Big Band of the Week

Norma Allman, the trombonist who led this band until her death last March at age 90, jokingly called it the Always Too Late band. But her son Mike, who also plays trombone, says that Never Too Late is a very apt name because the band gave several of its members the impetus to return to playing after long absences from their instruments. | Read more>> Read More

It was difficult deciding whether to include Mood Swings in our series on jazz big bands. On the one hand, their book of classic jazz big band tunes is voluminous, featuring both instrumentals and vocal features. On the other hand, the argument against inclusion is summed up in their own self-description as a “rock/pop band in a big band body.” | Read more>> Read More

Three years ago trumpeter Scott Stansfield put together a big band to make a CD, which they did after six months of rehearsal. When the project was over, some musicians said, “We’re not breaking up, are we?” Stansfield then realized an ambition he’d had since 1983, when, as a sixth grader, he heard the Stan Kenton Orchestra at Towson State College. | Read more>> Read More

This big band’s entire repertoire consists of compositions and/or arrangements by Hank Levy. In case you are not familiar with that name, here is a short synopsis. Levy was a Baltimore saxophonist who played briefly with the famous Stan Kenton Orchestra in 1953, then returned to Baltimore. | Read more>> Read More

Seven years ago trumpeter Jerry Peterson took over the leadership of Emil Rusinko’s big band after the death of its former leader. Peterson had taught in Anne Arundel County schools, mainly Arundel Junior High, for forty years. He is currently 83 and also leads a brass quintet. | Read more>> Read More