John Coltrane celebration coming to Paramount Theater

MIDDLETOWN — The Dave Liebman Big Band will celebrate the music of John Coltrane in a performance to be held 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 17, at the Historic Paramount Theater, 17 South St., Middletown.
National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master Dave Liebman and his 18-piece band, under the direction of Gunnar Mossblad, are holding a yearlong commemoration to honor Coltrane’s 90th birthday, Liebman’s 70th birthday, and the 50th anniversary of Coltrane’s death. This Grammy-nominated big band has been recording and performing in major jazz performance spaces and universities around the country since 2000.
“Lieb” will be featured on several iconic Coltrane masterworks arranged specifically for him.
The band is made up of top-shelf New York City musicians: Dave Liebman, Gunnar Mossblad, Charles Pillow, Dave Riekenberg, Tom Christensen, Jay Brandford, Bob Millikan, Brian Pareschi, Stuart Mack, Patrick Dorian, Tim Sessions, Scott Reeves, Sam Burtis, Jeff Nelson, Jim Ridl, Vic Juris, Tony Marino, and Marko Marcinko.
SUNY Orange’s Cultural Affairs department is hosting the performance. Tickets are available online at middletownparamount.com, by phone at 346-4195, and at the box office Monday through Friday, 1 to 4 p.m. Admission is $15 and $10 for senior citizens, faculty, staff, and alumni, plus a $2 service charge for each ticket. Students are allowed free admittance at the door.
Master class and documentaryLiebman is one of the world’s most respected Coltrane performers, scholars, and lecturers. He will offer a master class workshop, "The Legacy of John Coltrane," at 11 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 18, in Orange Hall, Room 23. The workshop will also feature music director/saxophonist Gunnar Mossblad and trumpet/flugelhorn player Pat Dorian.
Also, to set the stage for the performance and master class is the screening of the new documentary, "Chasing Trane — The John Coltrane Documentary," on Friday, Sept. 15, at 7 p.m. in Harriman Hall Film Theatre.
The master class-workshop and documentary film are free and open to the public.
For more information call 341-4891 or visit sunyorange.edu/culturalaffairs.