Johnny Mandel Big Band Birthday Bash

Everybody loves Johnny Mandel... Certainly every singer who has been lucky enough to sing one of his indelible songs… Every musician who has had the chance to play any of his charts… and probably, most of the people who have had a chance to meet him… (me included)

Here is a sample of his many glowing reviews... “Most remarkable about Johnny's music is the quiet clash of intensity and sensitivity. Few adjectives are as overused as legendary, but in the case of composer and songwriter Mandel, anything else just seems to fall short. He is a grand-master of American music…” Trumpeter Carl Saunders, (a key player in Johnny’s band) says: “His music speaks for itself. You can let the music wash over you. Johnny spreads beauty through music.”

Johnny Mandel's birthday is coming up soon... He will be forever young and his music will be forever vital. There is one quote of his that sticks in my mind... “I try to write something that sounds inevitable”... well Johnny, you certainly have !

This performance is made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.