Summer Fare Features Upbeat Sounds of Marine Big Band
By Staff Sgt. Brian Rust
| United States Marine Band | July 28, 2015
July 28, 2015 --
Summer Fare concerts
continue this week with an eclectic mix of lively jazz and big band music by
the Marine Big Band with performances at 8 p.m., Wednesday, July 29, on the
west terrace of the U.S. Capitol and Thursday, July 30, at the Sylvan Theater
on the grounds of the Washington Monument. The evening performances are free
and no tickets are required. Patrons are encouraged to bring folding chairs or
blankets to sit on as there is no permanent seating available.
Made up of members of
“The President’s Own,” the Marine Big Band concerts will feature a mixed bag of
jazz and big band favorites giving all the members a chance to shine. Led by
guitarist Gunnery Sgt. Alan Prather, the group will perform songs by Pat
Metheny, Neal Hefti, Johnny Mandel, Duke Ellington, Billy
Strayhorn, James van Heusen, John Klenner and Sam M. Lewis, and Harry Warren.
Selections will include such classic big band tunes as “Satin Doll” and “Take
the ‘A’ Train,” as well as the more contemporary hits “Does this Chart Make Me
Look Phat?” and “Hunting Wabbits” by Grammy-award winning musician Gordon
Goodwin.
“These concerts give
us an opportunity to perform songs we don’t normally get to play and allow us
more opportunity to improvise and express ourselves musically,” Prather said.
“We really enjoy playing the summer concerts at the Capitol and Sylvan Theater
and this program features a little something for everybody.”
Along with Prather,
the Marine Big Band members include saxophonists Master Sgts. Steven Longoria
and Miles Smith, Gunnery Sgts. Gregory Ridlington and David Jenkins, and Staff
Sgt. Jacob Chmara; trumpeters Master Sgts. Christian Ferrari and Scott Gearhart
and Gunnery Sgts. Daniel Orban and Brad Weil; trombonists Gunnery Sgts. Darren
Bange and Timothy Dugan and Staff Sgt. Christopher Reaves; bass trombonist
Staff Sgt. Daniel Brady; percussionists Master Gunnery Sgt. Christopher Rose
and Master Sgt. Glenn Paulson; double bassist Master Sgt. Aaron Clay; and
pianist Staff Sgt. Christopher Schmitt.
For
the Summer Fare performances, limited street parking is available. For concerts
at the Capitol, patrons may take the red line to Union Station or the blue,
orange, or silver lines to the Capitol South station. For concerts at the
Sylvan Theater, take the blue, orange, or silver lines to the Smithsonian
station. The concerts are free but weather permitting, and programming is
subject to change. Inclement weather announcements will be made by 6 p.m. on
the band’s Concert Information Line at (202) 433-4011 and on the Marine Band’s
website and social media pages.
Complete Program