By Gregory Burrus | Posted Wednesday, January 29, 2020
South Orange Downtown After Sundown is planning on coming back for 2020 with a Big Bang from the sounds of more Big Bands in 2020. To see where we are headed in 2020, let’s look back at this past season and the big fun we had during 2019.
In 2019 More Big Bands!!! Oh Yeah!!
Like the Big Bands of the 20’s/40’s? Did you know that Big bands started as an accompaniment for dancing way back in 1910? Well this year instead of one big band for the 2019 Downtown After Sundown Season, we had one big band a month joining us for your dancing and listening pleasure. That’s right the Sounds in Spiotta Park were awesome with three big bands ranging in size from 12 to 19 pieces and playing some of the most swinging tunes ever for your dancing and listening pleasure.
Swing Town Big Band Led by Ben Williams
"It's important for professionals, who might start feeling like playing is just a job, to spend time with those who love to play." Ben Williams
Opening our Big Band Series this season will be one of our longest running returning veteran big bands, the Swing Town Big Band of Maplewood Community Music. Under the direction of the professional trombonist and music director Ben Williams. They came back with their 19 Piece Big Band. Their Big Band-style jazz ensemble features Saxophones, Trumpets, Trombones, Rhythm Section, and Vocalists.
And oh what a swinging night of music it was as they played the classics, standards and more. This year they opened their performance with the South Mountain Squirrel Hunters and then swung into action with some of the best big band music around. Folks were encouraged to bring a lawn chair and they did and had a great time.
Another Big Band — Ed Palermo
"Ed Parlermo ...one of the greatest musicians and arrangers in the world." -- Christian McBride –
Another nice development in booking this years 2019 Downtown After Sundown season is the addition of Another Big Band thanks to a big supporter of live music, drummer Eddie Brown. Another Big Band consist of 12 musicians, including a vocalist, from the Jazz House Community Big Band. They are musicians of all levels and backgrounds, playing classic arrangements from the big band era. Another Big Band is under the direction of Ed Palermo, who is not just a dynamic saxophonist, he is also a prolific arranger, composer, educator and, since 1980, leader of Ed Palermo’s Big Band.
These Big Band played members their hearts out, had a heck of a good time playing with each other and the audience that came out and listened to some great music. The fun part is also for a good cause as these cats contribute what they receive to a nonprofit called the Jazz House Kids. Hailed by JazzTimes as “one of the most successful and respected jazz education programs in the country,” the NEA grant recipient, and award winning JAZZ HOUSE KiDS has inspired more than 45,000 young musicians since its launch and touched a growing, annual audience of 25,000.All so another young person can be introduced to this wonderful world of live music that we all enjoy.
Big Beat Big Band - Caleb Rumley
BIG BEAT is a 19-piece big band that was formed in 2014 with one purpose - to make music that sounds good and feels good.
This year on our 2019 Final Downtown After Sundown Weekend we were happy to have Big Beat Big Band join us. The group consists of 5 saxophones, 4 trombones, 4 trumpets, guitar, piano, bass, drums, vocals and a conductor. This 19 piece R&B Orchestra was formed in 2014 with one purpose - to make music that sounds good and feels good. Founded by alumni of William Paterson University's vaunted jazz program, the band is steeped in the modern jazz tradition but they refuse to limit themselves to any particular genre.
They are an innovative band with a fresh big band sound so folks definitely came out and dined, danced and listened to the Big Bands in South Orange Spiotta Park.
This year come enjoy all of our swinging Big Bands during our 2020 Downtown After Sundown Season. South Orange Village Center invites you to dine, dance, listen and swing with us under the stars during the 2020 Downtown After Sundown Live Music Series.
Don't forget, along with the big bands above, we will also have more musician participation events like jazz jams and audience dance participation events too. All concerts kick off Memorial weekend 5/22/2020 through Labor Day, every Friday and Saturday evening and one Sunday a month from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm in the heart of Downtown South Orange. Check out www.sovillgecenter.org and facebook Downtown After Sundown for the new 2020 list of live music events.
About Gregory Burrus
Gregory Burrus is a local live music ambassador, event planner, live music ambassador and community partner that curates, manages and promotes live music events in the local SOMA (South Orange,Maplewood) community, Northern NJ and New York Area.