“Simply Sinatra” starring Steve Lippia started off the Galaxy of Stars 2012-13 season on Sunday, Sept. 16 in the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center at WCU.
Steve Lippia performs with the 10-piece Big Band Orchestra. Photo by Bayleigh Davis.
A resident of Las Vegas, Lippia has headlined such venues as Rio Suites Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and Resorts Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. He has played concerts with symphonies all over North America.
For the Galaxy of Stars performance, Lippia was accompanied onstage by the 10-piece Big Band Orchestra. Some of the band’s many talented musicians even alternated between instruments during the performance.
The band consisted of three trumpet players, three saxophone players, one trombone player, a one-man percussion section, one cello and a piano. The saxophone players alternated between baritone saxophone, clarinet and flute.
The show started just after 7:45 p.m. with the tune “All the Way.” The first half of the show consisted of nine pieces including “A Summer Wind” and “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” which featured a trombone solo.
“A lot of these songs are in soundtracks to popular movies, and people don’t even realize it,” said Lippia.
The band brought everyone back together after intermission with a fast tempo jazz piece, followed by “Moonlight” which included a piano solo by Adam Watkins.
The second half of the show was filled with pieces that Lippia dedicated to different people and organizations. After telling a story about Neil Armstrong landing on the moon, he dedicated “Fly Me to the Moon” to the late astronaut.
Lippia then dedicated “That’s Life” to the veterans in the audience.
Toward the end of the show, Lippia told the audience about his experiences with different airlines and having to perform at different places without his luggage. He then dedicated “Come Fly With Me” to U.S. Airways.
This particular show appealed to an older crowd and very few students were in attendance. Those students who turned out, however, did enjoy the show. “It’s absolutely amazing how talented everyone is,” said Nicole Martin, a freshman.
Some students attended this event to receive credit for music classes. “I’m glad that this event was available for credit and available for students at such a reasonable price,” said freshman Cheyenne Graham.
The next show in the Galaxy of Stars lineup is illusionist Jason Bishop on Sunday, Oct. 7. More information about the Galaxy of Stars schedule is avilable here. For ticket information, contact the box office at (828) 227-2479.
