Rat Pack jazz group with Mannheim connections to perform

By Tim Johnson, tjohnson@nonpareilonline.com

"They call it 'music from the Golden Era.'"

It's Rat Pack jazz - hits of the 1940s and 1950s sung by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett and Nat King Cole - and it's coming to First Night.

Vocalist/guitarist Johnny Adams and featured guitarist Ron Cooley will perform Rat Pack hits Monday from 4:30 to 6:15 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 611 First Ave. They will be backed up by Dennis Strawn on saxophone, Dan Cerveny on keyboards, Andy Hall on bass and Carlos Figueroa on drums.

"Ron and I have been playing together for a lotta lotta years," Adams said. "We have done music from a number of different genres, but Ron has always been a really big jazz fan."

The duo started focusing on Rat Pack jazz a few years ago and found it struck a chord with different generations of listeners, he said.

"It's really caught on - and it's really interesting: You'll find a lot of older folks like it because they're very familiar with it, and then, at a couple of clubs where we play, the younger people like it, too. So it's hitting its stride," he said.

Adams keeps an active schedule performing and recording and operates a Nashville-based publishing company, according to his biographical information. He also works as a production staff director for Chip Davis and Mannheim Steamroller.

Cooley also performs as a soloist and has six solo recordings. He has been a fretted instrument specialist for Chip Davis and Mannheim Steamroller for many years.

The sixth annual First Night will be celebrated Monday from 4:30 to 10 p.m. in downtown Council Bluffs. The grand finale, including fireworks, will be at 10 p.m. in Bayliss Park.

Read more: http://www.southwestiowanews.com/council_bluffs/news/rat-pack-jazz-group-with-mannheim-connections-to-perform/article_c22ed892-067f-5f29-8ef3-9dd64b6f7c29.html