Appleton After Hours 2008-2009 Season

The Appleton will offer a four-program season starting Thursday, Sept. 11 with the return of the very popular Bill Allred’s Classic Jazz Band. This little Big Band of nine former Disney and Rosie O’Grady musicians has been together for nearly 20 years and has recorded 12 CDs. The band uses a five-horn front line and performs just about everything from Jelly Roll Morton to Count Basie and all the stops in between. Our nonprofit event partner for the evening is the Children’s Home Society of Mid-Florida.

As always, doors open and food service begins at 5 p.m. with music set for 6 p.m. Admission is $5 for members, $10 for non-members; food and drink are available at extra charge (cash only).

For September and October performances, additional parking with a free shuttle is available at Scudder’s Gallery Square, 4645 E. Silver Springs Blvd., across the boulevard from the main entrance to Lowe’s.

We are thrilled to announce that the one and only Dick Hyman joins us for an evening of fine music and fine art on Thursday, Oct. 16. Mr. Hyman is a master of every significant American piano style of the 20th century. Indeed, his career spans more than six decades and includes tours with the Benny Goodman Orchestra, Mitch Miller, Percy Faith and Arthur Godfrey. He has recorded more than 100 solo albums and was composer, arranger, conductor and pianist for a dozen Woody Allen films including “Zelig,” “Hannah and Her Sisters”and “Mighty Aphrodite.” His other scores include “Moonstruck,” for which he won several awards, and his music is also featured in “The Mask,”“Billy Bathgate” and “Two Weeks Notice.”

On Thursday, March 5, Spanish-born duo-pianists Elena Martin and Jose Meliton will perform music composed by Isaac Albeniz specifically for two pianos. Both hold the Titulo Superior de Piano from the Real Conservatorio Superior de Musica de Madrid and have performed throughout the world (most recently in South Africa, Hong Kong, The Netherlands, Costa Rica and Germany).

We wrap up the season on Friday, May 8, the only Friday performance in the series, with the return of Ya Gozo Latin Jazz Band.