LAKEPORT – The 69 members of the Lake County Symphony, under the direction of John Parkinson, put together an outstanding collection of favorite standards for their annual salute to mothers, and the many moms in attendance – including grandmothers and even some great-grandmothers – responded with enthusiasm.

The May 10 concert, sponsored by Lake County's nonprofit music support group Clear Lake Performing Arts, took place at the Marge Alakszay Center at Lakeport Unified School's campus.

Entitled "Another Op'nin', Another Show" Parkinson's program was a tribute to that song's composer, the late Cole Porter, but also to a whole range of music makers from the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s who created some of America's most memorable music.

Lead-off performers, however, were Kelseyville's Andi Skelton and the Konocti Fiddle Club consisting of more than a dozen fiddlers supported by guitars, bass and keyboard playing diown home versions of "Stinky's Blues" and "Cairo."

The orchestra then took over and following the Cole Porter medley launched one featuring the work of George and Ira Gershwin including "Foggy Day" with an opening phrase containing not only the chimes of Big Ben, but a brief segement of "God Save the Queen" just so everybody would know for sure they were referring to London Town.

Other Gershwin numbers were "I Got Rhythm," "Someone to Watch Over Me," "S;Wonderful," and "Rhapsody in Blue."

"Deep Purple" by Peter DeRose and "Georgia on my Mind " by Hoagy Carmichael were next, followed by a tribute to Louis Armstrong entitled "Satchmo."

Armstrong, who popularized the idea of solo performances in jazz numbers, provided the same opportunity to many of the symphony's star players including clarinetist Nick Biondo, trumpeter Gary Miller, trombonist Cory Cunningham and percussionist Eric Ehrenpfort, all of whom were recognized individually by Parkinson at the conclusion of the Armstrong set.

Following intermission the 15 youngsters of the CLPA Youth Orchestra, under the direction of Wes Follett, presented their last public performance before their June 14 concert at Keseyville's Presbyterian Church.

The talented group played the "Prayer" from Humperdink's "Hansel and Gretel," Matt Turner's rhythmic "Tango Expressivo" and the "Russian Sailor's Dance from "The Red Poppy" ballet by Gliere.

The orchestra's return was marked by a series of Duke Ellington pieces including "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)", "I Got it Bad (And That Ain't Good) and the mesmerizing "Caravan" with percussionist Ehrenpfort providing a driving beat At the number's conclusion a side note was added to the program when violinist Ilse Arndt reached out to Parkinson with her bow, as if ushering him into knighthood, only to brush away a wasp that had landed unnoticed on his shoulder

For the Gershwin"s "Embraceable You" Parkinson invited Gary Miller to bring his flugelhorn down front and center where, backed by the lush strings of the orchestra, he rendered a crowd pleasing performance of that classic song.

Near the show's conclusion jazz singer Paula Samonte, stunning in a light lavender gown with a flower in her hair, sang a medley of "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," "I'll Take Romance" and "I've Got The World on a String" after which she planted an appreciative buss on conductor Parkinson's cheek.

Other upcoming CLPA sponsored events will be the annual garage sale scheduled for Saturday, June 6, in Corinthian Bay, the Spring Concert of the Youth Orchestra on June 14 at 6 p.m. at the Kelseyville Presbyterian Church and the seventh annual Home Wine Maker's Festival on June 27 in downtown Kelseyville.

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Written by: Connel Murray

Published: 14 May 2009