FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 20, 2008
For more information or taped actuality,
c ontact Norma Hammeke at (620) 793-6759
ROB VERDI TO CREATE ‘SAXOPHOBIA’

The Golden Belt Community concert Association will host the sixth of seven concerts this season to celebrate the seventieth anniversary of the association. Saxophobia will perform on Thursday, April 3, 2008, at the Great Bend Municipal Auditorium, Lakin and Stone, at 7:30 p.m. The house will open at 6:30 p.m., with the concert open to members of the association. Full-time students will be admitted to the concert for a $5 donation at the door.

Saxophobia created by and starring Rob Verdi of the Side Street Strutters, brings to the stage Mr. Verdi’s rare collection of some of the most unusual, authentic saxophones ever manufactured. Just after Vaudeville’s heyday, saxophone manufacturers began creating new designs to spark renewed interest in the instrument. What they conjured up was truly extraordinary! More than 100,000 saxophones were being sold each year.

Rob Verdi performs the famous tunes that showcased their unique sounds and Verdi is accompanied by a world-class rhythm trio as well. Who could forget the sounds of Charlie Parker on “Scrapple from the Apple,” Boots Randolph honking out “Yakety Sax” or the warm, lush sounds of Stan Getz? Mix in more famous saxophonists and you start to get the Saxophobia picture—one great show!

Verdi received his music education degree in 1984 from Arizona State University. While at ASU he studied classical and jazz saxophone, receiving several honors and awards. Mr. Verdi taught junior high music, organized performances for the Orange County Philharmonic Society’s school outreach program, conducted jazz history presentations at Santa Ana College, is a member of the California Arts Council, and is an active clinician for Disney’s Magic Music Days Program.

Mr. Verdi is currently employed with the Entertainment Division of the Walt Disney Company. His professional jazz group, the Side Street Strutters has presented concerts throughout the United States and Europe since 1983. The Side Street Strutters performed here on our stage during the 1998-1999 season.

In addition to the previously named novelty selections, Rob has chosen songs very much associated with the saxophone and affiliated with famous saxophone players. The audience will remember Paul Desmond’s “Take 5” and other famous tunes like “Round Midnight,” “Girl from Ipanema,” “Body and Soul,” and the theme from the television show “My Three Sons.”

Mr. Verdi also includes some solo, duet, and trio selections featuring the other musicians in the ensemble. He will intertwine some historical information on the instruments, and a bit of saxophone history, as well as some light-hearted comedic bits.

Verdi has a world class museum-quality collection of rare antique saxophones and is passionate about sharing them with others.

Begun in 1937 with Ethel Burket Russell as president, the Golden Belt Community Concert Association has supplied the Golden Belt with more than 350 music and dance performances since its inception. The concert association is operated by a board of 33 community and area residents, who select the concerts and conduct the annual subscription campaign.

The final concert of the 2007-2008 season is also a bonus concert for new members of the association in 2008-2009. “Revolution: A Tribute to the Beatles” will be Friday, May 9. The concert membership drive will begin April 12 and conclude May 3.