Tommy Igoe and legendary Birdland All-Stars return to Penn State Jan. 26

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Acclaimed jazz drummer and bandleader Tommy Igoe will take New York City’s Birdland All-Stars on the road for the first time in five years in a tour featuring new arrangements of works by iconic rock and jazz ensembles. The big band concert — featuring music by David Bowie, Steely Dan, The Police, Charlie Parker, Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea — is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26, in Eisenhower Auditorium.

Igoe, the son of jazz drummer Sonny Igoe, has been featured on multiple Grammy Award-winning recordings and was named the 2014 Modern Drummer reader’s poll winner for best jazz drummer. He has authored five instructional DVDs and served as associate conductor for the Broadway production of Disney’s “The Lion King.”

In addition to leading the Birdland band, Igoe performs with the Tommy Igoe Groove Conspiracy, a San Francisco group including musicians from The Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan and Tower of Power.

The Birdland All-Stars features some of New York City’s top-shelf musicians. The band has been entertaining patrons at the legendary jazz venue for a decade.

Time Out New York calls a Birdland All-Stars concert “a music experience you simply must experience.” International Jazz Herald says Igoe’s drumming “defies the laws of physics.”

Read an interview with Marko Marcinko, a jazz drummer and Penn State School of Music’s director of jazz studies.

Artistic Viewpoints, an informal moderated discussion featuring Igoe, will be offered in Eisenhower one hour before the performance and is free for ticket holders. Artistic Viewpoints regularly fills to capacity, so seating is available on a first-arrival basis.

For more information, visit the Center for the Performing Arts online or call 814-863-0255.

Shirley J. Coploff, Nancy Gamble, and Lam and Lina Hood sponsor the performance.

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