Ross Ragland Theater: Play it again, Sam!

Klamath Falls, Ore. –  The Klamath Basin's big band, the Esquire Jazz Orchestra, returns to The Ross Ragland, for their nineteenth consecutive season bringing to life the magic of jazz favorites from yesteryear.  On Sunday, October 22, the Ross Ragland invites you to join us for an afternoon of jazz and swing. This season this professional-caliber full jazz band and the accompanying vocal quartet celebrate the era of Casablanca with “As Time Goes By” 

Consisting of some of the finest musicians in Klamath Falls and Southern Oregon, Esquire Jazz Orchestra specialize in playing arrangements of nostalgic bands like Duke Ellington, Harry James and Glenn Miller, as well as honoring vocalists such as Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong. In the Big Band tradition, the Orchestra performs with five saxophones (Smitty Parratt, Don Butts, Robert Rawlings, Daryl Fjeldheim and Ken White), five trumpets (Charlie Moresi, Corey Hansen, Randy Scherer, Niles Reynolds and Max Harrington), four trombones (Jeff Moresi, Randy Dary, Josias Quimbaya, Cliff Crawford), a piano (Martin Behnke), bass (Mark Hamersly) and drums (Drew Langley).

The Orchestra also features the vocal stylings of the Esquire Quartet comprised of Suzanne Stewart, Pam Davenport, James Hurst and Jerry Lemieux. This year the band Esquire Quartet will be joined by male vocalist quartet, Whatever Four comprised of Brett Aakre, Jeff Plummer, Jerry Lemieux and Charlie Moresi.

“We are excited to be able to play our nineteenth annual big band concert at the Ragland,” said director Ken White   “We will once again play classic arrangements from the Big Band Era as well as other standards from the 30's 40's and 50's.”

Tickets starting at $19, on sale now at our box office or online. Doors open at 1PM with the big band hitting stage at 2PM.

The 2017-18 performance seasons is sponsored by KLAD, Big 98.5, Sunny 107, The Eagle, Forward Vision Media, Herald and News, Oregon Arts Commission and the National Endowment of the Arts. This show is sponsored by Waste Management and Stacy & Dennis Information Technology Solutions.