“BIG BAND HOLIDAY SHOWCASE” (CHRISTMAS & NEW YEARS)

December this year is a great one for Big Band fans, with nine wonderful offerings to attend, including six concerts and three New Years swing dances. The celebrations take place all over, on the West Bank, Eden Prairie, White Bear Lake, Edina, Excelsior, Plymouth, Bloomington, and St. Paul. The bands are the Bellagala Big Band, Bend in the River Big Band, Century Jazz Ensemble, Good New Big Band, Just Friends Big Band., Russ Peterson Big Band, Pizzazz Jazz, & the U of M Jazz Ensemble I. Most of them have vocalists to add to the festivities. Read on and then go out and celebrate!

The University of Minnesota Jazz Ensemble I & II, directed by Dean Sorenson, are presenting “New Voices from Around the World”, on Monday, 12/07 at 7:30 PM, at the Ted Mann Concert Hall on the U of M West Bank. The program will feature contemporary big band compositions and arrangements from all over, including works from Chris Merz (Univ. of Northern Iowa), Lars Jansson (Gotenberg, Sweden), and Joe Phillips, plus a chart from Adam Meckler, a U of M Grad student and Jazz I trumpeter. The concert is FREE!

Century Jazz Ensemble will be presenting “Swingin’ The Season” on Sunday, 12/13, at 3 PM at the Century College Theater in White Bear Lake. They will perform traditional seasonal big band charts, as well as some new slants on some old favorites. Vocalist Debbie O’Keefe will be join the band for several selections, including a newly commissioned arrangement by Steve Devich of “A Child Is Born”. Other CJE tunes will include John LaBarbera’s new chart of “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear”, and Wayne Bergeron’s “Waltz of the Flowers” from the “Nutcracker Suite”. In addition, the CC Septet will play several cuts from their new Holiday CD. As usual, the CJE performance has NO ADMISSION CHARGE, and there will be a reception following the concert.

The Good News Big Band is doing double duty this Holiday Season, by presenting their “Big Band Christmas” program at Edinborough Indoor Park in Edina, and an encore appearance at “Jazz at St. Barneys” in Plymouth. The Edinborough concert is on Sunday, Dec. 13 at 7 PM, and it’s Free! The GNBB, led by Brian Richter, will feature favorite Christmas music done in the big band style, such as God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Angels We Have Heard on High, and Deck the Halls, arranged by Chris McDonald, Dave Wolpe, and others. Featured soloists include trumpeters Pete Davis, & Jerry Cerchia, saxophonist Dana Mathewson, and vocalist Teresa Jackson.

Then the Good News Big Band will join the Just Friends Big Band on Sunday, Dec 27, at St. Barneys, which is the St.Barnabas Center for the Arts (in St. Barnabas Lutheran Church), 15600 Old Rockford Rd., in Plymouth. Just Friends, directed by Adam Bestler, will perform a few charts from the famous Stan Kenton Christmas album, plus Gordon Goodwin’s “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”. Their vocalist is Lori Wukmir. The Big Band Battle starts at 7 PM. Admission is $10 Adults, $7 TCJS Members, & $5 Students.

The mighty Russ Peterson Big Band is celebrating Christmas by “Swinging All The way”, on

Monday, Dec. 14 at 7:30 PM, at the Old Log Theater in Excelsior. Russ performs at the Old Log two – three times a year, with vocalists Patty Peterson (his cousin) & Bob Glenn. Some of the best Big Band Musicians in town are the stars in this band, including drummer Joe Pulice, lead trumpeter Larry Foyen, saxophonist Doug Haining, bassist Steve Pikal, and trombonist Dave Graf. For tickets call 952-474-5951 ($22).

The Bend in the River Big Band is also doing double duty this holiday season. First, they’re performing a concert titled “A Swingin’ Christmas”, on Saturday, December 12 at 7 PM, at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 13600 Technology Dr., in Eden Prairie (952-937-2776). A Free Will offering will benefit “People Serving People” Homeless Shelter. Their next gig is a Pre-New Years Swing Dance Night at the Wabasha Street Caves on Wed., 12/30 at 7 PM. The Caves are located at 215 S. Wabasha, St. Paul (651-224-1191). The BRBB have a great new vocalist, Linnea Nelson Marrin, a newcomer to the Twin Cities, originally from New York City and Miami. She’ll sing John Clayton’s great arrangement of “Jingle Bells”, recorded by Diane Krall, on Dec.12.

We’ve been going to New Year’s Eve Big Band Swing Dances in the Twin Cities every year since 1990, performed first by Don Bates Great Big Band, then the Cedar Avenue Big Band, and then the Classic Big Band. However, last year’s New Years Eve passed by without a Big Band swinging, but Yeah! This year you have two alternatives.

The Bellagala Big Band, directed by Don George, will perform a New Years Eve Swing Dance at Christos Union Station Restaurant, in Downtown St. Paul, starting at 7 PM . They will play both Swing and Ballroom (Foxtrot / Waltz / Latin) charts, including 55 from the Les Brown library. Vocalist Patty Peterson will join the Band on New Years Eve, and their other vocalist, Bob Glenn, will sing a few Sinatra tunes (they have 50 in their library). The Bellagala Big Band is a very high powered, fiery group, driven by lead trumpeter Larry Foyen and drummer John Lund, and features some great musicians including saxophonist Dale Mendenhall, trombonist Jim Ten Bensel, pianist Ron Seaman, & trumpeter Rick Everitt. Tickets are $30 & $40 and include Champagne. TCJS members receive a 10% discount. For information call 651-224-6000 or go to http://www.bellagala.com/.

New Years Eve will also be celebrated at the Bloomington KC Hall Ballroom, featuring Pizzazz Jazz, a Nonet (mini Big Band) led by trumpeter Joe Swierczek. Their specialty is performing “Jump/Swing” tunes and some jazz. They also feature two vocalists, Connie Dusseau & Jim Gerber. The Dinner Dance starts with a cocktail hour at 6:30 PM, and the cost is $75 per couple, for a elegant gourmet dinner and a champagne toast at midnight. The KC Hall is located at 1114 American Blvd. West in Bloomington.
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