Come Swing in SO With Our 2019 Downtown After Sundown Big Bands

More Big Bands!!! Oh Yeah!!

Like the Big Bands of the 20’s/40’s? Did you know that Big bands started as an accompaniment for dancing way back in 1910? Well this year instead of one big band for the 2019 Downtown After Sundown Season, we will have one big band a month joining us for your dancing and listening pleasure. That’s right the Sounds in Spiotta Park will be awesome with three big bands ranging in size from 12 to 19 pieces and playing some of the most swinging tunes ever for your dancing and listening pleasure. Save the Dates

Friday, June 7 - Swing Town Big Band- Ben Williams

"It's important for professionals, who might start feeling like playing is just a job, to spend time with those who love to play."

Opening our Big Band Series this season will be one our longest running, returning veteran big band, the Swing Town Big Band of Maplewood Community Music. Under the direction of the professional trombonist and music director Ben Williams. They will be back with their 19 Piece Big Band and their Big Band-style jazz ensemble featuring Saxophones, Trumpets, Trombones, Rhythm Section, and Vocalists. And oh what a swinging night of music as they will be playing classics, standards and more. This year they open with the South Mountain Squirrel Hunters and then swing into action with some of the best big band music around. Definitely grab a lawn chair and prepare to have to have a good time Friday evening June 7th.

Friday July 12 – Another Big Band - Ed Palermo

"...one of the greatest musicians and arrangers in the world." -- Christian McBride --

Another nice development in booking this years 2019 Downtown After Sundown season is the addition of Another Big Band thanks to a big supporter of live music, drummer Eddie Brown. Another Big Band consist of 12 musicians, including a vocalist, from the Jazz House Community Big Band. They are musicians of all levels and backgrounds, playing classic arrangements from the big band era. Another Big Band is under the direction of Ed Palermo, who is not just a dynamic saxophonist, he is also a prolific arranger, composer, educator and, since 1980, leader of Ed Palermo’s Big Band.

This Big Band plays their heart out, has a heck of lot of fun playing with each other and you. So come on out, listen to some great music, join in the fun and help a good cause. These cats contribute what they receive to the Jazz House Kids so another young person can be introduced to this wonderful world of live music that we all enjoy. You get too listen to some awesome music, and the band pays it forward. Hope you can join us on July 12th.

Friday August 30 - Big Beat Big Band - Caleb Rumley

This year on our 2019 Final Downtown After Sundown Weekend we are happy to have Big Beat Big Band join us. This 19 piece R&B Orchestra was formed in 2014 with one purpose - to make music that sounds good and feels good. Founded by alumni of William Paterson University's vaunted jazz program, the band is steeped in the modern jazz tradition but they refuse to limit themselves to any particular genre. They are innovative with a fresh big band sound so definitely come dine dance and listen to the Big Bands in South Orange Spiotta Park.

Mark your calendars and come enjoy all our Swinging Big Bands during our 2019 Downtown After Sundown Season - South Orange Village Center invites you to dine, dance, listen and swing with us under the stars during the 2019 Downtown After Sundown Live Music Series.

Don't forget, along with the big bands above, we also have more musician participation events like jazz jams and audience dance participation events too. All concerts kick off Memorial weekend through Labor Day, every Friday and Saturday evening and one Sunday a month from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm in the heart of Downtown South Orange. Check out www.sovillgecenter.org and facebook Downtown After Sundown for ongoing scheduling updates.

Gregory Burrus, Live Music Ambassador

Gregory Burrus with South Orange Trustee Bob Zuckerman former Executive Director of SOVCA. Downtown After Sundown is a program sponsored by the South Orange Village Center Alliance and the Town of South Orange. https://www.sovillagecenter.org/pub/event/story/2382/

Gregory Burrus curates an manages the South Orange Village Center Alliance's Downtown After Sundown Live Music Concerts. This SOMA resident arrived in South Orange, 23-year ago and just loves South Orange, NJ. Gregory enjoys all music genres but his first love jazz began as a boy when his mother and father played jazz on the good old record player at home and took him to clubs all over Manhattan. Greg was an executive in the telecommunications industry and has consulted on telecom, technology and operational business processes systems all over the world. Now he is putting his expertise, gain from his former business environment to work producing music, art and community events across South Orange, Maplewood, Newark and other towns around Northern New Jersey and New York.