Nothing attracts friends like success, and when J. Ernest Green and his Carnegie-approved Annapolis Chorale take the Maryland Hall stage tonight and tomorrow, talented colleagues will abound.
At these concerts -- the third in this season's Pops Series, the chorale will be joined by Maryland's first lady of song, Ethel Ennis, in a stylishly conceived program of new tunes and well-loved standards.
Accompanying Ms. Ennis at these "Evenings With Ethel" will be the Annapolis Chamber Orchestra and a jazz trio consisting of drummer Paul Heldner, bass fiddler Keter Betts (Ella Fitzgerald's bassist of choice) and Stef Scaggiari, Annapolis' first citizen of the keyboard.
"There's every musical style you can imagine," says conductor Ernest Green, "but it's basically an evening of great songs."
Cole Porter aficionados will be thrilled with "Night and Day," "From This Moment On" and a nifty arrangement of "Let's Fall In Love" that smacks of Mozart, tango, Motown and the blues.
"Honeysuckle Rose," "I'm Old Fashioned" and the delightful Rodgers and Hammerstein classic "It's A Grand Night For
Singing" are just a few of the standards that will be dished up, some in versions crafted by Annapolis arranger John Starr.
"When we get the whole chorus swinging in these jazzy arrangements, it's really something else," says Mr. Green.
The presence of Ethel Ennis, the singer, pianist, composer and arranger who has 10 albums and decades' worth of triumphal concert appearances to her name, is exciting for the chorale, says the conductor. "Every time I hear her," he says, "she sounds better than ever."
Tickets are on sale at Maryland Hall for $15. Concert time tonight and tomorrow is 8 p.m. Call 263-1906 for ticket information.