Jeff Stover and the Mixed Bag Orchestra. Photo courtesy of Jeff Stover

Jeff Stover and Chris Gore combined their respective bands, All Star Big Band and Jackson Garrett, to produce the Mixed Bag Orchestra (MBO), which headlines at the Thursday, July 28 Idyllwild Summer Concert Series (ISCS).

“We’ll play jazz to country to salsa,” said Stover, leader, for this gig, of the wedded bands.

Stover’s band plays regularly at the Old Town Temecula Theater’s Onstage Musicals as the All Star Big Band. Stover has played in many Broadway-style musical pit bands and touring productions. Jackson Garrett, the band’s name, not a player, plays in the Steely Dan mood and mode. Together the bands cover the gamut from hot to hip, with solid horns, sophisticated arrangements and players with distinguished musical resumes and chops.

MBO includes Stover on bass, Gore on keyboard and vocals, Earth Wind and Fire alum Gary Bias on tenor and alto sax, Woodstock and Buffalo Springfield veteran trumpet man Steve Madaio, Steve Alaniz on tenor and alto sax, Scott Smith on keyboard, Bob Scarano on guitar, Dave Hitchings on drums, Paul Willette on percussion, congas and Latin vocals, and Divine Denise on backup vocals.

Alert to dancers — be there or be square.

Paul Carman and Friends open for MBO at 6:15 p.m. Headliner’s downbeat comes at 7.

ISCS producer Ken Dahleen thanks the community for its continued financial support of the series. As of Monday, July 18, ISCS has banked almost $12,000 of its $19,500 budget, with $7,500 needing to be raised.

Contributors and sponsors can contact Dahleen at (951) 659-2229, deposit checks into the ISCS account at BBVA Compass bank in Idyllwild, or send checks to Idyllwild Summer Concerts Inc., P.O. Box 1542, Idyllwild, CA 92549.