Dr. Anthony Villa, BJA Thanks You!
The Baltimore Jazz Alliance would like to express its gratitude to Dr. Anthony Villa, Professor of Music at Loyola University Maryland, for creating and directing the BJA Big Band. The BJABB was Anthony’s brainchild. Its mission: to perform only original compositions or arrangements by Baltimore-area artists. During its four years of existence, the BJABB performed more than thirty original compositions or arrangements by BJA members Paul Faatz, Todd Marcus, Phil Ravita, and Villa himself, along with charts by Hank Levy, Richard Orr, Mike Kamuf, Benny Russell, Reppard Stone, and others. Anthony did virtually everything: he solicited and selected the players and the music; he set up rehearsals and performances; he ensured that substitute players had music; he promoted the concerts. Most importantly, he expertly guided the musicians through challenging original material. And he did all this pro bono: that is, for the love of jazz and for the benefit of the Baltimore jazz community.
Because of his efforts, the BJA Big Band successfully advanced three of the BJA’s priorities: to provide performance opportunities for area musicians, to make visible the wealth of jazz offerings in Baltimore, and to develop new audiences for jazz. We thank him and we salute his efforts!
-Mark Osteen