The Lars Halle Jazz Orchestra
The Lars Halle Jazz Orchestra was started in January of 2000 by Lars Halle and has quickly become a highly regarded ensemble in the Philadelphia area. It consists of 17 of Philadelphia’s finest young musicians, ranging from 22 to 32 in age. The group strives to create and spread new and exciting music as well as revive and re-introduce some of the classic big band repertoire. The bulk of the repertoire is composed and/or arranged by Lars Halle who also leads the band from behind the drum set. The band also performs selections from the books of Count Basie, Thad Jones, Stan Kenton, and Rob McConnell. The band is proud to have recently recorded a new CD, Speaking of Apropos, featuring all original compositions.
Norwegian-born Lars Halle has been composing and arranging since a very young age, and has been active in big bands since the age of 11. He has been a serious arranger for the past decade, writing arrangements for several High School jazz ensembles, semi-professional big bands in Sweden, and at the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts. Lars’ arrangements have been recorded on three separate recordings in Sweden by the Sandviken Big Band and the Baltic Big Band and a selection of best-selling compositions is published through Kendor Music Publishers. He also works closely with one of Sweden’s foremost jazz trumpet virtuosos, Lasse Lindgren. Lars’ music has been performed by renowned artists such as Benny Golson, Bobby Shew, Jon Faddis, Rob McConnell, Ray Anderson, Dave Samuels, Jurt Elling, Tim Hagans, Jeff Jarvis, John Fedchock and the Norrbotten Big Band. As a drummer, he has performed with Allen Vizzutti, Arturo Sandoval, Rob McConnell, Phil Woods, Grover Washington Jr., Steve Turré and others. Lars is a graduate of the University of the Arts with a degree in Jazz Performance. At UArts he studied arranging privately with William Zaccagni.
The orchestra’s other musicians are no less accomplished. Trumpeter Matt Cappy has performed with Tony Bennett, Lou Rawls, and Wallace Roney, has toured and recorded with Jill Scott and Maxwell, and can be heard on Michael Jackson’s Butterflies, but yet still finds the time to play with the ensemble. Lead Trombonist Randy Kapralick has quickly become one of the hottest commodities on the jazz scene in Philadelphia. Lead trumpeter Matt Gallagher is on of the most sought-after lead trumpeters in Philadelphia and is constantly in the studio or performing with major acts such as Aretha Franklin and Barry Manilow. Lead saxophonist Todd Groves has shared the stage with — among others — Johnny Mathis, Michael Feinstein and Little Anthony.
The orchestra has had the opportunity to be joined by many of Philadelphia’s finest jazz musicians, such as former band-member and tenor saxophonist Chris Farr, pianist George Burton, saxophonists Rick Lawn, Doug DeHays and Jay Davidson, trumpeters Joe Scanella and André Canniere. The band also had the good fortune to feature John Swana as a collaborator and guest in November 2002. The band plans to continue its collaboration with John, as well as new projects with musicians such as prospering singer Meg Clifton.
Many of the band’s members are also active in established bands and small ensembles in the Philadelphia area, such as Don’t Call Me Francis, Big Swing Face, The Exceptions, The Freakin’ Cads, Brass Roots, Kaktus, The Sextet and The Lars Halle Trio.
