Tucson Jazz Institute students will play songs from the 1930, '40s and '50s at the Mother's Day Big Band Bash.
There will be a swinging side to Mother’s Day this year.
With three separate groups planning jazz events, moms with happy feet can enjoy their favorite music from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Opening the day is the poolside Jazz Brunch at the Sheraton Tucson Hotel & Suites, 5151 E. Grant Road, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The hotel has a variety of pampering activities to celebrate Mom as the center of family life, including her own special drink: the Mom’osa. Music will be the bright and bouncy sort of traditional jazz played by the Arizona Roadrunners.
After that, it will be time to scurry downtown for the Mother’s Day Big Band Bash at 3 p.m., sponsored by the newly organized Tucson Jazz Institute, at the Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave. The institute’s students are steeped in the sounds of big bands from the 1930s to ’50s. Their talents will be framed within ensembles named after jazz luminaries Stan Kenton, Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Fletcher Henderson.
All the groups will be joined by Grammy Award-winning sax soloist Brice Winston, a TJI faculty member and a touring regular with New Orleans’ trumpeter Terence Blanchard. Special guests the Blue Note Jazz Combo will perform, introducing a new piece by Max Goldschmid, “Omar’s Enlightenment.”
The Mother’s Day Big Band Bash will include a special package of gifts for every mother and grandmother (and great-grandmothers, too).
In the evening, jazzy families can add Latin spice to the day by taking their moms to St. Philip’s Plaza, 4280 N. Campbell Ave., at East River Road, for a 7 p.m. concert and dance presented by the Tucson Jazz Society. Headlining is the 10-piece Orquesta La Unica led by pianist Amilcar Guevara. Employing musicians from Venezuela, Guatemala, Puerto Rico and Mexico, the band’s repertoire includes traditional and contemporary sounds of Latin America and the Caribbean, including the Cuban-style charanga.
Dancing will be encouraged, with several of the city’s Latin dance clubs using the event to showcase their polished interpretations of these popular steps.
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IF YOU GO
What: Mother’s Day Brunch
When: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday
Where: Sheraton Tucson Hotel & Suites, 5151 E. Grant Road
Price: no cover; brunch and other events priced individually
Info: 321-7621, www.sheraton.com/tucson
What: Mother’s Day Big Band Bash
When: 3 p.m. Sunday
Where: Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave.
Price: $20 adults, $15 students and senior citizens
Info: 514-0935
What: Mother’s Day Latin dance and concert, featuring Orquesta La Unica led by Amilcar Guevara, presented by the Tucson Jazz Society
When: 7 p.m.
Where: St. Philip’s Plaza, 4280 N. Campbell Ave. (at East River Road)
Price: $20 general admission, $15 TJS members, $10 students
Info: 902-1265, www.tucsonjazz.org
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OTHER MOTHER’S DAY EVENTS
“FESTIVAL DE REBOZOS” – THE BEAUTIFUL SHAWLS OF MEXICO: The event, presented by the Latin American Art Patrons, a support group of the Tucson Museum of Art, culminates with two public events: the Gala Celebration of Music and Dance and a Mother’s Day/Día de las Madres family celebration. A wide range of handmade rebozos from the finest silk to colorful cotton will be for sale in the museum store during the six-day event. All proceeds will benefit Latin American Art programs, exhibits and acquisitions at the Tucson Museum of Art. Viewing hours are: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, noon-4 p.m. Sundays. Here’s the schedule: • 6 p.m. Saturday: Gala Celebration will feature Mexican appetizers, and a program on the history of rebozos in music, poetry and dance. Mariachi Luz de Luna and Folklorico San Juan will perform and the night’s guest MC will be Lupita Murillo of KVOA News 4. A fashion show demonstrating the many ways of wearing them will conclude the evening. Tickets are $30 a person. No- host bar will be available. • Noon-4 p.m. Sunday: Mother’s Day/Día de las Madres. A family celebration in which people can bring in rebozos from their family for expert evaluation, and watch a master weaver demonstrate her craft. There will be booths selling aguas frescas, churros and paletas (fresh fruit popsicles), and a photo booth for a family portrait. Admission to the event and museum is free. Where: Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block, 140 N. Main Ave. Info: 624-2333, www.tucsonmuseumofart.org
MOVIES WITH MOM: “ALL ABOUT EVE”: Spend a special Mother’s Day with the woman who brought you into the world and the ever-fabulous Bette Davis in one of her more notorious roles. “All About Eve” is all about women clawing their way to the top. Davis stars as Margo Channing, a New York theater star whose protégée Eve (Anne Baxter) turns out to be quite the backstabber. But don’t worry, Eve doesn’t sit back and take it. All moms in attendance will receive a fresh-cut flower while they last, and there will be a free raffle for a basket of goodies that will make your mama feel special. The cherry on top? Mimosas will be for sale. (As the Loft says, “everyone in the movie is drinking, so why shouldn’t you?”) When: 1 p.m. Sunday Where: The Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. Price: $7 Info: 795-0844, www.loftcinema.com
SUNDAY
“MUSIC UNDER THE STARS”: Enjoy sweet music in the park with mom. The Tucson Pops Orchestra kicks off its “Music Under the Stars” 2009 season directed by Laszlo Veres. Performing with the orchestra will be local artist Crystal Stark. A magna cum laude graduate of UA, Stark was one of American Idol’s top 44 contestants in 2006. Adding to the entertainment, the Tucson Girls Chorus will perform under the direction of Marcela Molina. When: 7 p.m. Sunday Where: Reid Park – DeMeester, 900 S. Randolph Way Price: Free Info: 722-5853, www.tucsonpops.org