An Unforgettable Night of Nat King Cole
December 7, 2019 @ 7:00 pm
| $35.50 – $45.50Pricing: Premium Orchestra – $45.50 (includes fee); Orchestra & Balcony – $35.50 (includes fee)
An Unforgettable Night of Nat King Cole is an evening you won’t want to miss! Vocalists Elizabeth Webb, Andy Tolins, Natty Lou Race, and Tyne Palazzi interpret Cole’s classic songs, accompanied by Rick Hirsch and the 17-piece Zeropoint Big Band. Proceeds from this event benefit The State Theatre.
Elizabeth Webb
Elizabeth Webb is a Bellefonte native and has taught piano and voice privately for the past 9 years. She has been a featured vocalist numerous times at the State Theatre at the Frank Sinatra centennial, Beatles Go Big Band, Ella Fitzgerald/Etta James concerts and with her own quartet in the Attic.
In February, Elizabeth was awarded Quarterfinalist and accepted to perform live at the American Traditions Vocal Competition held in Savannah, Georgia. She also made her New York City debut in March, performing at Birdland Jazz Club in Manhattan. In July, she made her broadway debut in THE LINEUP: Broadway’s Variety Show, at Birdland Theatre. Elizabeth loves her family, and loves to share music with others as much as she can!
Andy Tolins
Singer, songwriter, guitarist Andy Tolins has been a fixture on the local music scene for more than three decades. Moving to State College to finish his degree at PSU, Tolins found a vibrant and welcoming musical community. Joining and forming many bands over the years has provided fertile ground for his musical growth. His Triple A Blues Band won the 2000 Billboard Best Unsigned Band Contest for their album “Highwater”, featuring Tolins’ songs. Haystack Lightnin’, Tolins’ long running Bluegrass Band has released two CDs and plays weekly at Zeno’s Pub in State College. As a member of the classic rock band The Screaming Ducks for over thirty years Tolins has performed thousands of times, including many performances for State Theatre hosted benefit concerts.
Tolins’ versatility allows him to cover many genre; Jazz, Blues, Bluegrass, Rock. He has opened for David Bromberg, Brandi Carlile, and Patty Loveless at the State Theatre, and his trio TolinsSleighStetz is on the bill with Sonny Landreth at the State on November 16th. Having studied the guitar styles of Charlie Christian and Nat King Cole Trio’s guitarist, Oscar Moore, as well as the brilliance of Nat King Cole, Tolins is looking forward to collaborating and performing this swinging music with Rick Hirsch and the Zeropoint Big Band for this State Theatre show.
Natty Lou Race
Singer / songwriter Natty Lou Race has been a part of the State College music scene since 2005. Known for her powerful and dynamic singing, she brought the house down at last year’s Beatles Go Big Band show at the State.
Natty has performed as a vocalist in many bands throughout the years; most notably the JR & Natalie Band, Little Townes and Pure Cane Sugar. Her most singular acts are experienced while performing with her band Raven and the Wren.
Rick Hirsch
Saxophonist Rick Hirsch has been a fixture on the regional music scene since moving here in 1999. He’s the musical director of the Zeropoint Big Band, the artistic director of the State Theatre’s Jazz in the Attic series, and an active jazz and rock saxophonist. He is an in-demand jazz educator, with a thriving local teaching studio and frequent guest-artist appearances at schools nationwide.
Rick is also an award-winning composer and arranger with over 500 works to his credit. After earning music degrees from UMass and Northern Illinois University, he began his career apprenticing with master jazz composers Bob Mintzer and Toshiko Akiyoshi. Rick has since written music for jazz icons Tito Puente, Yusef Lateef, and Eddie Henderson; the Capitol Quartet; and Alfred Music, the world’s largest sheet music publisher. Rick is also a staff arranger for the Penn State Blue Band and the University of Wisconsin Badger Band.
Rick lives in State College with his wife (children’s science writer Rebecca Hirsch), daughters, and assorted house pets.
Tyne Palazzi
Tyne Palazzi is most often seen fronting her band Tyne & the Fastlyne, but tonight she has been given the opportunity to branch out from her roots and sing the repertoire of one of the greats. She is noted for her innovative and modern banjo playing, but this evening you will hear why people compare her voice to the sweetness of Alison Krauss and the power of Susan Tedeschi. Tyne has performed at the State Theatre many times—including such shows as “Strawberry Fields Forever”, “Heart of Gold”, the “Sinatra Centennial”, as well as “A Night with Etta and Ella” — and she is very excited to be back.
