Chuck Wansley & Helios Jazz Orchestra - Dec. 15

Tuesday, December 15
7:30 PM
Side Door at the Palladium

Vocalist Chuck Wansley joins the 18-piece Helios Jazz Orchestra, directed by David Manson, in a special concert of swinging big band music at the Side Door!

Native New Yorker Chuck Wansley began his professional singing and performing career at age 18 on an extended world tour with Up With People. In the early 80s he signed first with Prism Records and then Motown, as a founding member of the urban techno band WARP-9, performing live and producing two albums. He also performed and recorded an album with innovative international performance artist Tomek Lamprecht.

In 1984, Chuck moved to Los Angeles and matured into a dynamic performer, easily conveying a range of musical styles from Frank Sinatra and Harry Connick, to Fatboy Slim and Maroon 5. In 2007 Chuck expanded his business, creating a second band on the East Coast to enable him to perform in as many locales as his schedule allows. Chuck and his bands have performed from Connecticut to Napa, Los Angeles to Paris & Prague, along with numerous solo appearances in Japan.

The Helios Jazz Orchestra is the house big band for the St. Petersburg Jazz Festival (scheduled 2/24-28 in 2016) and is comprised of the best jazz musicians in the Tampa Bay area.

For more info, see www.mypalladium.org .

Tuesday, October 13
The Helios Jazz Orchestra
7:30 at the Music Center at St. Petersburg College
admission $10 at the door

The Helios Jazz Orchestra, directed by David Manson,  plays great big band favorites in the acoustically perfect, 300-seat Music Center at St. Petersburg College.  The SPC Music is located at 6605 Fifth Ave. North in St. Petersburg.  Just take the 66th St. entrance and park on the south side of the parking lot.

Lorri Hafer with Helios Jazz Orchestra - September 8

The 18-piece Helios Jazz Orchestra, directed by David Manson, backs Lorri Hafer in a special concert of swinging big band music at the Side Door!

Lorri is a favorite of the musicians in the Helios Jazz Orchestra because of her beautiful tone, flawless enunciation, projection of voice and musical expression.

Lorri Hafer is the daughter of composer /arranger /Academy Award nominee Al Ham and his wife, Mary Mayo.  They met while they were both performing with the post war Glenn Miller Orchestra under the direction of Tex Beneke.

Lorri started her career at the age of five on the Guy Mitchell record, "If You Ever Go Away” and as lead vocalist with the Hillside Singers.  Lorri along with her mother recorded the ‘Coca Cola Song’ - "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing in Perfect Harmony."  Lorri toured as vocalist with The Glenn Miller Orchestra throughout the US and Japan and was also featured vocalist with Les Brown’s Band of Renown, and special guest vocalist with Buddy Morrow and The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. 

 Enjoy great big band jazz in the cabaret environment of the Side Door at the Palladium Theater! This is a benefit for the St. Petersburg Jazz Festival presented by EMIT: www.emitseries.org .  General admission is $15 at the Palladium Theater.  See http://www.mypalladium.org/

Hot Summer Jazz with Helios - July 21

Our next Helios concert will be a jazz education scholarship fundraiser scheduled Tuesday, July 21 at the SPC Music Center! Donations will cover tuition fees for students enrolled in SPC jazz ensembles.

The concert (starting at 7:30 PM) is free, but a donation to the scholarship fund would be greatly appreciated!  The 300-seat SPC Music is located at 6605 Fifth Ave. North in St. Petersburg.  Just take the 66th St. entrance and park on the south side of the parking lot.

Lorri Hafer guests with the Helios Jazz Orchestra on May 19!

The 18-piece Helios Jazz Orchestra, directed by David Manson, backs Lorri Hafer in a special concert of swinging big band music at the Side Door!

Lorri is a favorite of the musicians in the Helios Jazz Orchestra because of her beautiful tone, flawless enunciation, projection of voice and musical expression.

Lorri Hafer is the daughter of composer /arranger /Academy Award nominee Al Ham and his wife, Mary Mayo.  They met while they were both performing with the post war Glenn Miller Orchestra under the direction of Tex Beneke.

Lorri started her career at the age of five on the Guy Mitchell record, "If You Ever Go Away” and as lead vocalist with the Hillside Singers.  Lorri along with her mother recorded the ‘Coca Cola Song’ - "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing in Perfect Harmony."  Lorri toured as vocalist with The Glenn Miller Orchestra throughout the US and Japan and was also featured vocalist with Les Brown’s Band of Renown, and special guest vocalist with Buddy Morrow and The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. 

She has shared the stage with Margaret Whiting, Frankie Laine, The Four Lads, Deana Martin, Maria Muldaur, Eric Darling of The Rooftop Singers, Jim Brady of The Sandpipers, and Denny Doherty and Michele Phillips of The Mamas and The Papas and Trini Lopez. Lorri also appeared as the opening act for comedian Bob Newhart.  Most recently, Lorri made her debut at NYC’s famed Metropolitan Room.  Her CD, "The Very Thought of You" has received both national and international airplay in the US, the UK, Italy, the Caribbean, and New Zealand.

Enjoy great big band jazz in the cabaret environment of the Side Door at the Palladium Theater!  This is a benefit for the St. Petersburg Jazz Festival presented by EMIT: www.emitseries.org .  General admission is $15 at the Palladium Theater.  See http://www.mypalladium.org/

Helios & Amy Morgan at the Side Door, March 24!

The 18-piece Helios Jazz Orchestra features singer Amy Morgan in a show of Great American Songbook jazz favorites. Amy is a song stylist with a passion for swing and big band music.  She has a full voice like Rosemary Clooney.  

The Helios Jazz Orchestra, under the direction of David Manson, has been featured on the Clearwater Jazz Holiday, St. Petersburg Jazz Festival and Ybor Jazz Festival.  It is comprised of top area jazz musicians who love the sound of a roaring jazz big band!

 

Admission is $15.  Advance tickets are available and recommended.  

 

See http://www.mypalladium.org/

Helios & Kevin Mahogany on the St. Petersburg Jazz Festival - 2/28!

The Helios Jazz Orchestra backs legendary jazz singer Kevin Mahogany on the St. Petersburg Jazz Festival on Saturday, February 28.  The show takes places in the acoustically perfect Music Center at St. Petersburg College.

“The standout jazz vocalist of his generation.” - Newsweek

With eleven recordings as a leader, vocalist, businessman and educator Kevin Mahogany has been the standard setter for jazz vocalists for three decades. Kevin Mahogany's sudden prominence in the mid-'90s was a relief to many who felt that male jazz singers under the age of 60 were non-existent. His swinging style is reminiscent, but not derivative of Joe Williams.

Admission is $15 at the door only.  See www.stpetejazzfest.com for more information .

January 20 - Helios with Eliana Blanchard & Bryan Hughes!

The 18-piece Helios Jazz Orchestra, directed by David Manson, features vocalists Eliana Blanchard and Bryan Hughes in a special show of jazz classics.

Eliana is a recent graduate of the MIRA (Music Industry/Recording Arts) program at St. Petersburg College and vocalist with hip hop group The Real Clash.  She has a powerful voice that is perfect for torch songs.  A Helios favorite, Bryan recently returned from performances in Europe and brings his suave Rat Pack style to the stage of the Side Door.

It's a great evening of big band jazz in the intimate cabaret setting of the Side Door presented by EMIT!  General admission is $15.

The Palladium Side Door is located at 253 5th Ave. North  St. Petersburg, FL 33704.  The Palladium Side box office is http://www.mypalladium.org/box-office/ .