Dance/Show band continues Jazz on Stage Series By Chris Cooke
Omaha, Nebraska – Pam and the Pearls, a dance/show band, performs Sunday with the Jazz on Stage series at the Grande Olde Players theatre.
Pam and Jim Kalal, singing together since 1976 in the Firehouse Brigade, formed this dance/show band over a decade ago and perform primarily for social and corporate events. Their music includes Jazz standards, swing, big band, rock, R&B and pop as well as show tunes. The couple have performed hundreds of radio and television jingles and sang background vocals on recordings for the Mannheim Steamroller and C.W. McCall. Jim also keeps busy as an emcee.
The group's instrumental accompaniment includes some top-notch musicians with Ron Cooley on guitar and Dennis Strawn on reeds. Cooley teaches at Creighton University and privately, has recorded several CDs of his own and performs as a member of the Mannheim Steamroller group. Dennis plays soprano sax, flute and clarinet and has his own group "Passions of Jazz". He toured as lead saxophonist and clarinetist with the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Brian Sampson, a founding member of Pam and the Pearls can play any style of music and has performed numerous theater productions and radio jingles.
The concert with Pam and the Pearls begins at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Grand Olde Players Theatre, 2339 North 90th Street. There is an open jam session in the lobby one hour before the main concert at 5pm, allowing the students of music and the pros the opportunity to jam together and exchange musical ideas.
Free admission to the jam session and the main concert with Pam and the Pearls.
Chris Cooke is the host of Jazz in the Afternoon and Last Call on KIOS-FM.