Big Band Scene, a radio show hosted by Jerry Swanberg featuring today’s big bands from around the world, has been sponsoring concerts by military big bands every year for about 14 years in conjunction with the Twin Cities Jazz Society and KBEM radio. Past concerts include Army Jazz Ensembles (Jazz Ambassadors, Jazz Knights, Ground Forces Jazz Band), Air Force Jazz Ensembles (Airmen of Note, Falconaires, Noteables, Shades of Blue), and Navy Jazz Ensembles (Commodores, Great Lakes).

 

The members of these service aggregations, some of the best big bands in the world, are graduates of top music colleges in the U. S., and are full-time musicians. For example, nine of the eighteen musicians in the Jazz Ambassadors are from the University of North Texas, one of the premier jazz music schools in the U. S. The rest are from North Florida, Northern Illinois, Miami, Manhattan, Cincinnati, and Cal State Long Beach -- all top tier music schools. They are selected by a highly competitive audition. The lead trumpeter, Liesl Whitaker, was the first woman to play in any of the four premier military jazz orchestras, and also the first female to play lead trumpet. She is also a charter member of Diva, an acclaimed all-women big band from New York City.

 

The Conductor of the Jazz Ambassadors is Chief Warrant Officer William McCullough, who joined the Army in 1991. He has served tours as a percussionist and conductor with seven different Army bands, including a deployment to Iraq. The terrific vocalist Marva Lewis joined the Army in 1989, and has served in Saudi Arabia and Korea. She joined the U. S. Army Jazz Knights from West Point in 1995, and the Jazz Ambassadors in 1999.

 

Since its formation in 1969, the Jazz Ambassadors have traveled thousands of miles every year, and have appeared across the U. S., Canada, Mexico, India, Japan, and throughout Europe, including the at the famous Montreaux and North Sea Jazz Festivals. They present a diverse program of big band swing, Latin, contemporary jazz, standards, Dixie, vocal, and patriotic selections. They have also been featured in unique collaborations with major orchestras, including the Detroit and Baltimore Symphonies, and the National Symphony Orchestra.

The new Farmington High School is located 25 miles south of downtown Minneapolis at 20655 Flagstaff Avenue -- so allow time to get there. However, it’s an easy drive: Take Cedar Avenue / Highway 77 south over the Minnesota River to County Rd 50 in Lakeville. Turn left (east) to Flagstaff Ave, and then left again (North) to the high school. The concert is free. The beautiful Farmington High School Recital Hall seats 900, but get there early to get a good seat.