Cakewalkin' Jass Band performs at Playhouse

July 02, 2008 02:40 pm

— Cakewalkin’ Jass Band will perform at the Cumberland County Playhouse in Crossville on July 15 at 7:30 p.m. CDT. Cakewalkin’ is sponsored by Anderson’s Shuttle Service, and is expected to be a great evening of old time standards that will get your toes tappin’ and your dance shoes twitchin’.
The Cakewalkin’ Jass Band was organized in 1967, and now includes banjo, string bass, piano, cornet, clarinet, drums, trombone, and vocalist. Members include Ray Heitger (clarinet, soprano saxophone, vocals), Frank Ward (cornet, vocals), Russ Damschroder (trombone), Betsy Grafing (banjo), Jim Fagnano (drums), Rick Grafing (piano), Bob Miller (string bass), and Nicole Heitger (vocals).
Cakewalkin’ has played engagements across the Midwest, including concerts, weddings, clubs and even funerals. Jazz clubs that Cakewalkin’ Jass Band has played for are the Detroit Hot Jazz Society, the Indianapolis Jazz Club, the Classic Jazz Society of Southwestern Ohio, the Charleston Jazz Club, the Potomac River Jazz Club, the Pennsylvania Jazz Club, the Detroit Windsor Jazz Club, the Vintage Jazz Club of Muskegon, the Illiana Jazz Club, the Tack Room in Illiopolis, Earyjas in Ohio, and the Central Ohio Hot Jazz Society.
With all this and an authentic New Orleans style repertoire now at over 470 tunes, the Cakewalkin’ Jass Band has a bright active future. The band’s love of the music and of bringing its inherent happiness to an audience is infectious – as the thousands upon thousands of people who have seen and hear the band will attest to.
Tickets can be purchased from the Playhouse Box Office at 484-5000. Visit the Playhouse at www.ccplayhouse.com to view the full season schedule and details.