The Wheaton Municipal Band Season Finale features Big Band Jazz
In the last concert of the 2014 Wheaton Municipal Band concerts, Doug Beach returns with a big band for the beloved Jazz Band Concert on Thursday, August 14 at 8:00 p.m. at Memorial Park in downtown Wheaton. The band is comprised of professional musicians and auditioned members of the Wheaton Municipal Band.
The local pros include celebrities, Bethany Norman, Vocalist, Mark Colby, Tenor Saxophone, Kirk Garrison, Trumpet, Frank Caruso, Piano,
Mike Pinto, Guitar, Conor Roe, Bass and Keith Brooks. Drums. Many of these musicians are considered Chicago land's heavy hitters. They often perform at Jazz Showcase and are featured throughout the area. Although the Big Band is comprised of about 20 members, they pack a big sound that fills the park.
The music for the evening includes selections from Big Bands to Broadway. This music stands as the greatest in American Jazz and show. Doug Beach pulls together arrangements, many of which he writes himself, to keep the audience toe tapping throughout the evening. Doug Beach has built a career that includes performing (trumpet), teaching, adjudicating, publishing and composing. Inspired by his interest in playing, writing and teaching, in 1975 he established the publishing company, which bears his name. Three years later, Doug joined the faculty of Elmhurst College in Illinois as director of jazz studies. In the years since, his college band has toured Europe often and has appeared with jazz greats. In great demand as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the U.S. and Canada, Doug has also been artist-in-residence on two different occasions for the Illinois Arts Council. In 1996, the Count Basie Orchestra and New York Voices recorded his arrangement of "Cottontail" on a CD that went on to win the Grammy Award for best large jazz ensemble.
The Wheaton Municipal Band is happy to share the band shell with one of the areas great bandleaders. Don't miss this exciting jazz band concert on Thursday, August 14 at 8:00 pm in Memorial Park in downtown Wheaton. As always, the concert is Free. www.wheatonmunicipalband.org.