DUBOIS – The Reitz Theater in DuBois will be filled with the sounds of modern jazz on Saturday, as area native James Witherite and his Modern Organ Trio bring their talents to the stage, starting at 7:30 p.m.
His mission is “good, honest music” and it’s something that the DuBois-born, Brookville-raised Witherite inspires to produce. “I still go the extra mile,” Witherite says, “delivering authentic music at a high quality, and I assure you the difference is apparent.
“It’s an age where ulterior motives run rampant and ‘good enough’ has largely become the benchmark. I still go the extra mile.”
Introduced to jazz music at a young age, Witherite continued to follow this style of music at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, where he studied with well-known jazz artists and writers Mike Tomaro, Sean Jones and David Cutler and earned a music composition degree.
His hard work and natural talent continues to pay off, as he has gained a reputation for being a steady, dependable sideman. Witherite balances his work as a jazz composer/arranger/multi-instrumentalist well.
He later recorded “Live in Pittsburgh,” a 2007 performance with the Duquesne University Jazz Ensemble, and in the last year, has teamed up with the 16-member Zeropoint Big Band based in State College for the recording of “+17,” a collection of original work for big band, released in the summer of 2012 to strong reviews.
His current venture, the Modern Organ Trio, focuses on original tunes from James and guitarist Ken Karsh, along with fresh takes on standards and more popular mainstream songs. Kevin Lowe on drums will round out the trio Saturday night.
Tickets for the performance are $12, which includes a pre-concert reception featuring a tasting from the Winery at Wilcox. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
To reserve your tickets or for more details, please call the Reitz Theater Box Office at 814-375-4272 or go online to www.reitztheater.com.