TSO Debuts Summer Concert Jazz Series

The Traverse Symphony Orchestra will debut a new summer jazz concert series this year, playing three outdoor events at new venue the Botanic Garden at the Historic Barns Park.

The series will kick off Thursday, June 16 at 7:30pm with a show called "Saluting the Jazz Greats" featuring the music of Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Les Brown, Cab Calloway, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Gene Krupa, Thelonious Monk, Jelly Roll Morton, Charlie Parker, and Buddy Rich, among others. A second concert will be held on Sunday, July 3 at 7:30pm called "A Swinging July 3rd" in tribute to Independence Day, featuring patriotic music and Jeffery Cobb’s Canticum Novum, the Traverse Symphone Jazz Orchestra solo singers, and dancers from the TC Dance Project. The third and final concert, called "Between Broadway and Hollywood," will take place Thursday, August 4 at 7:30pm and feature a wide variety of songs made famous on the stage and screen. Maestro Kevin Rhodes will conduct all three performances.

All shows will offer both reserved and general admission seating, with the GA area including bring-your-own-seating and lower ticket prices of $29. Children 12 and under will receive free general admission tickets, with family-friendly activities offered before the show by Kindermusik and seedlings handed out by SEEDS. Moomers ice cream will be sold, included a special custom flavor called "TSO Moosic Medley," a chocolate ice cream with caramel swirl, chocolate covered pretzel pieces, and mini marshmallows. Pedestrians and cyclists are invited to use the Buffalo Ridge TART Trail to access the concerts, with Norte offering a bike corral.

Event details and tickets for the series are available online or by calling the TSO box office at 231-947-7120 betweem 10am and 3pm Monday-Friday.