Brad Tharp wanted a big-name jazz ensemble to open his New Albany club, so he got on the horn.
Tharp called the Glenn Miller Orchestra, which has toured virtually nonstop for 50 years, after he got approval to launch Speakeasy in a vacant State Street building downtown. His friends Chris Fortner (trombone) and Dan Dorff (drums) play in the band; Fortner is from Floyds Knobs
The band called back while Tharp's preparations were still in the early stages and said it could play June 16. Tharp remembers thinking, �Well, that�ll actually light a fire under me.�
This week, Tharp expects to begin selling 190 tickets for between $20 and $25. He said the band is a well-done tribute to the late bandleader Miller, thought to have died in World War II.
"Even though Glenn Miller's not with them, I saw them a couple weeks ago and you can't tell," Tharp said.
The orchestra plans three sets, with 50 to 60 dancers from the Shall We Dance studio taking the floor for the second and third sets. Studio owner Brandon Thompson has partnered with Tharp and his wife, Lori, in the Speakeasy venture, supplying dancers in exchange for publicity and referrals.
Most of the students are baby-boomers, Thompson said, and they'll return to the club regularly. Thompson wants to present Speakeasy as "a place to come listen to music and dance if you like."
The Tharps are waiting until closer to the opening to book other acts for specific timeslots. The business side is time-consuming; Tharp plans to hire 10 to 12 servers and just as many in the kitchen, run by Cajun and Creole chef Kevin Crum. The restaurant will have a "soft opening" June 6 to train the staff.
"First things first, we have to make sure the restaurant is well on its feet," Tharp said. "I've already been contacted by a lot of groups. I have a couple hundred numbers in my phone book, and maybe five aren't musicians."
Jazz musicians easily outnumber jazz gigs in Louisville, Tharp said, and he hopes to plug Speakeasy into their rotation. The trumpeter plans to lead a big band show at the club every month, eventually every week.
"We're all trying to work together to make it so we can all thrive," Tharp said.
New Albany jazz musician and instructor Jamey Aebersold said he'd attend the opening and hoped to play an October gig at the club.
"I never thought I'd live to see the day there'd be a jazz club in New Albany," Aebersold said.
Perhaps the most gratifying progress for image-conscious New Albanians is that two weeks ago, Speakeasy building owner Steve Resch painted over the tall "FOR SALE" letters emblazoned on the third floor that were viewable from the Sherman Minton Bridge.
Floyd County
Famous big band booked for New Albany Speakeasy
Glenn Miller Orchestra playing State Street jazz club�s opening
- Floyd County
-
-
Georgetown spelunker died of self-inflicted gunshot
Crawford County Coroner Chris Brown said he agreed with the pathologist’s finding that Eve died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to a statement released Tuesday morning by the Department of Natural Resources.
-
Greenville town manager hired, incensing silenced crowd
Richardson threatened to have the town marshal clear the gym, but decided against it.
“I am asking people out there to stay out of it. This has nothing to do with you. You elected us to represent you.”
But that only go the crowd more incensed.
“You ought to be run out of town Talbotte,” yelled one resident. -
New Albany council opposes two low-income developments
Councilman Greg Phipps said the measure was changed because there could be “some legal issues” with the way it was originally written. He said regardless, such a resolution that targets low-income developments intimates underlying stereotypes to the community even if it’s not the intention of those who supported the measure.
- News and Tribune briefs for Feb. 7, 2012
-
Students get time out for good behavior
-
Student sues to wear breast cancer bracelet
An Indiana eighth-grader sued his school district in federal court Monday for the right to wear a bracelet promoting breast cancer awareness with the message “I (heart) Boobies.”
-
New Albany house destroyed by fire
The fire department arrived within six minutes, but the fire had already made its way out of the garage and across the attic. The homeowners heard explosions from the garage area.
-
Body found in cave may be missing Georgetown man
Conservation Officer Jeff Milner said they believe it is Eve based on evidence found at the scene.
-
Council considers opposing low-income developments
Councilman John Gonder said he supports a system that would allow the city to cap sewer credits for low-income housing and give preference to the New Albany Housing Authority.
He conceded his wife does sit on the housing authority board, but believes the city should give favor to the entity when it comes to low-income lodging because it has to meet federal guidelines. - News and Tribune briefs for Feb. 6, 2012
- More Floyd County Headlines
-
