MOUNT VERNON — On May 4 at 8 p.m., four local musicians will take the stage at The Woodward Opera House to join the “Memories of the Rat Pack” tribute band. The band is from Canada and performs several times throughout the year in the U.S. and Canada. “Memories of the Rat Pack” is a celebration of the lives and music of the three most famous members of The Rat Pack: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. In two 50-minute acts divided by one intermission, we learn about the men behind the legend, enjoy 30 of their more popular songs, and experience a recreation of the famous night club act at The Sands Hotel in Las Vegas.
The local musicians performing are:
Ted Buehrer (trumpet) – Ted is a professor of music at Kenyon College where he teaches music theory, jazz studies and leads the Kenyon Jazz Ensemble. He is also the director and trumpet player in the Knox Community Jazz Orchestra, a group he founded in 2017, and he plays in the newly formed Mount Vernon jazz quintet, Fat Tuesday. His research on the music of jazz composer, arranger, and pianist Mary Lou Williams has yielded more than a dozen published editions of her big band music. Some of these were performed by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra under the direction of Wynton Marsalis and were among those featured at JaLC’S Essentially Ellington High School Competition and Festival in New York City where Buehrer served on the panel of judges.
Jim Frady (trombone) – Jim has lent his talents to Central Ohio music pits and dinner theaters including the Weather Vane Playhouse, Zanesville Community Theater, Coshocton Footlight Players and MTV Arts summer productions. He has also played in several Columbus based big bands such as Swings the Thing, Cyndi Black Big Band, David Schubach Big Band and the Knox Community Jazz Orchestra. When not playing in the orchestra pits, he spends his summer weekends playing festivals with the rock band The Usual Suspects and Repeat Offenders. He also plays square dances with Pocketful O’ Gimmicks.
Skip Trask (percussion) – Skip’s career began at an early age playing cardboard boxes in front of the family stereo to notables such as Sonny and Cher, The Partridge Family, The Jackson 5, and The Carpenters. Skip’s first choice of instruments, the trumpet, quickly changed to drums when Mr. Rhinehart showed him the sparkle of a snare drum in the band room located at Dublin Middle School. As a youth, Skip played in marching band, show choirs, and jazz ensembles. He later played in churches and college ensembles. As a lark, he played drums for a bluegrass band…quite a rare occurrence. Lately, Skip enjoys the drum throne of the Knox Community Jazz Orchestra, as well as a local folk music group known as Firefly, which includes Sarah Goslee Reed, and a new jazz quintet named Fat Tuesday.
Eric Snyder (saxophone) – Eric is a 1981 graduate of Capital University with a degree in jazz performance. A veteran of numerous Columbus area bands including the Alligators, TC and the Cats, Mark Haines and the Remains, as well as Spittin’ Image. Eric also toured with The Guy Lombardo Orchestra and Eric Collins. Eric has played 30 years for the Dover, Ohio based Barflies and frequently performs with a variety of area big bands including the Knox Community Jazz Orchestra. Eric is the current chairman of the Richland Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development.
For tickets and more information, go to thewoodward.org or call the box office at 740-263-6737.
