December 04, 2002 -

Ottawa, Canada -- The National Arts Centre Orchestra's CJOH Pops Series is proud to present Doc Severinsen, bandleader and trumpet player extraordinaire, in his Big Band Spectacular also featuring vocalist Lynn Miles and drummer Ed Shaughnessy. Doc, best known for his years as Johnny Carson's Music Director on The Tonight Show, will perform with the NAC Orchestra from Thursday, December 12 to Saturday, December 14 at 20:00 in the NAC's Southam Hall.

Doc Severinsen's Big Band Spectacular features hits from that golden era of music such as Gershwin's Strike up the Band, Dorsey's Contrasts, Porter's Begin the Beguine, Ellington's Duke Elegance, Miller's Moonlight Serenade, Warren's Chattanooga Choo Choo, and Garland's In the Mood. To quote the Milwaukee Journal: "An evening of sheer, unadulterated showbiz-style POW. The crowd, on his side from the downbeat, gave him a standing ovation and obviously hungered for more."

Doc Severinsen performs in a vivid array of exhilarating styles - with a varied array of exhilarating groups. One of the most dynamic, and certainly one of the most dazzling, instrumentalists, Doc travels North America performing with symphony orchestras, jazz ensembles and big bands. The versatile Doc is also the Principal Pops Conductor of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra.

Doc comes by his Big Band credentials honestly. After completing his education and serving in the Army, he toured with the Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman and Charlie Barnet bands. He finally settled down in New York as an NBC staff musician in 1949, joining "The Tonight Show" Orchestra in 1962 and becoming Music Director in 1967 where he and Johnny Carson became known to millions of television viewers over the decades. The flamboyant Grammy Award-winner continues to play sizzling jazz and big band tunes with former members of "Tonight Show Band."

Doc Severinsen has recorded more than 30 albums: from big band to jazz-fusion to classical. Azica Records recently released "Doc Severinsen and his Big Band Swingin' the Blues" with Doc on trumpet and flugelhorn. His newest CD from Amherst, "The Very Best of Doc Severinsen," reprises 15 of his signature pieces.

Lynn Roberts has prevailed as one of the few stars to bridge the decades. Her dedication and success have provided audiences with a legacy of wonderful music from the Big Band era to the present. Roberts spent a year with Charlie Spivak, a year with Vincent Lopez, five years with Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, ten years with Benny Goodman and four years with Harry James. Her career momentum led her to stellar performances throughout the United States, Europe, Japan and Israel. Many famous clubs became routine stops on her busy schedule: The Cafe Rouge at the Statler Hotel in Manhattan, the Coconut Grove and the Palladium in L.A. and the renowned Paramount Theatre in New York with the famous Dorsey brothers and Frank Sinatra. Lynn has the distinction of being the ONLY girl singer to have sung with all these superstar band leaders.

Drummer Ed Shaughnessy has performed with every major symphony in the United Sates, countless big bands, and has backed almost every creative ensemble ever to enter a recording studio. He performed with Doc Severinsen for 29 years with the NBC "Tonight Show" orchestra. At nineteen years of age, he was already performing with George Shearing in New York City. Ed has performed on over 500 albums, including the recent Telarc release, Big Band Hit Parade, with the Cincinnati Symphony. Ed also performed with the Tommy Newsom TV Jazz Stars, released on Lazer Light Records. The Ed Shaughnessy solo release on CMG Records features Ed with his quintet on the record, Jazz In The Pocket.

The National Arts Centre Orchestra will present Doc Severinsen's Big Band Spectacular from December 12 to 14. Tickets for these CJOH Pops Series concerts are on sale now at $33.50, $47.00 and $57.50, with box seats at $80.00 (GST and Facility Fee included) at the NAC Box Office (Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 21:00), and through Ticketmaster (with surcharges) at 613-755-1111. Ticketmaster may also be accessed through the NAC's web-site at www.nac-cna.ca. Half-price tickets for students in all sections of the hall are on sale in person at the NAC Box Office upon presentation of a valid student ID card.

For more information please contact:
Jane Morris, Marketing Officer,
National Arts Centre Orchestra
(613) 947-7000, ext. 335
jmorris@nac-cna.ca