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07/30/2019 04:42 PMThe George Flynn Classical Concerts Series will kick off its 22nd season of providing free musical entertainment in Clinton when the New Black Eagle Jazz Band comes to The Morgan School on Sunday, Aug. 18 at 4 p.m.
Band leader Billy Novick described the New Black Eagle Jazz Band’s music as “traditional New Orleans jazz—we do a pretty wide variety of music, but we don’t really stray past music from about 1945.”
Novick said that the band was originally formed in 1971, and has been together since with some changes to the lineup. The band has played in Connecticut before, but never in Clinton.
Audiences can expect a lot improvising within the songs, according to Novick, including long solos and energetic ensemble pieces where the whole band plays at once.
“The energy that ensemble creates can get sort of spirited and joyful,” Novick said.
The 22nd season of the Flynn concerts runs from August 2019 to May 2020. Besides the New Black Eagle Jazz Band, the Sunday performance series will include the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet on Oct. 27, the Swingle Singers on Dec. 15, The Borealis Wind Quintet on April 5, 2020, and conclude with Lucia Micarelli on May 3, 2020.
“We like to have it diverse; we like to appeal to all music lovers,” said series president Elaine Godowsky.
As for goals for the upcoming season, Godowsky said, “I’d like to get the younger people in. The music is for all ages; there is not a restriction on age. We just want to appeal to everyone.”
All the concerts in the series are provided for free thanks to a trust established by the late Clinton resident George Flynn in 1997.
According to georgeflynn- classicalconcerts.com, “The George S. Flynn Concerts are made possible by a trust fund Mr. Flynn established in his will. It was his great desire to provide ‘classical music concerts for the benefit, education, and pleasure of the inhabitants of the town of Clinton.’ It is in his honor and to his memory that we dedicate these concerts.”
Godowsky said that she can’t believe the series is already in its 22nd season.
“Time flies by and you have no idea all of a sudden, it’s been 22 year, 30 years, 50 years,” she said. “It’s a real eye-opener how time flies.”
To receive free tickets to the concert, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to George Flynn Classical Concerts, P.O. Box 473, Clinton, CT 06413 or call 860-669-1208. For more information on the series, visit www.georgeflynnclassicalconcerts.com.