POLAND - JALAJERU: A SWING TRAIL ACROSS AMERICA JAZZ FAVORITES

Tickets:

Zone I – PLN 60  (14.33 USD) Zone II – PLN 50 (11.94 USD)

The program includes hits of American music by performers such as Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.

Reminiscent of the Krakow atmosphere, although partly based in Opole, Scena pod Regałem under the direction of Michał Hadasik will perform again at the Opole Philharmonic. This time with guests straight from the United States, JALAJERU vocal group , presenting hits of American music.

A twist of fate is the only way to describe the origin story of the Nashville jazz vocal group JALAJERU. LaLa Deaton, Jessica Heim, Russell Hospedales and James Richardson are not only singers. Each brings an incredibly wealth of performing experience from years working in the music scene in Nashville, New York, and Los Angeles. Some support the most recognizable names in country and pop music. They write and arrange hits, and give concerts for thousands of people traveling on the largest cruise ships in the world.

The combination of JALAJERU's talent and vocal technique with their ability to compose unique songs and create arrangements makes their performances a rich and unique experience for vocal jazz enthusiasts.

Michał Hadasik - piano and concert conductor 

Jessica Heim - vocals 

LaLa Deaton - vocals 

James Richardson - vocals 

Russell Hospedales - vocals 

Luigi Leoni - electric guitar

Żenia Betliński - double bass 

Ladislav Benda - drums

James Richardson grew up in Milford, Michigan, a village west of Detroit. He began singing in three-part harmony and playing acoustic music in a folk-blugrass trio with his twin brother Shaun and cousin Carmen. As a teenager, James began to fall in love with jazz harmony and vocal improvisation. He earned a bachelor's degree in jazz studies from Western Michigan University. Richardson has extensive experience as a multi-talented vocalist, having performed with notable artists Deborah Brown, Randy Brecker, Chico Pinheiro and Ben Folds of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

Moreover, his vocal jazz performances were recognized by Downbeat magazine in 2016 and 2017 and the Nashville Industry Music Awards (NIMA) in 2020. Peter Eldridge of New York Voices describes James as "one of those rare people who this is all happening.” – His unrivaled talent, exceptionally fascinating vocal sound and openness and creativity make the viewer always experience unforgettable moments during his performances.

LaLa Deaton is a Nashville jazz country and big band singer, songwriter, producer and session vocalist with two studio albums, a number of awards, songwriter and arrangements, and collaborator with numerous producers from around the world. LaLa began her solo recording career with the release of the pop/country EP Dare , which was followed by the release of her industry-acclaimed, all-original, self-produced 1940s-style big band Christmas album, Christmassing: New Classics for the Old Soul . LaLa created her Grand Ole Opry in 2018, and in 2019 she was nominated for an Australian Golden Guitar Award for Traditional Country Album of the Year by artist Angus Gill, which featured the title track Welcome to My Heart . Her music has been featured in films and television, and her songs have been recorded and performed by over 30 artists. When he is not creating his own music, he works on sessions, gives concerts and performs at festivals in the United States, and also writes and arranges lyrics for his jazz quartet JaLaJeRu.

Singer, actress, puppeteer, host and model Jessica Heim began her career on the Music City Scene session singing and performing with country artists and songwriters. In 2008, she accepted her first contract as a lead vocalist for a major cruise line and traded her "life on land" for a nomadic one at sea and beyond. In between cruise ship contracts, she moved to New York, where she sang and danced on Sesame Street Live! Jessica recently returned to Nashville from the Czech Republic, where she was a vocal headliner for her fourth year. When she's not traveling the world, Jessica can be found in the Nashville area making music with her vocal quartet JALAJERU, having fun with '70s-themed performances, creating colorful art in all its forms at youth and entertainment classes, and evoking the excitement of audiences on... musical and theatrical plane.

With pipes as smooth as velvet and a style reminiscent of the great jazz singers of old, Russell Hospedales is often called "Buttah" by his musical peers. His presence, vocal prowess and ability to hypnotize and captivate the audience have been compared to SINATRA at the peak of their career. Russell's intense fascination with radio jingles and their accompanying harmonies forced him to start arranging at the age of 13, and inspired him to incorporate what he heard into the material he now sings with the vocal group JALAJERU. Russell studied at the Brooklyn Conservatory Of Music in New York... Over the years he sang with various vocal groups, gaining fame as both a solo singer and vocal arranger in New York and the Nashville area. His arrangements have become well known for their intricate and chromatic performances and a lush, crunchy sound that his fans and fellow singers call "one-of-a-kind genius."

The JALAJERU artists will be accompanied by the chamber band, Scena pod Regałem, under the direction of Michał Hadasik, a resident of Opole: a graduate of the Secondary School No. 2 and the PSM. F. Chopin in Opole, who currently serves as the artistic director of the Scene pod Regałem in Wrocław.

Website: https://filharmonia.opole.pl/wydarzenia/swingowym-sladem-przez-ameryke/