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Young musicians will play old favorites
By JOY DAVIS-PLATT
© St. Petersburg Times, SPRING HILL -- On Saturday, the Community Performing Arts Guild at Mariner United Methodist Church will present a group of jazz musicians too young to remember when most of their material was written. Sonny LaRosa and America's Youngest Jazz Band will perform two free concerts at the church. Made up of musicians between ages 6 and 12, the Pinellas County jazz band has been honored nationally and internationally for performances of jazz and big-band classics. LaRosa founded the group in 1978 because of his love for music and a desire to encourage young musicians to share his passion for big-band-era tunes. LaRosa says he arranges the music to suit the strengths of his young musicians. The band performs regularly at the Suncoast Dixieland Jazz Festival, and in 1995 it was the youngest band ever to perform at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland. In 1998, the group earned a gold medal at the International Music Festival in New Orleans. This is the first performance of the Community Performing Arts Guild's 2001-02 season. The guild, an organization dedicated to bringing affordable musical entertainment to Hernando County, distributes free tickets in advance of concert dates. Donations are taken at the performance to pay for future shows. If they wish, subscribers can pay $55 and get tickets for the entire season to avoid waiting in lines. Sonny LaRosa and America's Youngest Jazz Band will perform at 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday at Mariner United Methodist Church, 7079 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill. Ticket availability is limited. For information, call 596-9263.
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