TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 1999

Doc swings big band style

By Ken Hanson

On-Line Forty-Niner

Everybody at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts knew there was a Doc in the house. Doc Severinsen, that is. The award-winning musician and conductor played two shows Sunday at the center.

Doc Severinsen and His Big Band pleased the audience with traditional big band swing and a healthy dose of the blues.

Accompanying Severinsen's band was Barbara Morrison, belting out jumpin' blues vocals. Morrison's vocal talent left some in the crowd muttering "Man, can she wail." Though she only did a few numbers with Severinsen and his big band, Morrison definitely left her mark in the ears of the crowd.

Severinsen seemed happy to be playing with original members of his "Tonight Show Band." He was not afraid to let sax player Doug Webb, trumpeter Snoopy Young and trombone man Erin Tack step up to the front for scorching solos in different renditions of popular swing songs.

Severinsen's long-time drummer Ed Shaughnessy even led a rendition Benny Goodman's "Sing, Sing, Sing." Shaughnessy took the thundering drums of the song to new heights with a five-minute drum solo.

Severinsen, who has played with such big band greats as Tommy Dorsey and Benny Goodman, has been playing trumpet since the age of seven. After serving in the Army, Severinsen joined the Tonight Show Orchestra in 1962 and became the musical director five years later.

Severinsen has also played and conducted symphony orchestras such as the Minnesota Orchestra, the Milwaukee Orchestra and the Buffalo Philharmonic.

In addition to his playing and conducting, Severinsen also helped design the Bel Canto, an instrument that has been described as the ultimate horn.

At the end of the evening Doc Severinsen and His Big Band received a standing ovation for its outstanding performance. Severinsen, as is his style, left his audience members wanting more. And by doing between 60 and 70 performances a year, they are sure to get it.