Bringing the sounds of the big band era all the way from San Francisco, the band “Swing Fever” will perform at Orcas Center.
With a deep passion for music of the ‘30s and ‘40s, the band has been together since 1978. Their performance on Saturday, Sept. 26 will be the group’s first appearance on Orcas Island.
“Bandleader Bryan Gould started the group,” Swing Fever office manager Paula Helene said. “He has dedicated his life to this particular era of music. He is truly an expert on the music and the composers. He loves the material.”
Swing Fever musicians have performed and recorded with Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, BB King, Rosemary Clooney, Stan Getz, Thelonius Monk, George Shearing, Coleman Hawkins, Peggy Lee, Chet Baker, Vince Guaraldi, Bill Evans, Red Norvo, Wes Montgomery, Teddy Wilson, Max Roach, Earl “Fatha” Hines, Michael Feinstein, Glen Campbell, John Hendrix, Johnny Mathis, Carmen McRae, Mel Torme, Joe Pass and Kenny Burrell.
The band’s repertoire includes more than 1,700 songs. Swing Fever has released three CDs, two of them with Clark Terry, trumpeter with both Duke Ellington and Count Basie. The band and Terry have performed together many times at the Monterey Jazz Festival. A fourth CD, from live tour performances with Buddy DeFranco and Terry Gibbs, will appear this fall.
In addition to a full complement of swing band instrumentation – trumpet, saxophone, clarinet, trombone, bass, drums – the band’s sound is completed with featured vocalist Denise Perrier.
“People can expect music that is rhythmic, romantic, torrid, and witty,” Helene said. “People will be pulled back into history and will get a very authentic sound. It’s danceable music as well as romantic.”
According to Ken Speck, band leader of local swing band Orcatrazz, “swing is forever.”
Speck, his wife Karen, and their company Cherie Lindholm Real Estate have provided underwriting for the Orcas presentation of Swing Fever. Artist lodging is being provided by Camp Orkila.
Helene assures the Orcas community that the performance on Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m. will be one to remember.
“The scope and breadth of their knowledge is amazing,” she said. “These are fantastic musicians who have played with all the jazz greats.”
Tickets
Tickets for the concert on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m. are $24, $16 for Orcas Center members and $10 for students. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.orcascenter.org or call or 376-2281 ext 1 during box office hours, Thursday through Saturday, noon to 4 p.m.
