Vince Bilardo Trio Features Charles Perkins
9/19/05
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Vince Bilardo Trio featuring Charles Perkins, alto saxophone and flute, will make listeners smile with lovely melodies and sassy jazz at noon Tuesday, Oct. 18, in the Recital Hall of the Carlsen Center, Johnson County Community College, as part of the free Jazz Series featuring Kansas City musicians. Bilardo is a Kansas City drumming legend. Now in his 70s, he began as a drummer at an early age. By 12, he was playing with his uncle's band, The Bilardo Brothers Band, and became the youngest musician in his hometown of Cleveland to join the American Federation of Musicians. He performed 23 years with the Kansas City Philharmonic Orchestra, also serving as its personnel manager for 16 years. During those years he became a charter member of the annual Jazz Festival, entertainment director of the Playboy Club and a consultant to the Charlie Parker Foundation. During his early years in Kansas City, he had the good fortune to substitute in the bands of Count Basie, Woody Herman and Stan Kenton. He has performed with such notables as Bob Hope, Red Skelton, Elvis Presley, Marvin Hamlisch, Nancy Wilson and Marilyn Maye. After leaving the symphonic field, Bilardo owned a music entertainment agency, producing the Corporate Woods Jazz Festival and the July 4th Star Spangled Spectacular, Overland Park. Perkins is known as a versatile jazz musician, equally comfortable on alto saxophone, flute, clarinet and bass clarinet. He is a regular sideman in small ensemble settings and with the city’s best known big bands. Perkins has played with Kansas City musicians Milt Abel, Eddie Baker, Russ Long and Frank Smith. He spent 1984-85 in New York playing with Ted Curson, Frank Foster and other New York musicians. Currently he plays with the 18th and Vine Big Band led by Bobby Watson, the Louis Neal Big Band and the Vince Bilardo Group. He is featured on a number of recordings including KC Jazz Spectrum and Clear Sounds of Kansas City Jazz and in the movie Mr. and Mrs. Bridge. The Jazz Series continues at noon Tuesday in the Recital Hall with:
Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. The concerts are cosponsored by the JCCC humanities and music departments, Community Services and the Music Performance Trust Fund of the American Federation of Musicians, Local 34-627. For more information, call 913-469-8500, ext. 3605. |
