First Lutheran Presents the Joel Penner Sextet

First Lutheran Church of Glendale presents the jazz music of the Joel Penner Sextet on Sept. 12 at 5 p.m.

Inspired by the Big Band and bebop sounds of the '40s and '50s, the Joel Penner Sextet plays unique original arrangements of some of the most famous standard tunes and jazz classics.

Penner is a veteran of the Los Angeles and San Francisco music scenes. He has performed with such varied artists as Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, Glen Campbell and Florence Henderson. Because of his experience in the popular music field, Penner knows how to relate to an audience. He has a large following and is usually able to fil1 a room and "keep it jumping."

The musicians in the band are some of L.A.'s finest. The band features guitarist Doug MacDonald, who has recorded numerous CDs under his own name featuring performers as Plas Johnson, Ray Brown and Jake Hannah. He has also recorded with Bill Holman, Ernie Andrews, Jack Sheldon and the Clayton/Hamilton Orchestra. Also featured in the band is bass player Bill Van Ravensberg, who has played with Tom Jones, Thelma Houston, Della Reese and many more. Rounding out the ensemble is Joel Penner on trumpet and flugelhorn, Michael Rose on tenor sax, Rick Hills on piano and Peter Dare on drums.

The band has played at many of Los Angeles' finest jazz clubs, including the Jazz Bakery, the Jazz Spot, Spazio's, and Jax and the Baked Patato. The band was featured at the Monterey Hills Jazz Festival. They have also been featured performers at many of the area's municipal concert series, including Beverly Hills, La Cañada Flintridge and Oxnard's Heritage Square.

Future performances include Cathy Segal-Garcia on Oct. 10 at 5 p.m.

Admission is free; donations are accepted. First Lutheran Church of Glendale is located at 1300 E. Colorado St. in Glendale. For more information, call 240-9000 or 323-245-4000.