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New York swings, stomps and sings into Vail Valley

Kris Sabel
Director's Chair
Vail, CO Colorado
Special to the Vail DailyThe Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, which plays in Vail Valley's Vilar Center on Jan. 14, stands outside the famed Greenwich Village nightclub of the same name
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VAIL, Colorado – Well, the holidays are almost over in Colorado’s Vail Valley. Beaver Creek’s Vilar Center has just completed a run of seven performances over an eight-day period and as always, there is little time to reflect. We move full-steam-ahead into January with a lineup of terrific not-to-be-missed shows.

On a recent trip to New York City, my wife and I did our usual balancing act of fitting in as many shows and events as possible – in this case, 16 in eight days. While on my Big Apple adventure, I was struck by how many “hot” New York City shows have recently played the Vilar Center or are coming this winter – several of them in the month of January.

The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, a truly great big-band jazz ensemble, will take the stage on Jan. 14.



The orchestra started as the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra in 1966 when several musician/composers decided to get together with some of their colleagues and friends to play and improvise.

They were originally booked for three Monday nights at the Village Vanguard jazz club in downtown New York in February of 1966. Those three nights have turned into every Monday night for 43 years of continuous playing.

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Having just seen them in November, I can tell you that this is a great band. The 16 players are each soloists in their own right, and when they play together they make for an amazingly tight ensemble. It doesn’t get any better than this.

Later in the month, one of the most successful shows in the history of the Vilar Center is back by popular demand. “Stomp” has sold out 12 engagements over three different runs at the Vilar Center. I don’t think a week goes by when someone doesn’t ask me: “When is ‘Stomp’ coming back?”

Well, mark your calendars for Jan. 15 and 16 as the show returns to Beaver Creek. Garbage can lids, brooms and sticks are just a few of the “instruments” used for this percussive symphony. “Stomp” has been packing in audiences at the Orpheum Theatre in New York since 1994, and is still running strong.

Nothing says New York more than a Broadway musical. On Jan. 22, we’ve got the hit songs from some of the greatest musicals of all time in Neil Berg’s “100 Years of Broadway.”

The show is performed by a cast of stars straight from Broadway, singing their way through a catalogue of your favorite songs from shows like “South Pacific,” “Phantom of the Opera,” “Les Miserables,” “Jesus Christ Superstar” and many others. I guarantee you will be tapping your toes and singing along to every song.

Prior to the “100 Years of Broadway” performance, the Vilar Center Guild will host its annual fundraiser at the Beaver Creek Club at 6 p.m.. The event always sells out, featuring food prepared by the best chefs and restaurants in the valley and a stellar silent auction. Tickets are available through the box office, so be sure to reserve yours today.

These are just three of the many great events coming in January. For more information and a full schedule of shows please visit http://www.vilarpac.org.


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