The whole audience bouncing and swaying to the irresistible rhythm, everybody singing, “Hi-De-Ho!” Who could forget the sounds and imagery of Cab Calloway and his hot jazz orchestra?

  C. Calloway Brooks, grandson of Cab Calloway and the director of the Cab Calloway Orchestra, carrying on this musical tradition, brings the Cab Calloway Orchestra to the Napa Valley Opera House on April 7 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $40 and $35. 

Under Brooks’ direction, the orchestra uses vintage orchestrations as a starting point, coupled with some of the finest jazz musicians around, to deliver “swing that is king and jive that’s alive.”

Through the end of 2008 major CAB100 celebrations — the official, family endorsed celebration of Calloway’s 100th birthday — will be taking place. Brooks leads the way in duel roles as director of both the Cab Calloway Orchestra and CAB100.

Brooks was trained by the New England Conservatory of Music and by Cab Calloway himself. As Cab’s eldest grandson, Brooks experienced his famous grandfather’s music, first hand. One of his earliest childhood memories  was watching one of Cab’s rehearsals at age 5. Brooks performs and directs the orchestra in a way that reflects his grandfather’s profound influence, while maintaining his own identity. His performance style with the Cab Calloway Orchestra, is often described as, “directly, clearly and closely related, though not at all identical.”