NACO, June 4-6: Dee Daniels is featured in the NAC Orchestra's Big Band Salute

Jeff Tyzik leads the amazing Dee Daniels and the National Arts Centre Orchestra in a sophisticated Big Band Salute from Thursday, June 4 to Saturday, June 6 at 8 p.m. in Southam Hall to bring the CTV Pops season to a spectacular conclusion. The concert takes a fresh look at great jazz standards of the 30s and 40s by the legendary Duke Ellington, Joplin, Gershwin and more. And you’Äôll love the silky jazz stylings of Dee Daniels whose four-octave range never fails to amaze and delight.

Dee Daniels will perform favourites such as Ellington’Äôs ’ÄúHow Long Has This Been Going On’Äù, ’ÄúDon’Äôt Get Around Much Anymore’Äù, ’ÄúI Got It Bad and That Ain’Äôt Good’Äù and ’ÄúEvery Day I Have The Blues’Äù; ’ÄúMotherless Child’Äù, and Arlen’Äôs ’ÄúStormy Weather’Äù, some of which have been arranged by conductor Jeff Tyzik. Maestro Tyzik will also lead the NAC Orchestra in a suite from Gershwin’Äôs Porgy and Bess, Ellington’Äôs ’ÄúTake the A Train’Äù and ’ÄúSatin Doll’Äù, Joplin’Äôs ’ÄúThe Entertainer’Äù and ’ÄúSunflower Slow Drag’Äù, and Morton’Äôs ’ÄúKing Porter Stomp’Äù. Drummer Dave Mancini will show off his percussion chops in a drum solo medley arranged by Tyzik.

Jeff Tyzik has earned a reputation as one of America’Äôs foremost pops conductors. A consummate musician, Tyzik is recognized for his brilliant arrangements, original programming, and engaging rapport with audiences. He is in his fifteenth season as Principal Pops Conductor of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and this season began a new role as Principal Pops Conductor of the Oregon Symphony while continuing to serve as Principal Pops Conductor of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Tyzik is also highly sought after as a guest conductor across North America, with recent guest appearances including the Boston Pops and the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. He made his NAC Orchestra debut in May 2007 leading Sultry Nights with Eartha Kitt.

Dee Daniels is a crowd pleaser and a musician’Äôs musician. Whether accompanying herself at the piano, fronting a trio, big band or symphony, she is a unique talent who transcends musical borders. Her style was born in her stepfather’Äôs church choir in Oakland, California, honed through the R&B era and brought to full fruition during a five-year stay in Europe from 1982 to 1987. Dee Daniels’Äô international career includes performances in eleven African countries, Australia, Colombia, Hong Kong and Japan, as well as in North America and Europe. She has been inducted into the British Columbia Entertainment Hall of Fame, and has received the prestigious Commemorative Medal for the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. On June 9, she will receive an Honorary Doctorate from Capilano University in North Vancouver where she is a respected vocal clinician and mentor and where she created the Dee Daniels Jazz Vocal Scholarship. Her JAZZINIT CD was in the Top Ten CDs of 2007 on several Canadian and American polls.

Tickets for the NAC Orchestra’Äôs ’ÄúBig Band Salute’Äù from June 4 to 6 in Southam Hall are on sale now at $29, $39, $49, $59, $69 and $86 (GST and Facility Fee included) at the NAC Box Office (Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.), and through Ticketmaster (with surcharges) at 613-755-1111. Ticketmaster may also be accessed through the NAC’Äôs web-site at http://www.nac-cna.ca/.

Half-price tickets for students in all sections of the hall are on sale in person at the NAC Box Office upon presentation of a valid student ID card. Live Rush tickets (subject to availability) for full-time students (aged 13 to 29) are $11 at the NAC Box Office from 2 p.m. the day before the concert to 6 p.m. the day of, upon presentation of a valid Live Rush card.

Groups of 10 and more save 15% to 20% off the regular price of tickets to NAC Music, Theatre and Dance performances. To reserve your seats call 613-947-7000 ext. 384 or email grp@nac-cna.ca.