Staff report
Published: Thursday, February 26, 2015 at 6:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 1:40 p.m.
The late, great Ocala saxophone player Paul Luciano introduced Les Muncaster to trombonist Harry Watters several years ago in The Villages. And when the likes of Luciano says “You've got to meet” someone, then it is imperative to meet that someone.
Since then, the national touring trombonist, recording artist and former member of the Dukes of Dixieland has become a familiar face with Muncaster's Kingdom of the Sun Concert Band. In fact, Watters is set for his fourth series of shows with the Ocala band this weekend at Marion Technical Institute.
“He is a phenomenal musician,” Muncaster said.
On Friday night in a program called Jazz It Up with Harry, Watters will perform as part of a jazz septet composed of KOS members. Expect dixieland and some American standards from the 1940s and '50s, Muncaster said. “Take the A Train” and “In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning,” for example, are among the songs in the Friday set.
Watters tags in with the full band Saturday and Sunday for shows dubbed T is for Trombone. These concerts will include “Flight of the Bumblebee” — quite the spectacle on trombone, Muncaster noted — “A Family Drive Across America,” “A Musical Journey Through New Orleans,” “The Official West Point March” and Dvorak's finale from “The New World Symphony.”
Watters also does a “really pretty version” of “Embraceable You,” Muncaster said.
Once a graduate assistant to famed jazz pianist Ellis Marsalis (also father to Wynton and Branford) while attending the University of New Orleans, Watters went on to perform alongside other jazz greats, from Doc Severinsen and Al Hirt to Pete Fountain and Lou Rawls. He has appeared as a soloist with the Syracuse Symphony, the Baton Rouge Symphony, the Louisiana Philharmonic, the Tulsa Pops, the West Virginia Symphony, the University of North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band, the Janacek Philharmonic, the Moldovan Festival Orchestra and the U.S. Army Orchestra.
The KOS free concerts start at 7 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. MTI is at 1614 E. Fort King St.
Other local concerts of note this week:
Bigger Picture Records recording artist and hit country singer Craig Campbell is set for Cowboys Saloon on Saturday night. His hits include “Family Man,” “Fish,” “When I Get It,” “Keep Them Kisses Comin' ” and “Outta My Head.” Pre-sale tickets are $10. Ages 18-20 are welcome, but there is an additional $10 security fee, according to the venue.
Cowboys Saloon is on the south end of the Pine Plaza, 718 S. Pine Ave., Ocala.
The family gospel group The McKameys return to Marion County for a 7 p.m. concert today at College Road Baptist Church, 5010 SW College Road, Ocala. Tickets are $10.
County Christian band Zack Shelton and 64 to Grayson will perform at 7 tonight at First Baptist Church of Lake Rousseau, 7854 W. Dunnellon Road, Dunnellon, The band also is set to perform at 7 p.m. Friday at Christ Church of Marion County, 768 Southwest 80th St., Ocala. Love offerings accepted.
New Odyssey, a group showcasing three men with 30 instruments, will perform at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Orange Blossom Opry, 13939 SE County Road 42, Weirsdale. Tickets are $23-$27.