Big Band Jazz

November 18, 2019. Led by drummer Sherri Marical, the DIVA Jazz Orchestra has been a uniquely swinging force since 1992. The all- female band has been leading by example when it comes to presenting contemporary big band jazz in a fresh and personalized fashion.

November 2, 2019. Guitarist, composer and arranger Peter Hand already had a lot of big band experience under his belt when he launched The Peter Hand Big Band in 2005, and it shows. The players were well-known, and the song selection was perfect for them.

Jim Cullum, Jr. said it with music. The jazz legend, who exemplified the artistic spirit and energy of San Antonio for nearly 60 years, died peacefully at home on Sunday, August 11, 2019. Cullum was 77 years old.

Join WRTI on the 4th of July as the Airmen of Note create musical fireworks! The premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force hosts annual radio events that allow listeners from far and wide to experience their brand of Americana, delivered with the help of famous jazz guest artists.

July 8, 2019. When trombonist, vocalist, and bandleader Pete McGuinness was growing up in West Hartford, Connecticut, he wanted to be Duke Ellington. So it’s probably no coincidence that with the release of his third big band album, Along for the Ride, McGuinness shows a musical sensibility that mirrors the Duke’s.

May 20, 2019. The Airmen of Note is the award-winning jazz ensemble of the U.S. Air Force Band. With Global Reach, their fourth new album in as many years, the ‘Note’ truly goes global, featuring arrangements of traditional Irish and Korean folk tunes, along with breezy, beachy sambas, and—just for good measure—a Beatles cover.

October 29, 2018. Even though jazz pianist, composer and bandleader Orrin Evans recently joined the boundary-bending trio The Bad Plus based in NYC, his local projects still remain on the forefront. The Captain Black Big Band has been his baby since 2007, and the new album, Presence, shows that Evans is present.

September 17, 2018. Despite the passing of Count Basie in 1984, the Count Basie Orchestra has remained one of the elite performing organizations in jazz. Now under the direction of Scotty Barnhart, the orchestra, partly comprised of musicians hired by Basie himself, has released All About That Basie to celebrate 80 years of swinging.