All That Jazz slated at Empire

Pearl Harwood of Coeur d’Alene has played piano professionally for 78 years, and Saturday, Nov. 2, she and the group “All That Jazz” will perform at the Empire Theater in Tekoa. Curtain time is 7 p.m.

Harwood became fascinated with the piano at 18 months of age. She taught herself music theory and basic practices from books and, later, from experience. Coming of age during the Big Band era, Harwood began playing regular gigs while still a teenager.

“Nobody asked me how old I was, and I didn’t tell them,” she admits. Along the way she played with high-profile performers and in prestigious places, but the highlights of her career, she said, are “of being able to sit in on many jam sessions with many unsung, but great, artists from various locales around the country.” She came to Coeur d’Alene in 1952.

Harwood will be joined by upright bass player Bruce Pennell and drummer Tom Schager, both of whom are also members of the big band Tuxedo Junction and also performed with the 560th Air Force Band out of Fairchild Air Force Base. Schager also was a longtime member of the Arnie Carruthers trio. The fourth member of the group is singer Sharon Burklund, who will sing such classics as Tea For Two, Marylou, Sentimental Journey, The Girl From Ipanema, When You Wish Upon A Star and others.

Burklund was, at the age of 20, selected from among 1,200 applicants to be Cinderella at Tokyo Disneyland, a role she played for eight years. The group has entertained audiences around Spokane and Coeur d’Alene for a number of years. This will be their first appearance at the Empire.

Admission will be $15 for adults; students $5, and 12 and under free. For information call 509-284-5173.