The Fabulous Equinox Orchestra will be performing for the first time at the Columbia Theatre for Performing Arts on Tuesday, Nov.  22. The duo composed of Jeremy Davis, Clay Johnson and a 17-piece band, performs hits inspired by Motown artists and the Great American Songbook. Courtesy of The Fabulous Equinox Orchestra/Larshell Green

The Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts brings performances ranging from theatre to music to comedy and typically spanning from September to April. That tradition continues with a band’s upcoming premiere of a show at the theater.

The Fabulous Equinox Orchestra is composed of Jeremy Davis, bandleader, tenor sax player and vocalist, Clay Johnson, vocalist and trombonist and their 17-piece band. The Orchestra will be playing at The Columbia for the Performing Arts Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m.

Executive Director of the Columbia Theatre Roy Blackwood initially met the duo during the Performing Arts Exchange booking conference in Sept. 2011.

“Their mentor is a friend of mine, and he was highly complementary of their abilities and the direction their careers would take,” said Blackwood.

Blackwood shared details of what he finds unique about the young duo.

“They are so accomplished at such a young age,” said Blackwood.  “Clay, the lead singer, has been performing on stage since age 4, and his best friend Jeremy not long after that.  They grew up as best buddies and have remained so. Their families live near each other and are all close friends.”

The orchestra is known for creating their own renditions of tunes from the Great American Songbook, a collection of what is deemed the most important and influential popular songs and jazz standards in the early 20th century, as well as Motown tracks from artists such as Ray Charles, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley and more.

Although The Fabulous Equinox Orchestra has not performed at the Columbia before, Blackwood has heard them play several times and remains optimistic about their upcoming performance.

“The audience can expect a high-energy, musically engaging show from the Great American Song Book,” said Blackwood. “Standards that were sung by Frank Sinatra, Harry Connick Jr. and Michael Bublé will be presented.  The audience will love them.”

Blackwood continued to praise the duo for their talents in entertainment and expects the community to be in favor of the performance.

“High-quality entertainment eloquent to Las Vegas show bands, but appropriate for the entire family are difficult to find,” said Blackwood. “These guys will charm and delight our patrons.”

Students are encouraged to attend in order to expand their vocabulary of music that they may not be familiar with.

“It is music that has been popular in America that never goes out of style,” said Blackwood. “Students will be exposed to multi-generational music of high quality.”

Tickets for the concert will be $26 for balcony and orchestra levels and $40 for loge levels. For more information, contact the Columbia Theatre at columbiatheatre.org, visit their Facebook page at Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts or call them at 985-543-4371.

Davis, left, bandleader, tenor sax player and vocalist, and Johnson, right, vocalist and trombonist, met when they were younger,  after their families became friends. The duo and their band revamps hits by artists such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Ray Charles. 
Courtesy of The Fabulous Equinox Orchestra/The Lion's Roar