Celebratory Big-Band Performance Marks 75th Anniversary of Dooky Chase Orchestra’s Final Concert and 100th Anniversary of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue
The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO), the region’s premier and Grammy-nominated orchestra, is set to pay tribute to the indelible legacy of civil rights activists Edgar “Dooky” Chase Jr. and Leah Chase through a jazz-filled program titled “RHAPSODY IN BLUE.” The celebratory concert will take place on Saturday, January 13, 2023, at 7:30 p.m. on the main stage of the Orpheum Theater.
The program, conducted by past LPO Principal Guest Conductor Thomas Wilkins, will feature a spirited lineup of works by American composer George Gershwin and jazz pioneer Duke Ellington. Wilkins, also the Principal Guest Conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, returns to the LPO podium for this special occasion. For additional information and ticket purchases, visit www.lpomusic.com.
“Visionaries like Edgar and Leah Chase are fundamental to the culture and history of our city,” says Executive Director Anwar Nasir. “The LPO is honored to celebrate the Chase family legacy with music that their very own Dooky Chase Orchestra played across New Orleans over 75 years ago.”
The Chase family’s impact on New Orleans is palpable in the realms of food, culture, and civil rights. Since opening in 1941, the iconic Dooky Chase Restaurant has served as a gathering place for entertainment, delectable cuisine, and crucial discussions within the African American community. Notable figures such as Thurgood Marshall and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. frequented the restaurant for both sustenance and strategy sessions. Edgar “Dooky” Chase Jr., alongside his sister and vocalist, Doris Chase, emerged as a talented band leader, forming the Dooky Chase Orchestra, once heralded as the “most progressive in the south.” The orchestra played the big-band sounds of jazz legends like Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker throughout the 1940s. The LPO’s “RHAPSODY IN BLUE” concert commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Dooky Chase Orchestra’s final performance.
The concert delves into the historic big-band era of the early 1940s, a period that has left an enduring mark on American music. George Gershwin, one of the nation’s most influential composers, is prominently featured in the program, with his jazz compositions taking center stage. “Rhapsody in Blue,” celebrated for seamlessly blending classical and jazz elements with a piano solo and jazz band, will conclude the evening. Visual and performing artist Chase Kamata, granddaughter of Edgar and Leah Chase, will perform vocal solos, including Harold Arlen’s famed “Over the Rainbow.” The program also highlights works by Duke Ellington, a giant in jazz music, with pieces like “Giggling Rapids from The River Suite” and “Satin Doll.”
Tickets for “RHAPSODY IN BLUE” are now on sale, ranging from $28 to $110. Student tickets are available for $10 with proof of student ID. To purchase tickets or for more information, please visit www.lpomusic.com or contact Patron Services at 504.523.6530.
