In 2000, while we were all paying attention to other things, a musical called Swing! ran for 461 performances on Broadway and picked up five Tony nominations. Reedley’s River Theatre Company has picked up this blast from the past and put it on stage through March 13 at the Reedley Opera House.
If you’ve ever been to Fresno’s Rogue Festival or attended Jazz @ the Library, you might be familiar with the jazzy swing sound of Fresno band Scats on the Sly.
This four-member band of cool cats, comprised of vocalist Mallory Moad, bassist Martin Hansen, guitarist Mike Newton and violinist Sue Beevers, has been making music together for almost eight years.
When I was a kid I fell in love Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire thanks to the old movies they played on Channel 26. From there I discovered a local radio station that played their music, and that of many others like Nat King Cole, Rosemary Clooney and Tony Bennett. Old big band, swing and jazz music has been close to my heart ever since and takes my heart places no other music can.
