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Tunica Queen Riverboat Celebrates Jazz on the Mississippi

TUNICA, MISSISSIPPI (September 28, 2007)—The Tunica Queen Riverboat, based at the Tunica RiverPark on the Mississippi River, will host its first jazz dinner cruise on Thursday, October 11th.

The cruise will feature three of the best jazz musicians in the mid-south, alto saxophonist Carl Wolfe, pianist Rene Koopman and bassist Tim Goodwin.  Jane Malton, vocalist for the Memphis Jazz Orchestra, will perform with the trio.
"This is our first celebration of jazz," said Tunica Queen owner and general manager Lynn Barton.  "Jazz literally came up the Mississippi River from New Orleans in the early 1900's.  We thought it would be very fitting to showcase jazz on our Mississippi river boat.  Interest in jazz in our country has slipped in recent years. We think America's only original art form can use a boost in the Mid-South. The evening will include three sets of jazz and a white linen dinner."
The trio will perform the music of Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Johnny Mercer, Duke Ellington and other major composers.

Jazz fans will be able to board the Tunica Queen at 6:30 PM at the multi-million dollar Tunica RiverPark.  The Queen will leave the dock at 7:00 PM.  The jazz trio will begin its first set at 6:30 and break at 7:15 for a buffet dinner featuring prime rib, shrimp Creole, roast turkey and all the trimmings.  Tickets are $50 per person (tax included).  A full cash bar will be available.  The jazz trio will play two additional sets beginning at 8:00 PM and ending at 9:30 when the Tunica Queen returns to the dock.  Reservations are required and can be made by calling 866 805-3535.

Carl Wolfe, Grammy nominated for his composition "Yesterday I Loved," will lead this special trio, assembled just for this Tunica Queen performance.  Wolfe was a member of the United States Navy Commodores for more than five years, the Navy's touring big band.  He has played alto saxophone and other reed instruments throughout the United States and several foreign countries.  Wolfe has appeared with Doc Severinson's band (Tonight Show Orchestra) and has backed many singers including Johnny Mathis, Ray Charles and Nancy Wilson.  Carl has also been a guest soloist with the Memphis Symphony and is a co-founder of the Memphis Jazz Orchestra.  He teaches saxophone at Rhodes College and arranges and composes music for musicians, singers, and film and video productions.  Wolfe is a native of Philadelphia but has made his home in Memphis for many years.

Bassist Tim Goodwin is a professor in the jazz studies program at the University of Memphis Scheidt School of Music.  Tim has played shows with many music and jazz legends including Michelle LeGrand, John Hendricks and Lee Konitz.  He has also played for theater productions of Evita, Brigadoon, Peter Pan, Chorus Line and Aspects Of Love.  He has participated in a jazz tour of Africa and plays with many Mid-South jazz groups including the University of Memphis Jazz Faculty Group. Tim is originally from Miami, Florida.

Rene Koopman, a native of the Netherlands, began a long musical career at age 17 playing for ballroom dancing.  He came to the U.S. in 1957 and has been playing ever since.  Rene has played piano and percussion with some of the biggest names in show business: Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Danny Thomas, Bob Hope, and Sammy Davis Jr.  A gifted accompanist, he has played shows featuring Peter Nero, Wayne Newton, Marilyn McCoo, Roy Clark, Margaret Whiting, Marguarite Piazza, Barbara Eden and Helen O'Connell.  He has recorded with the Memphis Jazz Orchestra, Booker T and the MG's, Issac Hayes, Tony Joe White and jazz singer Holly Shelton.  Rene is a familiar entertainment figure at country clubs, corporate events, weddings, benefits and at private parties through out the Mid-South.  He has been the pianist with the Memphis Jazz Orchestra since its inception in 1992.

Canadian singer Jane Malton, a long time cabaret, television and theater performer, will join the trio for vocals in each set.  Jane appeared for many seasons on the Canadian Broadcasting Company Tommy Hunter Show, and entertained Canadian Forces in seasonal appearances in the Middle East and Europe.  She starred in her own night club review in several Canadian and American cities and ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­was the featured vocalist in a Tribute To Cole Porter, produced in Toronto.

A versatile singer, Jane has sung everything from opera and religious music to jazz, popular and country music.  Jane is the vocalist for the Memphis Jazz Orchestra.

"I'm really excited about singing with these three excellent jazz musicians," said Malton. "They are incredibly talented and really love jazz.  You can hear it in their music." 

"I look forward to doing some vocals from the Cole Porter book.  He both composed the music and wrote the lyrics," said Malton.  "He was a genius and his music really lends itself well to jazz treatment."

The Tunica Queen is a traditional three deck river boat with two inside floors and an open top deck.  The Queen is capable of hosting 250 people and operates both daily sight seeing cruises and dinner cruises.  The Tunica Queen is available for parties, reunions, corporate and association events and celebrations.  Special dinner cruises operate during Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and Valentines Day.  The Tunica Queen is fully certified by the U. S. Coast Guard and has been operating at the Tunica River Park for three years.  Call 1-866-805-3535, or visit www.tunicaqueen.com to book a cruise.