The Marine Band’s 2014 Summer Fare concerts will conclude this week with the swinging, southern rhythms of the Marine Dixieland Band at 8 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 27 on the west steps of the U.S. Capitol and at 8 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 28 at the Sylvan Theater on the grounds of the Washington Monument. Both concerts are free and no tickets are required.

The Marine Dixieland Band will perform an eclectic mix of music including selections by jazz greats Joseph “King” Oliver and Duke Ellington to more contemporary songs like John Legend’s “All of Me.” The musical potpourri program will also include classic Dixie themes such as “West End Blues;” “Caravan;” “Sweet Georgia Brown;” “Mack the Knife” from The Threepenny Opera, featuring piano soloist Gunnery Sgt. Russell Wilson; “Sugar Blues;” “High Society,” featuring clarinet soloist Master Sgt. Jihoon Chang; “Clarinet Marmalade;” “I Found a New Baby;” and a swing version of the traditional “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

“What we’re hoping to do with these concerts is show the diverse styles within Dixieland,” said band leader and trumpeter Gunnery Sgt. Daniel Orban. “There are ballads, some street beats, and pieces honoring clarinet greats like Johnny Dodds.”

The Marine Dixieland Band is one of several small ensembles featured at the White House and is formed by the virtuosic musicians of “The President’s Own.”  Along with Orban, Wilson, and Chang, ensemble members include clarinetist Gunnery Sgt. Gregory Ridlington, valve trombonist Staff Sgt. Ryan McGeorge, tuba player Gunnery Sgt. Mark Thiele, percussionist Master Sgt. David Murray, and guitarist Gunnery Sgt. Alan Prather.

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. Street parking is available or, 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.

Complete program