...Replicates the sounds of the Big Bands of the Swing Era. It consists of three or four trumpets, two to four trombones, four or five saxophones, piano, bass, drum, guitar, and vocalist, and Bob on the clarinet. This group reproduces the sounds of the Swing Era Big Bands, from Sammy Kaye to Stan Kenton, using the arrangements as they were originally recorded.This group of from fourteen to eighteen musicians plays jazz festivals, concerts, street fairs, cruises, country clubs, and weddings. Optionally, Bob adds a Modernaires-style vocal quartet to sing 'Sunny Side of the Street' and other big band hits. A typical program might consist of the theme songs of the more popular big bands of the 1930's and '40s, such as LeapFrog, Take the 'A' Train, Patricia, In the Mood, and Sing Sing Sing, followed by some songs associated with Hal Kemp, or Benny Goodman.

Opening day at Shea Stadium, big band

Depending on your occasion, Bob also replicates the sounds of Noro Morales, Xavier Cugat, Les Elgart, Wayne King, and the other bands which primarily played for dancers rather than listeners. Over the years, Bob has assembled an outstanding library of Big Band recreations, which includes the Charlie Barnet version of 'Cherokee', Lawrence Welk's 'Bubbles in the Wine', and Sammy Kaye's 'Object of My Affection'. Most Big Band revivals today consist of orchestrations originally published for student use, and are in easier keys than the better-known recorded versions. Whatever re-orchestration is necessary to achieve the original brilliance of the scores, is done.

The MetroSwing Big Band

...Is basically the same instrumentation as the above, except that an electric bass is used, and the piano has been replaced by a rock guitar. The rock guitar plays in hard rock style, enlivening a swinging big band. The arrangements are original, leaning to the Swing Era repertoire. The beat is heavier. And the band is louder. With this group, we've played at the Underground, the JVC Jazz Festival, the Ritz, the Red Parrot, and Studio 54. A typical program might consist of a tribute to Janis Joplin, a Taco-like version of 'Puttin' On the Ritz', and an exploration of how Glenn Miller would have sounded if he had access to a rock guitar and electric bass.

Back to Music Links and Bob's other bands