Disney Jazz Tribute “When You Wish Upon A Star” To Play Corning Museum of Glass this October

When You Wish Upon a Star – A Jazz Tribute to 100 Years of Disney is coming to Corning’s Museum of Glass on October 28 as part of their upcoming national tour. The tour will also make a stop at Newark, NJ’s Victoria Theatre at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.

The show features musical direction by Sean Mason and the brand new house band of The National Jazz Museum in Harlem, as well as Kim Nalley and Sasha Dobson as vocalists.

Director Sean Mason leads the touring show, as one of the premier talents of his generation. Mason has performed and toured with jazz legends including Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, and Herlin Riley, and as a recent Julliard graduate, he is rolling out his upcoming debut album The Southern Suite. As a native North-Carolinan turned New Yorker, the record explores his southern roots from his current vantage point at the heart of the NYC music scene.

Philanthropist and vocalist Kim Nalley will join the show, boasting a 3½ octave range and stunning performances. As the “Most Influential African American in the Bay Area,” Nalley has performed with greats such as Rhoda Scott, David “Fathead” Newman, and the San Francisco Symphony. In addition to Nalley, Sasha Dobson will join the show on vocals. A critically acclaimed performer, she is one-third of the hit triop Puss n’ Boots, alongside Catherine Popper and Norah Jones. 

Together with band members Ahmad Johnson on drums, Corentin Le Hir on bass, Alicyn Yaffee on guitar and Anthony Hervey on trumpet, the musicians will bring the jazz arrangements of Disney’s popular soundtracks to the stage on the nationwide tour this fall.

As shown in their vast collection of animated feature film soundtracks, Disney has always had an affinity for jazz music. In 2009, Disney released an album of reimagined songs based on their soundtrack catalog. With over 600 songs to choose from, the album features some of the most talented contemporary jazz stars of the age, as well as rising up-and-comers. This fall, the new generation of emerging talent will perform the live touring version, titled When You Wish Upon a Star – A Jazz Tribute to 100 Years of Disney.

Although not associated with Disney, When You Wish Upon A Star will feature fan favorite tunes from iconic movies such as Snow White, Lady and the Tramp, Mary Poppins, and Toy Story. The reimagined songs have been arranged and recorded by Disney music fans such as  Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, and Dianne Reeves. 

The touring band personnel is Sean Mason (piano, bandleader), Kim Nalley (vocals), Sasha Dobson (vocals), Ahmad Johnson (drums), Corentin Le Hir (bass), Alicyn Yaffee (guitar), and Anthony Hervey (trumpet).

Upcoming Tour Dates

• Sept. 29, 2023 –Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center, Livermore, CA 
• Sept. 30, 2023 – Grand Theatre Center for the Arts, Tracy, CA 
• Oct. 1, 2023 – Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center at College of the Canyons, Santa Clarita, CA
• Oct. 3, 2023 – Brigham Young University Performing Arts Series, Provo, UT 
• Oct. 4, 2023 – College of Southern Idaho, Twin Falls, ID
• Oct. 6, 2023 – CU Presents – University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 
• Oct. 7, 2023 – SF Jazz, San Francisco, CA 
• Oct. 8, 2023 – Carpenter Performing Arts Center at CSU Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 
• Oct. 10, 2023 – Numerica Performing Arts Center, Wenatchee, WA
• Oct. 12, 2023 – Pepperdine University, Smothers Theatre, Malibu, CA
• Oct. 14, 2023 – Fox Tucson Theatre, Tucson, AZ 
• Oct. 15, 2023 – Chandler Center for the Arts, Chandler, AZ 
• Oct. 17, 2023 – Traverse City Opera House, Traverse City, MI 
• Oct. 18, 2023 – Michigan State University, Wharton Center, Pasant Theatre, East Lansing, MI
• Oct. 19, 2023 – Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 
• Oct. 20, 2023 – Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, Bloomington, IL
• Oct. 21, 2023 – College of DuPage McAninch Arts Center, Glen Ellyn, IL 
• Oct. 22, 2023 – Door Community Auditorium, Fish Creek, WI 
• Oct. 24, 2023 – The Grand Theater, Wausau, WI 
• Oct. 27, 2023 – Millersville University, The Ware Center, Millersville, PA
• Oct. 28, 2023 – Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, NY 
• Nov. 1, 2023 – Newberry Opera House, Newberry, SC 
• Nov. 2, 2023 – Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, Asheville, NC
• Nov. 4, 2023 – Alden Theatre at McLean Community Center, McLean, VA
• Nov. 5, 2023 – Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Annapolis, MD
• Nov. 9, 2023 – Corsicana Palace Theatre, Corsicana, TX 
• Nov. 10, 2023 – Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts, Richardson, TX 
• Nov. 11, 2023 – Geiger Performing Arts Center, Spring, TX 
• Nov. 13, 2023 – Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, LA
• Nov. 14, 2023 – Heymann Center, Lafayette, LA 
• Nov. 15, 2023 – Manship Theatre, Baton Rouge, LA 
• Nov. 17, 2023 – New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Victoria Theatre, Newark, NJ 
• Nov. 18, 2023 – Ocean County College, Grunin Center for the Arts, Toms River, NJ 
• Nov. 19, 2023 – Weinberg Center for the Arts, Frederick, MD