MUSIC

Honoring one of music history’s legendary voices, Principal Pops Conductor Michael Krajewski and the Houston Symphony will team up with Canadian jazz vocalist Matt Dusk (pictured) to celebrate the Music of Frank Sinatra on January 7, 8, 9 in Jones Hall. He’ll cover old favorites like “That’s Life”, “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”, “New York, New York” and “My Way”.

With over fifty years of music-making, few performers are as adored and unforgettable as Frank Sinatra. Growing up listening to Sinatra, Dusk developed a voice, paralleled to “Ol’ Blue Eyes” himself, and has made a career out of reanimating the great American songbook.

About Michael Krajewski
Known for his entertaining programs and clever humor, Michael Krajewski is a much sought after conductor of symphonic pops concerts. He is the principal pops conductor of the Houston Symphony, the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, and the newly named principal pops conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra - the first to hold such a title in Atlanta.

Krajewski is the conductor of the forthcoming video Silver Screen Serenade with violinist Jenny Oaks Baker that airs worldwide on BYU Broadcasting. Other recordings include two holiday albums with the Houston Symphony: Glad Tidings and Christmas Festival.
Much in demand as a guest conductor with orchestras across the country, Krajewski has performed with the Boston Pops and the Hollywood Bowl orchestras and has collaborated with an eclectic group of artists including flutist James Galway, mezzo soprano Marilyn Horne, pop artists Roberta Flack, Judy Collins, Art Garfunkel, Doc Severinsen, Al Hirt, Cab Calloway, Mary Wilson, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Pink Martini and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

With degrees from Wayne State University in Detroit and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Michael furthered his training at the Pierre Monteux Domaine School for Conductors. He was a Dorati Fellowship Conductor with the Detroit Symphony and later served as that orchestra’s assistant conductor. He was resident conductor of the Florida Symphony and for eleven years served as music director of the Modesto Symphony Orchestra.

About Matt Dusk
There are swingers and then there is Matt Dusk - a singer, songwriter, producer, arranger and fervent jazz-pop musicologist. Canada-born and Juno Award nominee, Dusk has spent most of his career reviving American standards alongside some of his own more quirky pop creations. He scored a gold album with his debut album Two Shots and a chart-topping adult contemporary single with "All About Me." Matt even scored a #1 single in Japan with "Back in Town" - the first male jazz singer to ever top the pop chart there.

For his third major label release, Dusk assembled what he believes is the perfect pop album - a fool-proof stroke of shape-shifting, era-leaping, cross-continental aural electricity that he's titled Good News. On this vibrant and riveting collection, he covered hit songs from around the globe interpreted in a fusion of sonic styles as dizzying as they are dazzling. It features a wide array of music styles including Motown, Euro-synth, big band ballroom and quadruple guitar blitzkrieg.

Dusk is an alumnus of the St. Michael's Choir School and studied under jazz piano legend Oscar Peterson at York University. An expert interpreter of standards, he emerged from a bidding war with a lucrative major label contract and a 2004 debut with Two Shots. Dusk followed that with the power-packed punch of 2007's Back in Town, recorded in Hollywood by engineering master Al Schmitt at Capitol Records - home of Sinatra and Nat King Cole. His take on "Get Me to the Church on Time" was used on the hit TV competition So You Think You Can Dance.

About the Houston Symphony
The Houston Symphony has played a central role in Houston’s cultural and civic life since 1913. Each year, the Houston Symphony performs more than 170 concerts for approximately 350,000 people, featuring an innovative and broad spectrum of classical, popular, education and community-based symphonic programming.

For tickets and more information, please visit www.houstonsymphony.org  or call 713-224-7575.