Seacoast Jazz Society celebrates P400 with a 'Spring Starlight Ball'

PORTSMOUTH — New England's popular 19-piece Compaq Big Band, guest vocalist Katie Oberholtzer, and two professional dance couples showing off Latin and Swing styles, will highlight an evening of big band music and dancing at Jimmy's Jazz and Blues Club on Sunday, May 7, from 6 to 9 p.m.

Ticket proceeds benefit the educational and scholarship programs of the Seacoast Jazz Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and partner of the PortsmouthNH 400 Celebration.

The versatile repertoire of the Compaq Big Band will include swing, Latin, and popular dance standards, reminiscent of Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Stan Kenton, Chris Walden, and Tito Puente.

Jazz Vocalist and Maine native Katie Oberholtzer will be out front bringing songs made famous by Ella Fitzgerald, Diane Schuur, Tierney Sutton, Natalie Cole, and other great artists. In addition to performing at Dizzy's Club at Lincoln Center and other venues, Katie has performed with the Portland Jazz Orchestra, and is the recipient of Downbeat's 2021 and 2022 "Outstanding Jazz Vocal Soloist" award.

Tickets are $100 per person and include a three-course dinner with choice of entree. During the band break, professional dancers will perform dances like the tango, foxtrot, cha cha, waltz, and East Coast Swing. Throughout the evening, there will be plenty time for the guests to take to the floor dancing too.

For more information and to reserve tickets, go to Ticketmaster, or Jimmy's website at: https://jimmysoncongress.com/event/spring-starlight-ball-big-band-extravaganza/, or the Seacoast Jazz Society website at: https://www.seacoastjazz.org/ball.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Seacoast Jazz Society celebrates P400 with a 'Spring Starlight Ball'