Mar 27, 2019
The 2017 SBU Jazz Band performs in a Swing into Spring big-band swing dance held on campus. The popular event returns this spring, on Thursday, April 11, with professional musicians joining the student ensemble.

St. Bonaventure University Jazz Band’s resurrection of the big band sound for a spring dance two years ago was so popular that the ensemble is climbing back into the time machine.

The 2019 version of Swing into Spring, a big-band swing dance featuring popular tunes from the ’40s, will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 11, in the Doyle Hall Dining Room on campus. Sitting in with the approximately 14-member student ensemble throughout the evening will be a host of professional musicians.

“The last time we did this we had a lot of participation from the community, so we think we’ll have a big crowd again,” said Dr. Les Sabina, professor of music and chair of the Department of Visual and Performing Arts at St. Bonaventure, who will direct the band.“

The SBU Jazz Band has been rehearsing the works of Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, Count Basie and others in order to present the sounds of the ’40s to the campus and community. Songs will include well-known gems such as ‘In The Mood,’ ‘Sing, Sing, Sing,’ ‘A String of Pearls,’ ‘Undecided,’ ‘Caravan’ and many more,” said Sabina.

What takes this performance to another level, he added, is the addition of some of the best professional jazz musicians in the region, an opportunity provided through the university’s ongoing Martine Performing Arts Series, which is supported by a grant from the Leo Keenan Jr. and James J. Martine Faculty Development Endowments.

“The Keenan-Martine Endowment is enabling us to offer our students a special performance opportunity, specifically, playing alongside top professional musicians from Western New York. Special guests include SBU music faculty members Laura Peterson on piano and Isaac Spaeth on alto saxophone, and I’ll be contributing some tenor saxophone solos throughout the evening,” said Sabina.

“Additionally, trombonist Kenny Crane and trumpeters Jason Fox, Dan Waldron and Cody Anderson will be sitting side-by-side with our students in their respective sections, and Tom Gestwicki, a SUNY Fredonia instructor and noted guitarist, will be playing bass,” he said.

It’s a one-of-a-kind opportunity for students, said Sabina.

“It will certainly be different from a typical concert environment in which students traditionally participate while at college,” he said. “It’s a wonderful and rare opportunity for students to get real-world performing experience by sitting with professionals outside the classroom, and by playing in front of an active, expectant crowd. The audience benefits as well with the addition of professional talent.”

The Swing into Spring performance is open to all at no charge, although donations will be welcomed. Light refreshments will be available throughout the dance.

For questions regarding the event, call Sabina at (716) 375-2320.

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