The Birdland Big Band

The Birdland Big Band is a 16-piece jazz orchestra that performs at the Birdland Jazz Club in New York City. The Birdland Big Band is led by saxophonist David DeJesus

DeJesus joined as saxophonist and leader in October 2017 and brought with him an emphasis on traditional swing and the blues. He hired drummer Chris Smith, bassist Doug Weiss, trumpeter Brandon Lee, and added a fourth trombonist in Ron Wilkins. These musicians joined Glenn Drewes, Tony Lustig, John Walsh, Mark Miller, Kenny Ascher, and Nathan Childers. In 2017 vocalist Veronica Swift was added.

History

The band was created in 2006 by drummer Tommy Igoe, son of jazz drummer Sonny Igoe.^[1] Tommy Igoe founded The Friday Night Big Band with musicians from a big band that was in residence at Birdland. That band was founded and directed by Lew Anderson, who died in 2006. After Igoe took over, he changed the name to Birdland Big Band and built a repertoire of contemporary compositions, original arrangements, and select historical works, some forgotten or rare. Guest musicians included Will Lee, James Genus, Conrad Korsch, and Broadway pit musicians who use the early evening sessions as a warm-up for their performances later that night. After Igoe left the band, it was directed for several years by Rob Middleton and Glenn Drewes.^[2]^[3]

Members

David DeJesus - Leader/Tenor saxophone
Nathan Childers - Alto saxophone
Alejandro Aviles - Alto saxophone
Mike Migliori - Tenor saxophone
Tony Lustig - Baritone saxophone
Glenn Drewes - Trumpet
John Walsh - Trumpet
Raul Agraz - Trumpet
Brandon Lee - Trumpet
Mark Miller - Trombone
Sara Jacovino - Trombone
Ron Wilkins - Trombone
James Borowski - Bass Trombone
Chris Smith - Drums
Kenny Ascher - Piano
Doug Weiss - Bass

Discography

The Lew Anderson Tribute Concert (2007)
Eleven (2012)^[4]

References

^ Biography Index. A cumulative index to biographical material in books and magazines, volume 18: September 1992 – August 1993, H.W. Wilson Company, New York (1993)
^ Esther L. Callens, "Musical Notes" Archived 2009-01-01 at the Wayback Machine, Birmingham Times, February 23, 2012
^ Tim McClelland, "Eleven – Tommy Igoe and the Birdland Big Band", Jazz Fidelity, May 22, 2012
^ "The Birdland Big Band". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 August 2018.

[BI-1] Biography Index. A cumulative index to biographical material in books and magazines, volume 18: September 1992 – August 1993, H.W. Wilson Company, New York (1993)

[2] Esther L. Callens, "Musical Notes" Archived 2009-01-01 at the Wayback Machine, Birmingham Times, February 23, 2012

[3] Tim McClelland, "Eleven – Tommy Igoe and the Birdland Big Band", Jazz Fidelity, May 22, 2012

[AM_discog-4] "The Birdland Big Band". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 August 2018.

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