BENNY, BUDDY & BEYOND: Jewish Connections in Jazz

Harvard Alumni Jazz Band plays big band jazz and shares the stories behind it. From the Great American Songbook to the Swing Era and beyond. The 17-piece Harvard Alumni Jazz Band presents a program of iconic big band music highlighting some of the fascinating—and often surprising—Jewish contributions and connections in jazz. Anchored by music associated with Benny Goodman and Buddy Rich, the program spans nearly a century of jazz, from the Great American Songbook and the Swing Era to Latin jazz and contemporary big band music. Along the way, the band shares colorful stories about Jewish musicians, composers, arrangers, and some less obvious figures and circumstances behind those connections. Revenues from this performance will go to support KI's cultural programming, which includes concerts, screenings, author talks and more. The Harvard Alumni Jazz Band was founded in 2006 by longtime Kehillath Israel member Jill Altshuler to bring together alumni of the Harvard Jazz Bands who share a passion for big band jazz. Its 17 members span five decades of Harvard alumni, performing a repertoire that ranges from the swing era to contemporary jazz. This spring, the band celebrated its 20th anniversary with a joint concert at Sanders Theatre with the Harvard Jazz Orchestra. NOTA BENES: Doors Open at 7:15. Concert begins at 8:00. All seating except FRONT ROW is unassigned. Tickets cannot be refunded but can be transferred to a different attendee. We recommend buying tickets online whenever possible. Tickets will be available at the door with payment in cash or check only, for $30. CONGREGATION KEHILLATH ISRAEL is a traditional inclusive synagogue that actively embraces individuals, its community, and the world. An innovative and prominent voice in North American Jewish life since 1917, it is one of Brookline's oldest synagogues.