Sentimental Journey Big Band of Charlottesville
Charlottesville based Big Band Jazz featuring the classic sounds of the 1930's through today
The Sentimental Journey Big Band was founded in 1986 by a group of friends who began meeting for their own amusement to play the great songs of the big band era. Before long the band found itself playing dances and concerts in the local Charlottesville area. Now more than 35 years later Sentimental Journey continues to delight and entertain big band music lovers of all ages. The band has performed
The SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY BIG BAND will be kicking off the 35th season of Jazz in the Park this Thursday July 6 from 7-9 pm! Come out to Staunton’s historic Gypsy Hill Park Bandstand & enjoy the music! 🎶 Lawn chair/blanket recommended, concessions available, Family friendly, Pet friendly, plenty of room to relax under the trees. Free & open to the public, held rain or shine. See you at the bandstand! 🎵
05/06/2023
Sentimental Journey put on a great show at JMU yesterday! To view a video of the performance, click here:
Sentimental Journey Big Band of Charlottesville @ JMU - 6.4.2023 The Sentimental Journey Big Band of Charlottesville performs at JMU in Harrisonburg, VA on June 4th, 2023.Trumpets: Dick Stageberg (Lead), Steve Brecker, Ray...
Sentimental Journey Big Band of Charlottesville is returning to JMU on June 4 at 6pm!
https://www.jmu.edu/music/special-programs/concerts-on-the-lawn.shtml
Don't miss Sentimental Journey Big Band of Charlottesville performing at Rapunzel's Coffee and Books, 924 Front St, Lovingston, VA this Saturday March 25 at 8pm!
19/08/2022
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpZuZfvhunk&t=1s
Sentimental Journey Big Band June 12, 2022 JMU Part 1 Live Concert on the grounds of James Madison University.Program Part 1:Shiny StockingsSing Sang SungMas Que NadaStormy WeatherThe Way You Look TonightHayburn...
19/08/2022
Posting some videos from our concert at JMU earlier this year
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpZuZfvhunk&t=1s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnFYUR_LPTU
Sentimental Journey Big Band June 12, 2022 JMU Part 2 JMU Concert June 12, 2022 Part 2Program:Boogie ExpressThe Second Time AroundSweet Georgia BrownI Can't Stop Loving You
It's been a long, long time since Big Bands were popular, so I thought it might be appropriate to write a short primer for non musicians to better understand the genre.
1. Most people associate the Big Bands with the forties, but they first emerged around 1920, when the saxophone became popular. Like a disease, they infected the musical world, becoming most symptomatic in the late 1930s, but continuing to linger to the present day, much like a virus that never leaves your body even after you get well.
2. Personality types: The saxophones are thinkers, the trombones are stinkers, and the trumpets are drinkers. That assessment holds pretty well with some notable exceptions. Dizzy Gillespie was a thinker, Jack Teagarden was a drinker, and Benny Goodman was ... the other type.
3. The horns are up front and the rhythm section behind, as God intended.
4. If there is a singer, they know their place. They sit down until called upon to sing one chorus, then return to their seat to await their next opportunity.
5. The lead trumpet player is the loudest one in the band, both on and off stage.
6. If there are strings, they sit at stage right, which is really another universe. They are wonderful people, but they have different heroes, speak a different language, and have no idea what we're trying to do. It's better not to speak to them.
7. Musicians enjoy playing "In the Mood" one more time about as much as a plumber enjoys fixing another clogged drain.
8. Drummers should be felt and not heard. (Buddy Rich was the exception, which is why he had his own band.) Musicians still speak with nostalgia about the likes of Davey Tough and Mel Lewis.
9. Duke Ellington and Count Basie were royalty. They could do nothing wrong.
10. When on break, big band musicians listen to music, make chemical attitude adjustments, and rue the day when the 1942 Musicians' Union strike was unfavorably settled.
I think that keeping these ten points in mind will greatly enhance your appreciation for Big Bands. Thanks for reading.