'The ORCHESTRETTE' @ The Montreal International Jazz Festival | Official RAYMOND SCOTT site

The Raymond Scott Orchestrette serenaded an estimated 50,000 attendees at each of four shows on the Montreal International Jazz Festival's main stage, Saturday and Sunday, June 28 and 29, 2003, at 9 and 11 pm.

Invited to close out each day's schedule, the septet made the most of their first opportunity to perform Raymond Scott's music above the US northern border. The Orchestrette's "Powerhouse" finale had the crowd on their feet (granted, there were no chairs), and romantically inclined festival-goers slow-danced during the ballad "Naked City." We don't know what most of the jazz-loving crowd made of the RSO's acoustic rendition of Scott's electronic lullaby, "Little Miss Echo," but a number of ecstatic females in front of the stage engaged in provocative gyrations during "Twilight in Turkey" and "Tia Juana."

above: Brian Dewan, armed only with an accordion, attempts to feed an estimated 50,000 mazurka-starved humans at the Montreal Jazz Fest

	left: Orchestrette pianist/arranger Wayne Barker counts down to the first of four RSO shows on the main stage of the Montreal International Jazz Festival, June 28.
right: Brian Dewan flashes a puckish grin as he prepares to regale the Montreal throng with his electric zither.
	The Orchestrette (Clem Waldman, drums; Will Holshouser, accordion; Rob Thomas, violin; George Rush, bass; Mike Hashim, sax; Brian Dewan, accordion) heat up during soundcheck at the Montreal fest.
RSO accordionist/arranger Will Holshouser and pianist/arranger Wayne Barker align their psychic metronomes during soundcheck at the Montreal Jazz Fest.
	Thanks to the camera's rapid shutter speed, Wayne Barker is caught in a rare non-animated moment onstage in Montreal.
The RSO's rhythmic foundation: drummer Clem Waldmann and bassist George Rush onstage in Montreal.
	Orchestrette drummer Clem Waldmann thrashes the kit (it's not his, so he bashes harder than usual).
The RSO rock Quebec on the jazz festival's main stage: Rob Thomas (violin), George Rush (bass), Michael Hashim (sax) and Brian Dewan (zither). There were reports that Mike's shirt was heard as far west as Manitoba.
	RSO bassist George Rush against a colorful Montreal Jazz Fest logo backdrop.
Another view of the sea of humanity enjoying the RSO in Montreal. Saxist Mike Hashim checks to see if the Orchestrette's rear flank is covered.