Calabria Foti & Bob McChesney “From Bebop to Broadway”

"From Bebop To Broadway!" The Great American Songbook at its best! Grammy-nominated vocal sensation Calabria Foti and world-renowned trombone virtuoso Bob McChesney, long-time husband and wife, delight audiences with their exciting blend of traditional jazz and beloved show tunes. Foti’s sensual vocals along with McChesney’s buttery trombone playing can be heard daily on SiriusXM’s 'Siriusly Sinatra’, on XM’s 'Real Jazz', and radio around the globe. Calabria’s sound has been praised by hosts of industry giants, from celebrated pianist Van Cliburn, to legendary crooner Johnny Mathis, who exclaimed, "One of my greatest pleasures in life is listening to a beautiful voice. Listening to this recording of Calabria’s voice is some of the most beautiful and artistic music I have ever heard!"
Bob McChesney’s trombone wizardry and lush tone is known the world over! Famed composer Lalo Schifrin gushed, "Bob McChesney is a virtuoso who has the gift to bring us the joy of music at the highest level." This power couple enjoys performing to sold-out crowds, combining their enormous talents and warm personalities for a fun, engaging evening of entertainment. The highlight of any series or gala event, Bob and Calabria will swing, sway, and charm their way into your hearts!
Calabria Foti is a Grammy-nominated singer, violinist, composer, arranger, author, and educator. A consummate musician and a dynamic entertainer, she is a connoisseur of music, from Classical to Broadway. Foti’s recordings and live shows have been praised by such diverse artists as piano virtuoso Van Cliburn, trumpeter Chris Botti, and legendary singer Johnny Mathis, who, upon hearing her CD, 'A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening’, gushed, “Listening to a beautiful voice is one of my greatest pleasures in life. Listening to this recording of Calabria Foti’s voice is some of the most beautiful and artistic music I have ever heard. She is a treasure!”
Born into a family of musicians and music educators, Foti was exposed to classical, jazz, and popular music at a young age. Passionate about movie musicals and classic films of the late 1920s on, Foti calls herself a “throwback,” in love with the period of American history that produced the songs of the Great American Songbook and the films from The Golden Age of Hollywood.
Her highly acclaimed CDs are a testimony to her musical sensibilities, and can be heard regularly on adult standards and jazz radio formats throughout the world. She has shared the spotlight and the microphone with TV’s Seth MacFarlane and in 2013, the two paired up to record the duet, “Let’s Fall in Love,” which garnered a Grammy Award nomination.
Equally at home performing musical theatre, jazz, cabaret, or her own original songs, Foti has been called a “master of improvisation and interpretation”; and her voice has graced several major motion picture and television soundtracks.
Also an accomplished violinist, Foti created the jazz violin sound for Fox TV’s Lisa Simpson, performed the virtuosic violin solo for the long-running theme to PBS’ Great Performances, and most recently was a featured soloist in the films, Muppets Most Wanted and Sherlock Holmes. She has played violin on hundreds of television and movie scores, and on CDs for Barbra Streisand, Paul McCartney, Josh Groban, Daft Punk, and many others.
From Baltimore, Bob McChesney began playing the trombone in the fourth grade as part of the public school music program. He since has evolved into a world-renowned trombone soloist and an authority on trombone pedagogy. McChesney’s trademarks as a trombonist are his smooth, lightning-fast technique, his mastery of jazz harmony, beautiful sound, and a strong emotional connection to the music. With complete mastery of the instrument, McChesney has distinguished himself as one of the pre-eminent trombone soloists in the world.
Primarily self-taught, from a young age McChesney developed a unique way of articulating legato on the slide trombone, referred to as “doodle tonguing.” He has since authored what is considered to be the definitive treatise on the subject, “Doodle Studies and Etudes,” and the method has been critically acclaimed and endorsed by trombonists and music educators all over the world.
McChesney had the honor of performing on the slide trombone for the virtuosic cornet piece “The Carnival of Venice” with The Idaho Falls Symphony. Following that performance, he recorded the piece with pianist Alan Steinberg, and that recording has now has reached a staggering 3 million views on YouTube.
A prominent figure in the Los Angeles recording studio scene, he has enjoyed a career in scoring films, television shows and albums. He can be heard on recordings for Barbra Streisand, Shakira, Michael Buble, Natalie Cole, Neil Young, Chicago, Keb’ Mo’, Jessie J, Tricia Yearwood, Olivia-Newton-John, Hanson (with Jerry Hey Horns), Horace Silver, Joey DeFrancesco, Randy Waldman and many others, and can be heard on the Grammy-winning albums “Ray Charles: Genius Loves Company,” “Random Access Memories” by Daft Punk, Diana Krall’s “When I Look in Your Eyes,” “Dear Diz” by Arturo Sandoval, and “Serendipity 18” by Bob Florence, among others.
With extensive experience scoring for motion pictures, he also has appeared live with orchestras in Los Angeles, including The Los Angeles Philharmonic, The Long Beach Symphony and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.
"A Dynamic Duo if ever there was one! Two people so accomplished at what they do, the love they have for their music and each other, comes out in each performance. Bob, the unsurpassed master of the trombone, and Calabria, the multi-talented singer whose sensuous voice, plus a formidable violin talent --- are simply wonderful! Together, they provide their audiences with an evening of music that is quite literally unforgettable." - Billy Paul, Los Angeles Radio DJ

This show is 21 and over only. All sales are final and we unfortunately cannot offer any refunds. Additional tickets may be available at the door on the day of the show even if it is sold out online.

Please try to arrive 15 minutes prior to the show start time. If you do not arrive within 45 minutes after the show start time on your ticket your seat may be resold to other patrons at the door. If you arrive after 45 minutes from the start time of the show and your ticket has been resold, although we cannot guarantee it, we will try our best to make space for you to attend the show.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Rudy's Jazz Room, 809 Gleaves Street, Nashville, United States