Music is a gift. If presented well, it’s one of the greatest gifts you can receive, and the Music in the Mountains Festival offers musical perfection. Currently underway, this local and annual festival has presented classical music along with jazz, classic pop and film scores at a series of local venues for the past 38 years.
While every offering is special, one thing the festival has always done well is host themed events; perhaps there will be a night of world music, an evening of classical “hits” or John Williams film scores. One theme for this year’s festival is the music of Louis Armstrong. This show, titled “Satchmo Scattin’ & Swingin’,” will take place Saturday at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College, featuring trumpet player and conductor Byron Stripling, along with the Music in the Mountains Pops Orchestra.
If you go
WHAT: Music in the Mountains presents “Satchmo Scattin’ & Swingin.’”
WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday.
WHERE: Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College, 1000 Rim Drive.
TICKETS: $50-$70.
MORE INFORMATION: Visit musicinthemountains.com.
For Stripling, the “gift” of music is something that hast been part of his life since Day One.
“Music was always there for me, whether I was depressed or euphoric, music was the compliment to that through my life. I learned that through my parents; my father was a choir director, also a classical singer. My mother played flute, my brother clarinet. There was always music in my house,” he said. “So I love classical music, but I also love jazz, pop, blues – I love all these different genres of music. So, I don’t discriminate in terms of taste, I just always try to put the best possible music on stage.”
Some of that “best, possible music” came from Louis Armstrong, and Satchmo was an artist that Stripling has looked up to his whole life.
“I’ve been deeply inspired by his music. Some of the first music I heard was my dad playing Louis Armstrong, whether it was traditional things from the 1920s that he did, or it could be later things like ‘Hello Dolly,’ ‘What a Wonderful World’ and so many others,” Stripling said. “Our goal is that you pat your foot while you’re at my concert. That’s my goal: We’re trying to uplift everybody. And part of that is the physical act is the music feels so good that you want to get up and dance.”
That dancing could also be inspired by tap dancer Leo Manzari, who will make a special appearance in the show.
“I like to give people something that they never expected. He’s (Manzari) an amazing, cutting-edge tap dancer who can play and dance in any genre,” Stripling said. “I like to work with tap dancers. They are really just musicians; you can tell them ‘I’ve got eight bars here, it’s your turn here,’ and they got it. They are really great musicians in their own way.”
Celebrating Armstrong is celebrating the idea that America at one point was a symbol for possibility. While that idea and symbol at the moment is questionable, you can’t erase history and the fact that Armstrong lived the American dream.
“Remember, this guy born in poverty was taken under the wing by this beautiful Jewish family. They took good care of him, made sure he had clothes to wear, and he’d go out and play his trumpet. That’s truly what America is about. It’s not about ‘how can we separate ourselves a little bit more?’ No, it's about ‘how can we come together a little bit more,” Stripling said. “Music is the perfect vehicle to bring people together. That’s why William James said, ‘I don’t sing because I’m happy, I’m happy because I sing.’ We know that the act of giving a song lifts up everybody.”
Music in the Mountains runs through Aug. 4.
Bryant Liggett is a freelance writer and KDUR station manager. Reach him at liggett_b@fortlewis.edu.
