[Dixielandjazz] Mike Vax Jazz Orchestra at the Julia Morgan Theater this Sunday

[Vaxtrpts at aol.com]

Friends of Big Band Jazz Present:
 
The Mike Vax Jazz Orchestra with guest artist Fred Radke, leader of the Harry 
James Orchestra. “A Tribute to the Great Trumpet Players.”
 
Where:  Julia Morgan Theater, 2640 College Avenue, Berkeley, CA
Date:     Sunday, April 17, 2005
Time:    2:00 PM (Box Office opens at 1:00 PM)
Cost:   $18.00 adults; $10.00 students – Tickets available on line and at the 
door.
Information:  www.bigbandjazz.net; 510-420-4560; 925-427-6666
 
Mike Vax and Fred Radke are both products of the Oakland Public Schools.  In 
fact, they graduated on the same day from Oakland High School in 1960.  They 
have been close friends for almost 50 years and have performed together on the 
road many times.  This concert will be their “reunion” Bay Area performance.  
Not only will they perform music associated with many of the great big band 
trumpet leaders, but Fred will do a special tribute to Harry James.
 
Fred Radke has literally performed all over the world and has performed for 
quite a few American Presidents  Besides playing lead trumpet for Harry James, 
Fred has worked with such greats as Marlene Dietrich, Johnny Mathis, Jack 
Jones, Pat Boone, Anita O’Day, Ella Fitzgerald and Mel Torme.  He was musical 
director for The Lancers in their heyday.  He resides in Seattle, Washington, 
where the mayor of that city proclaimed a special Fred Radke Day, for his many 
contributions to the musical heritage of the Northwest.  He currently leads the 
Harry James Orchestra on tour internationally.
 
Mike Vax has performed with the Stan Kenton Orchestra, the Glenn Miller 
Orchestra, the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, the Clark Terry Big Bad Band, the Dukes of 
Dixieland in New Orleans, and the US Navy Show Band.  He has also toured all 
over the world and worked with June Christy, Joe Williams, The Four Freshmen, 
Art Pepper, Al Hirt, Louis Bellson, and Gene Krupa, to name just a few.  He is 
an international artist for the Yamaha Corporation and has done workshops in 
2000 high schools, colleges and universities over the past 35 years.
 
The Mike Vax jazz orchestra has been on the jazz scene in the Bay Area for 
over 30 years.  The goals of the band are to perform meaningful music, talk 
about the importance of the jazz heritage in America, bring jazz music to young 
people, and to offer our audiences a relaxed, entertaining atmosphere. The band 
is sponsored by Friends of Big Band Jazz, a nonprofit corporation that has 
given $15,000.00 in scholarships to young people to attend summer jazz camps and 
helped raise funds for many good causes around the Bay Area.  As usual, 
proceeds from our concert will go to the Al “Jazzbeaux” Collins memorial 
scholarship fund.