Copyright Bob Hoose 2002 - 2005 / All rights reserved |
- Directed by Frank Derrick |
Palm Beach Post / TGIF: April 5, 2002 |
Bill Meredith / Staff Writer (Local Music) |
Bill Meredith / Staff Writer (Local Music) |
Sinatra revisited: After doing time in a variety of rock bands (including a Beatles tribute act) in New York, New Jersey and Florida, vocalist Bob Hoose had a change of both genres and heart. Retiring from live performances 12 years ago to write original material, finish a home studio and do commercial jingles, Hoose returned by indulging his Big Band jazz roots - and did it his way. Forming a tribute band to vocalist Frank Sinatra, he decided not to exactingly pattern himself after his subject (the idea behind most tribute acts), but to use the vocal timing and phrasing his own voice had developed through listening to Sinatra - in essence, a tribute of influence rather than mimickry. Hoose formed the tribute orchestra in 1999, performing at various hotels, country clubs and nightclubs, plus the grand opening of West Palm Beach's Big Band Hall of Fame and Museum. His 16-piece band features a cast of South Florida all-stars under the leadership of band director and saxophonist Dan Salmasian (once a part of Stan Kenton's orchestra and now one of several of Hoose's musicians also in the Palm Beach Pops). The remaining saxophonists are Neil Bonsanti (who worked with Sinatra), Billy Ross (Woody Herman), Jim Hayward and Mike Brignola; trumpeters are Stu Brenner, Doug Michaels, Bunny Carfagno and Roget Pontbriand; trombonists Jim Long, Steve Sigmund (Ray Charles), Steve Cox and Jim Bermann, with Frank Derrick (Cab Calloway) on drums, Mark Trail on bass and Mark Marineau on Piano. "Those are pretty much the 'A' guys," Salmasian says, "but when we have a Pops show the whole band pretty much changes around." What doesn't change, regardless of personnel, is the orchestra's classic sound on the hits Fly Me to the Moon, All the Way, Summer Wind and, of course, New York, New York. The ensemble's confidence is underscored by special concert presentations like last year's The Main Event II, a re-enactment of Sinatra's 1974 appearance with the Woody Herman Orchestra at New York's Madison Square Garden. This Sunday at 7 p.m., The Sands-Revisited! relives Sinatra's 1966 show at the Las Vegas hotel with the Count Basie Orchestra at the northern branch of Palm Beach Community College's Eissey Campus Theatre (3160 PGA Blvd. in Palm Beach Gardens, 626-1863). If you miss that concert, you can catch Bob Hoose and His Orchestra on April 11, 25, and every other Thursday through June from 8:30-11:30p.m. at Christines, 1061 E. Indiantown Road in Jupiter. Phone 746-7566 |
