The Classic Jazz & Swing Orchestra began in late 2015. At that time, I was asked by the Sandwich (MA) Arts Alliance to help them plan a musical fundraiser for the following April at the Sandwich Town Hall. After several meetings it was decided that the theme would be “Jazz – The First Fifty Years”. I began planning a program that would include jazz music and a narrator to guide us through. Since I was already working with jazz photographer Jack Bradley, he suggested that we use some of his one of a kind photographs to enhance the production, thus the idea of a musical and visual trip through history was born.
I assembled the finest jazz musicians in the area and put together a program of jazz music from 1900 to 1950. Our narration was written as a performance by actress Celeste Howe, giving the show a first person perspective of the evolution of jazz.
“Jazz – The First Fifty Years” sold out and was the most successful fundraiser the Alliance ever had. Shortly thereafter, I was able to book the CJ & S Orchestra to several more fundraisers, private parties, etc. through 2017. Being an eight piece group, however, limited the number of venues that we could perform at.
In 2017, using the formula we had in Sandwich, I began our current project of Classic Jazz Visions as a tribute to the wonderful work of Jack Bradley. This is the first in a introducing these images and music to a new audience. We are very near to completing this tribute, and are already looking into future performances to be streamed. The Classic Jazz & Swing Orchestra features John Clark on reeds, Jeff Hughes on Trumpet, myself on trombone and vocals, Mwalim on piano, Andy Troyanos on Guitar, Mike Ryle on bass, Gary Johnson on drums, and our vocalist Lori Colombo. The songs we have selected for this tribute are newly recorded and feature original arrangements/transcriptions by Mike Ryle and myself, giving the Classic Jazz & Swing Orchestra a truly unique sound.