the greatest arrangers in the history of American popular music, a Grammy and Oscar winner, Nelson Riddle is best known to audiences as the arranger for such music industry icons as Frank Sinatra, Nat “King” Cole and Rosemary Clooney. Guest MC and performer will be KUSI-TV’s Dave Scott, along with featured vocalists Barbara Roman and Jan Sutherland.

Original arrangements are provided courtesy of the Nelson Riddle Memorial Library at the University of Arizona School of Music and Dance, Tucson, AZ, and the Naomi Riddle estate.

Another highlight of the July 31 event will be an appearance by Oceanside High School music student Shantae Moffet, the recipient of the first annual Shel Kaplan Jazz Scholarship Award. Ms. Moffet was given the opportunity to attend a jazz music camp, made possible by donations from audiences at the Big Band & Jazz Hall of Fame’s 2005 concert dedicated to the late Kaplan, a former board member and creator of the Summer Jazz at the Moonlight jazz series.

On September 18, Dave Scott will take the stage with his own popular five-piece jazz ensemble, performing songs from their critically acclaimed CD “In a Fog” as well as classic jazz standards. Scott, known to audiences as KUSI-TV’s weekend meteorologist, is also a well-respected jazz musician, singer and songwriter and a favorite on the San Diego jazz scene.

The grand finale to Summer Jazz at the Moonlight 2006 will be a performance by Masters of Harmony on Sunday, October 1. The five-time international Chorus Champions, comprising more than 100 male a capella voices, perform a repertoire of music that includes pop classics, Broadway favorites and songs of faith and patriotism guaranteed to lift audiences out of their seats.

Single tickets for the July 31 and September 18 evening concerts range from $15 to $25; single tickets for the October 1 afternoon concert are $20 to $30. Two-dollar discounts to seniors, students and military are offered at all performances. Tickets can be purchased through the VisTix box office at 651 E. Vista Way, ordered by phone by calling (760) 724-2110 or online at http://www.vistixonline.com.

The outdoor Moonlight Amphitheatre, located at 1200 Vale Terrace in Vista’s Brengle Terrace Park, offers free parking and has ample reserved and orchestra seating as well as lawn seating where people may picnic. There is also ample room for dancing.