Elgin Symphony Orchestra show offers Jeans ’n Classics

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Updated: November 22, 2011 11:19AM

What happens when a rock band fronts a symphony orchestra?

Audiences will find out when Jeans ‘n Classics meets the Elgin Symphony Orchestra on Oct. 1 for an 8 p.m. show at the Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin.

The show is billed as “Earth, Wind, Fire; Blood, Sweat, Tears ... and a little Chicago.” Expect the best songs of classic rock bands Earth, Wind and Fire and Blood Sweat and Tears, as well as Chicago, re-worked by Jeans ‘n Classics leader Peter Brennan and backed by the Elgin Symphony Orchestra and special guest vocalists and musicians.

Jeans ‘n Classics, out of Canada, has become known for its concept of combining rock musicians with symphony orchestras.

“They’ve got a rock band with some really talented singers up front, and they’ll be backed up by the Elgin Symphony so you can get that full sound that those bands were trying to create,” said Butch Wilhelmi, Hemmens Cultural Center director.

He thinks this concert will strike the right chord with the general public because the music is so memorable and appealing.

“It’s one of those things – the music appeals to the general public to begin with,” he said. “It’s not just people who were growing up in the ‘60s and ‘70s, but to the younger generation as well. The opportunity to see that with the added element of the full-sized orchestra behind it is something that we thought might be appealing to audience members.”

Some of the songs you can expect to hear include “Beginnings,” “If You Leave Me Now” and “25 or 6 to 4” by Chicago; “Go Down Gambling,” “You’re The One” and “Spinning Wheel” by Blood, Sweat and Tears; “September,” “Let’s Groove” and “Got To Get You Into My Life” by Earth, Wind and Fire.

And, just for fun, you can also expect to hear “Feels So Good” by Chuck Mangione.

The musicians include Gavin Hope and Jean Meilleur, lead vocals; Andrea Koziol and Stephanie Martin, feature and backing vocals; Jeans ‘n Classics founder Peter Brennan, guitar; Don Paulton, keyboards; Mitch Tyler, electric bass; and Jeff Christmas, drums.

“I think it’s going to be really good music,” Wilhelmi said. “The band that is fronting it is really good, and we have a first-rate orchestra backing them up. I think combination is going to make a really good show.”

Violinist Wendy Evans has been with the ESO for about 15 years, and this is the first time she’s performed with (or heard of) Jean ‘n Classics.

“I think it’s a great idea — bring the two worlds together,” she said.

She’s played rock music before, with the likes of Vince Gill and Josh Groban, “but nothing featuring the orchestra as star of the show playing these famous rock tunes,” she said.

“I love Chicago and Earth, Wind and Fire,” she said. “I had their records. I’m pretty excited to play those tunes.”

According to its web site, Jeans ‘n Classics’ mission is “to help in the building of younger, loyal audiences for symphony orchestras.”

“I think that’s a really great mission,” Evans said. “If you can make your symphonic instrument — which is the orchestra — more accessible to a broad audience that might not necessarily be exposed to it, then they might be more interested in coming back to hear one of the classical series concert or even a pops concert. I think once they hear the Elgin Symphony in that venue, they’ll be impressed. I think it’ a great way to promote symphonic music.”

People shouldn’t be intimidated to come in and hear this concert, she said. For one thing, the name “Jeans ‘n Classics” signals a more relaxed, casual atmosphere.

“I think a lot of musicians in orchestra are just as eager to see what this is all about as the audience might be,” she said. “It’s something new that the Elgin Symphony hasn’t done before. I hope if it’s successful it might become some kind of tradition for us.”