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My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the concert performance given by DOC SEVERINSEN and his BIG BAND ! It brought back memories from the TONIGHT SHOW ... and us recalling his musical talent and wit. His age didn't show in this concert and he was energetic and eager to perform to the audience. Wonderful entertainer ... to the crowd !
Doc is awesome he can still hit the high notes! It is a great show!!! Go see him
I've been a huge Doc fan all my life. When I was a student trumpet player in high school, Doc was the gold standard for me. I attended his 80th birthday concert 10 years ago and was amazed how good he still was. I was really looking forward to this show. Sadly, the last few years have not been kind to the good doctor. Arthritis has slowed his once fast fingers and the wear and tear has diminished his smoothness and his upper register. Please understand: What he can do at nearly 90 years old is truly remarkable. If it was anyone else, I would have walked away impressed. But this was Doc Severinsen, or I should say, this wasn't the Doc Severinsen I remember. I wish he had picked a better format for the concert. Something more appropriate for his current abilities. I know he is known for his Tonight Show, Big Band music, but this kind of music is very demanding, particularly the way he played it. If he had done a small combo with slower, lower, more lyrical music, it might have been a better show. Doc can still play, just not at the level and intensity he used to play. To quote Clint Eastwood in one of the Dirty Harry movies, "A man's got to know his limitations". The band itself was top notch. Wayne Bergeron on lead trumpet, Bill Cunliff on keyboards, many of the best studio players in Los Angeles. The singer was awesome.
Doc was amazing as usual. He still has "it" after all these years. Also, his sidemen (and woman!) were first rate. The piano player is stupendous! The only problem was that the sound for Mary Wilson was not adequate. From where I was sitting (Loges), we could hear her but not understand her words - her levels were about the same as the band, so they tended to overload her. We couldn't hear the backup singers, either.
This was an awesome consert he still plays great at an age of 86, an has a lot of humour. I even got som cd covers signed. And in the end i have got a picture of me and him together taken. So go and see Doc while you still can
3/28/14 Doc, his band and Mary Wilson exemplify their love of music. Such a mood booster for the senior generation seeing Doc (age 86) and Mary (age 70) perform with such stamina. We thought their music rocked the building until we realized it was a 5.1 earthquake. Doc never missed a beat. Great spotlight performances too on an original Carson Show band member and also the young drummer with the group. Just fantastic!
Mary Wilson was fantastic as usual. Her background singers made the show. Did some great Supremes hits in a Jazzy way. Gowns were beautiful. Doc was super and so was his group.
Nice show…haven't seen such a professional Big Band in quite a while. Can't recommend more highly for those that like classic instrumental big band sound. Mary was entertaining but her mike was likely not set up properly? Maybe a little too much frenetic sax solos..cool but soulful melody is fine too and would provide more balance. And have to mention, at 87, Doc was phenomenal!
If you enjoy music that you might hear in a cantina or music from a mariachi band, this group would be for you. If not, this might be just average. I fit in the latter category. The group of five draws its interest in the U.S. from Doc Severinson, bandleader on the Tonight Show for most of Johnny Carson's tenure as host. Known for his wild fashions, this evening was no exception, and he even featured Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks colors, which he wisely referenced in his opening remarks, also including mention of his being from nearby Arlington, the one in Oregon (Washington has an "Arlington" that is much closer to where this concert was held). It had started snowing prior to his concert, but no mention was made of this, perhaps for fear that it would clear the room, which happened to get increasingly warmer as the night went on (the latter hadn't happened in other events I've seen here). Doc is also the spokesperson for the band, injecting personality and humor, needling each of his bandmates during the evening. Some of his humor was a bit risque, though, such as telling Gil not to speak Spanish and maybe that's why they weren't welcome in Arizona. Another had to do with how Jimmy, from Cuba, happened to be. It was clear by the exchanges, though, that the bandmembers are fond of each other and each other's talents, gauged by the positive encouragement and reactions I witnessed. Be prepared for longer songs than what one typically sees as a concert. In what ended up being about a 90 minute concert, there were perhaps 10 songs. Doc is a step above a cameo role in each, and it seemed that, now 86 and looking it, that he was pacing himself, judging by his facial expressions in-between his parts and the fact that he increased his participation with the last song or two, as if glad to have made it. This isn't a criticism, just an observation. His bandmates, very talented, were the primary contributors, most particularly the violinist (Charlie), who was amazing, bearing some resemblance to actor Russell Crowe. Meanwhile, the guitar player (Gil per their website, though it sounded like "Heel" when Doc said it) next to him was also an obvious considerable participant, doing some things that require a tremendous amount of energy and for which he demonstrated great enthusiasm. On the other side of Doc was cellist Kevin, who was in the background, though I noticed him playing vigorously on one number, being featured on one. The drummer, Jimmy, showed great passion and talent, most particularly on a number when he came over to drum on Gil's guitar - while Gil continued to play it! Doc did a subtle promo for their CDs, and he said that Gil and he would be available to sign them. A couple of songs (~20 minutes) later, he announced their last number, saying we could go lose our a's out at the casino, missing an opportunity to say something like, "but stop by and see us afterwards first." Then, they did an encore song (remember, these are longer-than-typical songs) to complete the night. The room being quite warm by that time and the anxiety of the weather building with some, was emptied fairly quickly.
The talent of the groupand individual musicians was excellent. No doubt but not a commercial sucess. Tthe selections emphisis was on the Miquel group and Mexican music that in the main was very similar. I understand trying to showcase the group in the U.S. which is admirable for DOC. However, for many of us Doc Severinsen is the main draw. We would never just go see the Miguel group as a stand alone. From a customers point of view I want Doc or any performer to play music that we associate with the performer which are the commercial successes that draw us to the performer. From my perspective I would like to see a better mix including some commercail standards that Doc is famous for. I cannot name one of the seletions played nor does any tune resonate after the show.
Doc has always been a long time favorite and I would go to see him again.
Absolutely "Great" "Doc" still has it! The Violin player is the best I have ever seen or heard.
Phenomenal. Doc was almost as good as he was when he played with our college band 47years ago. All the other musicians were also phenomenal.
Doc played a warm flugel on Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas . His trumpet on my favorite"The light of Christmas" was wonderful. Vanessa Thomas ..her voice is remarkable you really need to hear and experience them. The High School Choirs and the Bells were great for the Holiday numbers....Hope they can do it again next year...First time for us at Fox Valley Arts Center...Great seats...venue...will watch for other events.
A great show full of wonderful music, a perfect way to celebrate the holidays. Full string orchestra, the Big Band, a guest vocalist with a tremendous voice, and a choir full of well trained high school voices.
This concert was fantastic. Doc Severinson is still an awesome musician. The arrangements of the music were beautiful. He brought in a local bell choir and vocal choirs from the area as well as playing with the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra. It was just an incredible experience. Doc has a fantastic musical background (not just the Tonight Show) and his talents as a musician and arranger and composer were in top form Saturday night!
Severinsen still blows a mean trumpet and has put together a not to be missed Christmas show, complete with full orchestra, big band, choir, and handbells.
I have seen Doc. 3 times before I saw Him on this past Friday 12/13/13. I was very dissappointed on how little He Himself played but the Orchestra was absolutely fabulous. But i bought the Tickets to hear Him.
The entertainment was fantastic! Easy to get to from southwest suburbs and great parking/prices!
This show was SUCH fun to see and enjoy. It gets better everytime I go! I would go see Doc Severinsen everytime he gets even CLOSE to Chicago (and we do) Highly suggest everyone to go, your hands hurt from clapping so hard!!
