BOARDMAN SCHOOL Big Band fans should swing by auditorium

Trumpeter Joe Pero, a rising star, will be the featured guest.
By GUY D'ASTOLFO
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- Big Band fans will get a rare opportunity to hear their favorite music live when Ron Chick's Friends present a concert Monday at Boardman Middle School auditorium.
"This is the real stuff," said Chick. "We are using the music from the original libraries of the great Big Band leaders.
"You won't hear this music around here for a long time. The old band leaders are dying, and nobody else is playing it," said Chick.
Two parts
Monday's concert will be in two parts. Up first will be vocalist Bobby Remp, who will sing Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Bobby Darin and Nat King Cole songs, backed by the 22-piece band Chick has assembled.
The second part will be the Big Band Jazz tribute, featuring the music of Count Basie, Louie Armstrong, Stan Kenton, Maynard Ferguson and Buddy Rich.
"We have some of the best players in the country coming in for the concert," said Chick.
Star pupil
Topping the list will be trumpeter Joe Pero.
"He is Wynton Marsalis' star pupil," said Chick, "and a graduate of the Juilliard and Berklee schools of music. He is trained in jazz and classical music, and at 24 years old, he is the next big time player for this type of music."
Pero plays with Maynard Ferguson's orchestra, and is a two-time world champion trumpet soloist -- an "unheard of" feat, according to Chick.
"Wynton Marsalis gave him his trumpet as a graduation gift," said Chick.
Pero's performance will include the theme from "Rocky," by Maynard Ferguson. "Almost nobody plays that, because nobody can get up there like Maynard can," exclaimed Chick.
Others to play
Other musicians playing at Monday's show include Jimmy Gerlach, Dominic Rito, Jeff Bremer, John Reese, Marc Pupino, Lonnie McClearen, Jim Figley, Brian Alleman, Randy Isabella, Norm Pelligrini, Dave Kana, Tim Harker, Matt Feraro, Jimm Hummer, Bill Carson, Harry Italiano, Joe Badachevesky, Jeff Gibbons and John Olson.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 ($10 for students), and are available by calling (330) 788-0494. Major credit cards will be accepted. Tickets will also be available at the door.
A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Boardman Center Middle School is located at 7410 Market St., across from Southern Park Mall.