Dennis Rowland, Extreme Decibel Big Band to roar at Kerr Center on Jan. 4 January 4, 2012

Former Count Basie Orchestra vocalist Dennis Rowland and Clark Krueger’s Extreme Decibel Big Band will roar into the new year at the ASU Kerr Cultural Center on Wednesday, Jan. 4 at 7:30 p.m. with a concert titled “Bigger Is Better!”

Tickets are available at the box office, 6110 N. Scottsdale Road, by phone at 480-596-2660, online at www.ASUKerr.com and at Ticketmaster outlets. Prices are $24 for general admission, $29 for reserved seats. The “Jazz in Concert” series is presented by Jazz in AZ and the ASU Kerr Cultural Center, made possible by a generous gift from The Jazzbird Foundation.

Rowland continues to be a standout in the current music scene. While he has his own style, Rowland is clearly reminiscent of the legendary Joe Williams, who sang many years earlier with the Count Basie Orchestra. When Krueger’s band plays vintage charts, Rowland clearly channels all he’s got into bringing out the best from the soloists and ensemble. The sound is truly BIG! Concert-goers can expect to hear timeless Basie hits, as well as songs associated with Sammy Davis Jr. and “The Chairman of the Board,” Frank Sinatra.

Born in Detroit, Rowland has used his residency in Phoenix to branch out into acting and community service work. In 2007, he was inducted into the prestigious Herberger Broadcast and Performing Arts Hall of Fame in recognition of his talent and community service. He also continues to sing locally and tour nationally and internationally, including performances for Riverwalk Jazz with the Jim Cullum Jazz Orchestra at Club Pearl in San Antonio (broadcast nationally) and appearances with the Big Band Jazz Terrazzo in Spain, and the Estonia Dream Big Band in that country and Ken Nosia Big Band in Russia. Rowland has been a Concord Jazz Records artist since 1995, and has a number of releases, including “Now Dig This,” “Get Here” and “Rhyme, Rhythm and Reason,” the latter recorded live at Kazimierz last year, which will be on sale at the concert.

Formed in 1987, the Extreme Decibel Big Band is one of the Southwest’s longest running big bands. The 17-piece group features many of the Valley’s top musicians and boasts a repertoire of more than 300 arrangements, including classic and contemporary big band charts.