LJO Travels the “Heartland Waterways” in July 16 Concert
07/13/23Jazz in the Park continues with the second leg of the La Crosse Jazz Orchestra’s 2023 musical road trip. On Sunday, July 16, they travel on the "Heartland Waterwaves" from the Gulf to the Great Lakes.
Kansas City superstar Count Basie contributes two selections to this concert including the LJO’s second album title track “A Warm Breeze," says band director Greg Balfany.
Other highlights:
- One of La Crosse’s favorite vocalists, Kim Shively, takes the audience on a “Sentimental Journey” along the Riverside Park port area
- The band puts everyone on high alert with the burning up-tempo swinger and Broadway showstopper, 'Old Man River'
- UW-La Crosse jazz and saxophone professor Jeff Erickson helps pass the time with an exciting rendition of 'Day By Day'
- Milwaukee-born Woody Herman contributes a beautiful rendition of 'Come Rain or Come Shine' featuring trumpeter Jon Ailabouni
- The concert closes with the pop hit 'Fantasy!' from Chicago-born band and New Orleans favorite, Earth, Wind, and Fire
The show starts at 7 p.m. at Riverside Park in downtown La Crosse.
The concert is free for all and suitable for the whole family.
The rain site for all LJO Jazz in the Park concerts is the Cappella Performing Arts Center, 721 King St., La Crosse.
For a full rundown of this summer's concerts, see our story Road Trip: Coast to Coast with LJO.
ABOUT THE BAND
The La Crosse Jazz Orchestra is Western Wisconsin's premier big band. Directed by Greg Balfany, the group is best known through its Jazz in the Park concert series. The LJO mission: to promote, preserve and forward the creation of jazz music through free live performances available to all in our region. LJO operates under fiscal sponsorship from La Crosse Community Foundation.
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