Executive & Artistic Director
Thor Steingraber
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Pacific Jazz Orchestra With Eva Noblezada
Chris Walden, Artistic Director & Conductor
Sat Feb 1 | 8pm
Run Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes including a 20-minute intermission
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An Interview With Chris Walden and Eva Noblezada
Musicians | Chris Walden | Pacific Jazz Orchestra® | Eva Noblezada
DownBeat Magazine: The Rapid Rise of The Soraya
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Program
“Eva-ture”
“Don’t Rain on My Parade,” music and lyrics by Jule Styne
“Colors of the Wind,” music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
“Teach Me Tonight,” music by Gene de Paul and lyrics by Sammy Cahn
“Corcovado,” music by Antônio Carlos Jobim and lyrics by Gene Lees
“Man! I Feel Like a Woman,” music and lyrics by Shania Twain and Robert John Lange
“Cry Me a River,” music and lyrics by Arthur Hamilton
“Beautiful Little Fool,” music by Jason Howland and lyrics by Nathan Tysen
“Smooth Operator,” music and lyrics by Sade Adu and Ray St. John
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Intermission
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“My Ship”/“Speak Low,” music by Kurt Weill
“Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You,” music and lyrics by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio
“Eleanor Rigby,” music and lyrics by John Lennon and Paul McCartney
“Manhattan,” music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart
“I’d Give My Life for You,” music by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, lyrics by Alain Boublil and Richard Maltby Jr.
“All I’ve Ever Known,” music and lyrics by Anaïs Mitchell
“Valerie,” music and lyrics by Abi Harding, Boyan Chowdhury, Dave McCabe, Russell Pritchard, and Sean Payne
Program Note
Great vocalists backed by a big band sound have been a Soraya signature for many years. There is no venue in Los Angeles that more regularly puts together a full section of strings and brass along with soaring vocals, whether it be tributes to great artists like Henry Mancini, Frank Sinatra, and Linda Ronstadt, or Broadway blowouts with artists such as Tyne Daly, Joshua Henry, Javier Muñoz, Reeve Carney, and Megan Hilty.
With the arrival of the Pacific Jazz Orchestra, under the leadership of Chris Walden, The Soraya has taken it to the next level. The orchestra’s sold-out performance last spring with Aaron Tveit was a high watermark, and we will surely create another triumph tonight with Broadway megastar Eva Noblezada, who has already played the leading roles in three Broadway shows, including starring in the original casts of Hadestown and The Great Gatsby.
Gratefully,
Thor Steingraber
Executive and Artistic Director,
Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts
Twyla Tharp — 60th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee
One of America’s most enduring and lauded living dance-makers, Twyla Tharp celebrates her 60th anniversary with a coast-to-coast tour featuring her award-winning ballet set to Beethoven’s “Diabelli Variations.” She also brings us a new piece with music by Philip Glass. Tharp’s use of music to create works of startling originality and beauty defines this important milestone performance.
Musicians
Piano
Josh Nelson
Drums
Gary Novak
Guitar
Justin Smith
Bass
Edwin Livingston
Woodwinds
Jeff Driskill, Mark Visher, Dan Kaneyuki, Phil Feather, Chad Smith
Trumpets
Ryan Deweiss, Kye Palmer, Chris Gray, Aaron Janik
Trombones
Andy Martin, Alex Iles, Ramsey Hampton, Tiffany Johns
Horn
Allen Fogel
Percussion
Pete Korpela
Harp
Gayle Levant
Violins
Charlie Bisharat, Jen Choi Fischer, Grace Oh, Bethany Mennemeyer, Daphne Chen, Mark Cargill, Tammy Hatwan, Adrianne Pope, Josefina Vergara, Stephanie Matthews, Ina Veli, Gabe Witcher
Violas
Leah Katz, Andrew McIntosh, Marta Honer, Linnea Powell
Cello
Tim Loo, Caleb Jones, Hillary Smith, David Mergen
Chris Walden
Chris Walden, artistic director and conductor, is a seven-time Grammy-nominated composer and arranger, who has worked with numerous artists including Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, Paul McCartney, Diana Krall, Aretha Franklin, Rihanna, Seal, Barbra Streisand, John Legend, and Herb Alpert. He serves as lead arranger at the Oscars, and the Kennedy Center Honors, and has conducted the LA Phil, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Metropole Orkest, Boston Pops, Philadelphia Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, WDR Big Band Cologne, and many more.
Pacific Jazz Orchestra
Pacific Jazz Orchestra is Los Angeles’ premier 40-piece ensemble for jazz and beyond, redefining the orchestral jazz experience. With an annual concert season featuring five distinct projects and an impressive lineup of guest artists, the PJO transcends genres to present a vibrant array of musical styles. Performances take place across select L.A. venues, showcasing the city’s rich cultural and musical diversity.
As the only orchestra of its kind in the United States, the PJO epitomizes the spirit of jazz — one of America’s original art forms — brought to life by the unmatched talent of some of L.A.’s finest musicians. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the PJO boasts an advisory board that includes legends such as David Foster, Monica Mancini, Alan Bergman, Rickey Minor, Harvey Mason Jr., and Ledisi.
Eva Noblezada
Actress and singer Eva Noblezada most recently starred on Broadway as “Daisy” in The Great Gatsby and will next be seen as Sally Bowles in the hit revival of Cabaret. She won a Grammy and was nominated for a Tony for Hadestown. It was Noblezada’s second Tony nomination in her first two Broadway roles, following her earlier nod in 2017 for the title role of Miss Saigon. She was featured in the Amblin film, Easter Sunday, and was the lead in the AppleTV+ animated film, Luck. Previously, she starred for director Diane Paragas in the acclaimed Sony Pictures film, Yellow Rose. She was also a lead in the West End revivals of Miss Saigon and Les Misérables.
Pacific Jazz Orchestra Staff
Production Manager | Sabrina Walden
Librarian | Daniel Gold
Contractor | Jeff Driskill
Front of House Engineer | Francesco Perlangeli
Audio Director | Fred Vogler
Monitor Mixer | George Hicks
Audio Assistant | Christina Gasparich
Lighting Director | Ebony Madry
Managing Director | Kurt Swanson
Development | Joanna Elliott
Publicity | Libby Huebner
Support from the Herb Alpert Foundation and Grow @ Annenberg
Jazz at Naz
The annual Jazz at Naz festival has been recognized as one of the best winter jazz festivals on the West Coast as well as the jazz epicenter in Los Angeles. Jazz at Naz has showcased major debuts for emerging artists, such as three-time Grammy Award-winner Samara Joy, and created a home for the world’s jazz legends, such as John Pizzarelli, Branford Marsalis, Dianne Reeves, and Charles Lloyd. The festival has also turned the spotlight on influential crossover artists, such as Bobby and Taylor McFerrin, Diana Krall, Jon Batiste, Gregory Porter, Herb Alpert, and Lani Hall.
Returning after their sold-out debut last season, Pacific Jazz Orchestra opens the Jazz at Naz festival’s fourth season headlined by Eva Noblezada, a Grammy Award-winning and two-time Tony-nominated Broadway and West End star.
This season, The Soraya also welcomes saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, as well as the return of Christian McBride to the onstage, intimate Jazz Club for two nights each.
Fresh from a monthlong celebration of the music of the great Duke Ellington, Kennedy Center Artistic Director for Jazz Jason Moran returns to The Soraya for the fourth time to continue the festivities honoring the Duke’s enduring legacy and his 125th birthday. In addition to entertaining from the piano, Moran will lead CSUN’s award-winning Jazz “A” big band to join him in furthering The Soraya’s ongoing commitment to music and arts education.
Also presented in the Great Hall during the Jazz at Naz festival will be Kurt Elling Celebrates Weather Report with Yellowjackets, and Chucho Valdés who brings Irakere back to life honoring its 50th anniversary with special guest Arturo Sandoval in a return engagement.
You Belong Here
This is your opportunity to belong to something special. Our 2024-25 Members enjoy exclusive experiences, such as the Member Appreciation Night for all Members, special events and artist meet-and-greets (Silver Members and above), private pre-performance artist salons (Silver Members and above), our festive holiday party, the annual Director’s Dinner in 2025 (Platinum Members), and more — as well as priority access to your preferred seats, your very own Members Only Seating Section, and exclusive savings when you select five or more performances. Most importantly, Member benefits are valid all season.
Beyond the benefits, Members drive our mission to present the highest caliber artists who captivate, inspire, and transport our audiences. Here, Members are part of a growing community of arts lovers connected by the joy of shared human experience. Here, Members belong.
An Interview With Chris Walden and Eva Noblezada
About Us
The Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts is an award-winning, 1,700-seat theater that opened in 2011 and was designed by HGA Architects and Engineers. In 2017, a transformative gift by Younes and Soraya Nazarian dubbed the venue The Soraya (formerly the Valley Performing Arts Center). A vibrant performance program has served to establish The Soraya as the intellectual and cultural heart of the San Fernando Valley and its 1.8 million residents, and further establish The Soraya as one of the top arts companies in Southern California.
The Soraya’s 2024-25 Season boldly advances the immersive sound of big orchestras; the free flow of jazz; an array of dance; and a cultural bounty drawn from the well of world traditions. The Soraya continues its vigorous commitment to innovating, excelling, and amplifying access by offering a wide variety of performances that reflect LA’s many distinctive communities and featuring new and original work from the Los Angeles region as well as artists from around the world.
Located on the vibrant campus of the California State University, Northridge, The Soraya and the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication share an integral link that enhances student opportunities in the arts and performing arts. This partnership fosters academic opportunity and artistic excellence, elevating the talents of CSUN’s students.
A $5 million contribution from record producer and former California Lieutenant Governor Mike Curb was pivotal in ensuring The Soraya was completed and opened in 2011. For his founding support and in acknowledgment of the integral relationship between the Mike Curb College and The Soraya, Curb is recognized as one of The Soraya’s Cornerstone Benefactors. The relationship between The Soraya and the Mike Curb College continues to grow, with robust offerings for students through master classes, student tickets, concerts of student ensembles, and students appearing alongside renowned artists, such as Wynton Marsalis, Aida Cuevas, and Martha Graham Dance Company.