New hits, new dance moves and even a new guest conductor await music fans attending Chattanooga Symphony & Opera's annual Big Band Fever concert.
The annual swing dance will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, in the Tivoli Theatre, 709 Broad St.
Matt CatingubTwo dance floors will be open to ticketholders: one on the Tivoli stage and the other in front of the stage. Dance to the CSO's renditions of "In the Mood," "Chicago," "Stompin' at the Savoy," "Moonglow," "Don'cha Go 'Way Mad," "It Don't Mean A Thing Mambo," "Love You Madly," "Pearly Shells" and, of course, "Chattanooga Choo Choo."
Guest conductor Matt Catingub is a saxophonist, woodwind artist, conductor, pianist, vocalist, performer, composer and arranger. He is the artistic director and co-founder of the Macon Pops in Macon, Georgia. He has also served as conductor of the Glendale Pops in Los Angeles, the Hawaii Pops in Honolulu, Festival Pops Conductor of the New Hampshire Music Festival and Principal Pops Conductor of the New Mexico Symphony.
As a young man, he played a variety of instruments before conducting his first orchestra at age 15. At age 17, he played his sax at the Monterey Jazz Festival, and after that, toured Japan playing with jazz legends including Dizzy Gillespie and Ruth Brown.
Catingub then joined the Louie Bellson Big Band and, a couple of years later, joined the Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin Big Band as lead alto saxophonist. In 1983, Catingub formed the Matt Catingub Big Band, with his mother, Mavis Rivers, as vocalist, and recorded several critically acclaimed jazz albums with his mom.
He has arranged music for Kenny Loggins, James Ingram, Boz Scaggs, the Righteous Brothers, Rosemary Clooney, Natalie Cole, Michael McDonald, Toto and Pat Benatar.
He made his solo singing debut at the Frank Sinatra Celebration in Carnegie Hall. He wrote and performed the music for the George Clooney film "Good Night and Good Luck," making an on-screen appearance as the band leader. The movie's soundtrack, which featured Catingub and vocalist Diane Reeves, won a Grammy.
Tickets for Big Band Fever range from $38 to $85.
For tickets or more information: 423-267-8583.