The Cab Calloway Orchestra: Heading in the right Direction for CAB100

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"The whole audience bouncing and swaying to the irresistible rhythm.Everybody singing, Hi De Ho! Who could forget the incredible sounds and imagery of Cab Calloway and his hot Jazz Orchestra?"

C. Calloway Brooks Grandson of Cab Calloway and the director of the Cab Calloway Orchestra have been carrying on this musical tradition for over a decade, consistently dazzling audiences to standing ovations in the worlds most prestigious venues. Under the direction of Calloway Brooks, (CB) the CCO, delivers the authentic sound of a hot Jazz Orchestra with a snazzy stage style that brings out a the music in the audience with "Swing that is king and Jive that's alive." Using the Calloway bands vintage orchestrations as a starting point, coupled with some of the finest Jazz musicians anywhere, the CCO creates the unforgettable sensation of a real swinging Jazz Orchestra in full flight.

In 2007 through the end of 2008 as major CAB100celebrations get under way, CB will be leading the way with the CCO's CAB100 Tour in his duel roles as director of the CCO and CAB100 coordinating events in both organizations to their mutual benefit - and everyone elses. The Calloway family has been surprising and delighting audiences since the 1920's and this year is expected to be one of the best!

The success of the CCO is due in large part to the fact that CB was trained by both the New England Conservatory of Music, his alma mater and by Cab Calloway himself. As the eldest grandson of Cab, CB had the opportunity to experience his famous grandfather's music, first hand. In fact, one of his earliest childhood memories is at five years old, watching one of Cab's fantastic Orchestra rehearsals, which transformed him forever. CB's combined Cab Calloway and New England Conservatory make him uniquely suited to research and develop the CCO with full authenticity and a sure and knowing hand.

Under CB's leadership, the CCO has performed to sold out audiences and standing ovations at hundreds of venues and events worldwide, including: Carnegie Hall, The Waldorf Astoria Ballroom, The USS Hornet, The San Diego Museum of Art, Lincoln Center, The Cotton Club in Tokyo and Harlem, The Pori Jazz Festival in Finland, Dallas Symphony Hall, major Casino's (Ballys, Sands, Nugget and Atlantis) and at countless charity benefits across the country.

Brooks believes in the ongoing success of the CCO because of the enduring love that the musicians have for the music. In addition to the fact that the CCO, under his direction, is the world's only major legacy big band that is led by a descendent who was directly trained by the founder, who performed and toured with the founder, and who performs on the same instrument as the founder. Another critical component is that CB performs and directs the orchestra in a way that reflects his grandfather's profound influence, while maintaining his own identity. His performance style with the CCO, is often aptly described as, "directly, clearly and closely related, though not at all identical." A powerful approach to a tremendous artistic inheritance - The Calloway legacy! -- HI DE HO!