Cuban Fire! A Tribute to Johnny Richards

MILFORD — The Upper Valley Winds jazz orchestra will present a concert called "Cuban Fire! A Tribute to Johnny Richards" at 7 p.m., April 25, at the Delaware Valley High School Auditorium, 236 Routes 6 and 209 in Milford.

One of the greatest Latin/jazz composers in the 20 century, Richards is best known to the public for standards like "Young at Heart," recorded by Frank Sinatra, and for his work with the Stan Kenton Orchestra. In 1956 he wrote and arranged a recording for the Stan Kenton Orchestra that was a monster hit: "Cuban Fire!"

Joined by select students from Delaware Valley High School, the 27-piece Upper Valley Winds will perform works from this album as well as other Johnny Richards tunes.

The director and conductor of Upper Valley Winds, Patrick J. Marcinko, Jr., is a veteran musician who has performed with Louis Armstrong, Tony Bennett, and Sammy Davis, Jr. A native of northeastern Pennsylvania, he also composes liturgical music and leads the Eukmen Chorale.

TicketsBoth the workshop with students and the concert are productions of Kindred Spirits Arts Programs. Tickets cost $20 at the door, or $15 if purchased at www.kindredspiritsarts.org. Children under 15 are admitted free, as are students at Delaware Valley High School.

For more information contact Yosif Feigelson at 570-409-1269 or kindredspir@yahoo.com or Jan Lokuta at 570-296.-5371 or 570-296-2181 or lokuta@wskllawfirm.com.