L.A.’s New Pacific Jazz Orchestra Unveils Plans Before Star-Studded Crowd at United Recording Studio
variety.comJon Burlingame The newly created Pacific Jazz Orchestra made its first public appearance on Saturday at Hollywood’s United Recording studio, making what may be the final recording in that legendary Sunset Blvd.
room where so many great tunes originated over the past 65 years. That likelihood lent a bittersweet tone to an otherwise joyous occasion.
Artistic director Chris Walden conducted a half-hour of music with the 40-piece orchestra and announced plans for its initial 2023-24 season before a crowd of Oscar, Grammy and Emmy winners that included Diane Warren, David Foster, Katharine McPhee, Charles Fox and Mark Isham. “It’s not a symphony orchestra, but it’s also not just a big band,” Walden told Variety in an interview before the show. “It’s a hybrid ensemble with instrumentation that allows us to explore the boundaries of jazz and create collaborations with a wide range of guest artists.” The Herb Alpert Foundation will be the primary sponsor of the orchestra’s first season, which will consist of five concerts at various L.A.
venues. The first two will be at the Wallis in Beverly Hills Oct. 27, featuring singer Ledisi and trumpeter Arturo Sandoval; and a holiday show at the Alex Theatre in Glendale Dec.
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