Blue Moon Big Band

We are an authentic 1940s style swing orchestra playing the music of the great American big band era. They've been performing thoughout the region since 1998.

Blue Moon Big Band is one of the finest examples of traditional swinging big bands in the Mid Atlantic. Check their site http://www.bluemoonbigband.com/ and learn more.

22/12/2023

A wonderful holiday memory from nearly a decade ago. Turn up the volume and enjoy!

Blue Moon Big Band - Santa Baby Blue Moon Big Band - Santa Baby. Live 11/23/2014 at Eichelberger Performing Arts Center.

21/12/2023

If you know, you know...

20/12/2023

Hmmm... what could it be?

18/12/2023

15/12/2023

Happy birthday (December 15) to Bernie Robier!

Bernie has played both bass and tenor trombone since joining Blue Moon Big Band in 2000. He was one of the band’s members who shared the stage with Kevin Bacon in the movie My One and Only (http://bluemoonbigband.com/feature-film-debut/) in 2009. In fact, it was Bernie who alerted bandleader Rob Leonard to the screening opportunity that eventually led to the band being contracted as “The Dan Deveraux Orchestra” in the movie.

His favorite female vocalist is Nancy Wilson, and he recalls his best musical memory to be when Nancy sat in with his band, The Admirals, in San Juan. Bernie likes the music of Stan Kenton, Count Basie and Gordon Goodwin. He proudly notes that he is the oldest member of Blue Moon Big Band and says that the best part of being in a full-sized swing orchestra is that there are more people to point to when he misses a note!

10/12/2023

Wow… 19 years ago…

On December 10, 2004, Blue Moon Big Band vocalist Teresa Leonard released her solo CD, “The Child in Me,” as a tribute to the birth of her daughter Emma the previous year. Conceived as a lullaby album, the song list comprises several small ensemble light jazz recordings followed by a series of gradually more quiet and soothing selections which, for many years to follow, helped Emma to fall asleep every night. All songs on the album were arranged by fellow band members and additional friends who appeared on the recording.

Teresa was blessed with the appearances of many great musicians, including the late Marty Knepp, Clem Ehoff, Michael Hirsh, Tom Colgan, Craig Brackins, Andrew Mitroff, Chris Poole, Kate (Haines) Lodowski, Roland Dorsey, Dan Aitken, Connie Ernst, Lynn Colgan, Alana Stroh, Pat Colgan, the late Patrick S. Colgan, Josh Hillard, Elisa Poole, the ABVM Youth Ensemble, and husband (Blue Moon bandleader) Rob Leonard. Rob even wrote one of the songs on the album, “Babies & Angels (A Song for Emma).” And, as we close in on the album’s 20th anniversary, a new bonus track, Ordinary Miracle, has been added to the new Special Edition release.

Included on the album are:

1. “A” You’re Adorable: http://bluemoonbigband.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/A-Youre-Adorbable-WEB-CLIP.mp3
2. On the Sunny Side of the Street: http://bluemoonbigband.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/On-the-Sunny-Side-of-the-Street-WEB-CLIP.mp3
3. Accentuate the Positive: http://bluemoonbigband.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Accentuate-the-Possitive-30-Second-Web-Clip.mp3
4. I Can’t Give You Anything But Love: http://bluemoonbigband.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/I-Cant-Give-You-Anything-But-Love-WEB-CLIP.mp3
5. Swinging on a Star: http://bluemoonbigband.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Swinging-on-a-Star-WEB-CLIP.mp3
6. Child in Me Again: http://bluemoonbigband.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Child-in-Me-Again-WEB-CLIP.mp3
7. When You Wish Upon a Star: http://bluemoonbigband.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/When-You-Wish-Upon-a-Star-WEB-CLIP.mp3
8. Happiness: http://bluemoonbigband.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Happiness-WEB-CLIP.mp3
9. A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes: http://bluemoonbigband.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/A-Dream-is-a-Wish-Your-Heart-Makes-WEB-CLIP.mp3
10. The Inch Worm: http://bluemoonbigband.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/The-Inch-Worm-WEB-CLIP.mp3
11. An Old Irish Blessing: http://bluemoonbigband.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/An-Old-Irish-Blessing-WEB-CLIP.mp3
12. Babies & Angels (A Song for Emma): http://bluemoonbigband.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Babies-Angels-A-Song-for-Emma-WEB-CLIP.mp3
13. Forever Young: http://bluemoonbigband.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Forever-Young-WEB-CLIP.mp3
14. Isle of Peace: http://bluemoonbigband.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Isle-of-Peace-WEB-CLIP.mp3
15. Hushabye: http://bluemoonbigband.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Hushabye-WEB-CLIP.mp3
16. Child of Wonder: http://bluemoonbigband.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Child-of-Wonder-WEB-CLIP.mp3
17. Anything Can Happen: http://bluemoonbigband.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Anything-Can-Happen-WEB-CLIP.mp3
18. Far Away Places: http://bluemoonbigband.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Far-Away-Places-WEB-CLIP.mp3
19. Ordinary Miracle (new bonus track added for the release of the 20th Anniversary Special Edition): http://bluemoonbigband.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/ordinary-miracle.mp3

CDs ($15) and singles ($1 each) can be purchased at www.bluemoonbigband.com/discography or via any of the band’s many partner vendors online.

08/12/2023

Happy birthday (December 8th) to Blue Moon Big Band alto saxophonist John Pritchett!

John has played both lead and second alto with Blue Moon since joining the band in 1998 (and he says he "has" a flute and clarinet but is still working on mastering them). Along the way, he has appeared on every one of the band’s seven albums over the years. He was one of the band’s members who shared the stage with Kevin Bacon in the movie My One and Only (http://bluemoonbigband.com/feature-film-debut/) in 2009. He says he enjoys the opportunity to make some "big music" in a great sax section and his favorite song is Eubie Blake's "Memories of You."

Just last week, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the release of Blue Moon Big Band’s 2-CD holiday album Baby, It’s Cold Outside. To keep the theme going, enjoy our take on Glenn Miller’s version of “Sleigh Ride,” featuring John on alto sax: http://bluemoonbigband.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Sleigh-Ride.mp3.

Have a swingin’ holiday season!

07/12/2023

01/12/2023

26/11/2023

Let's get the season started! http://bluemoonbigband.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Here-Comes-Santa-Claus-_-Santa-Claus-Is-Coming-To-Town.mp3

22/11/2023

In The Thanksgiving Mood!

19/11/2023

Dad jokes for musicians...

04/11/2023

A long, long time ago...

29/10/2023

On this day 24 years ago…

On October 29, 1999, Blue Moon Big Band released its second album, “Swingin’ Live!” The 2-hour live event, which featured 27 songs, was initially recorded on a laptop computer simply for posterity. The dance was coordinated by the band’s baritone saxophonist Chris Poole as a school music education retreat.

The band members were unaware the dance was being recorded but, after a great reception from the young audience, bandleader Rob Leonard decided to grab 18 cuts from the performance and put them on a CD. The decision to release the event’s recording as a CD required a quick production turnaround, so to keep things moving Rob illustrated the album cover himself.

The CD is no longer available as a full release, although the singles can be found online from the band’s many vendor partners or purchased for just $1 each on our secure website at www.bluemoonbigband.com/discography. Included on the final CD were:

1. Almost Like Being in Love
2. A String of Pearls
3. It Don’t Mean a Thing
4. Begin the Beguine
5. All of Me
6. Pennsylvania 6-5000
7. Go Daddy-O
8. Jersey Bounce
9. Over the Rainbow
10. C Jam Blues
11. Orange Colored Sky
12. Zoot Suit Riot
13. ‘S Wonderful
14. Things Ain’t What They Used to Be
15. Rock This Town
16. Alright, Okay, You Win
17. The Party’s Over
18. Sing Sing Sing (part 1)

20/10/2023

Hear Blue Moon Big Band this Sunday evening (October 22) at 6pm CENTRAL time on WDCB’s “New Vintage” radio program 90.9 FM in Chicago and streaming worldwide at www.WDCB.org. Their website also archives shows for two weeks at https://wdcb.org/archive.

Additionally, Chicago's Home for Jazz New Vintage Big Band Radio show is now being aired on WETF Radio in South Bend, IN. They will be airing the program on Sunday, 10/22/23 at 12 Noon EASTERN and again Monday, 10/23/23 at 6pm EASTERN streaming at Jazz Radio WETF on www.JazzRadioWETF.org.

As always, we will be in good company, sharing air time with Dave Stahl, the Millennium Jazz Orchestra, the West Point Jazz Knights, and several others. Here is a sample clip of Blue Moon’s theme song that you’ll hear from our 2018 studio CD recording All The Cats Join In, featuring Teresa Leonard (vocals) and John Morgan (trombone): http://bluemoonbigband.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/19blue.mp3. Be sure to tune in!

WDCB, 90.9 FM airs more than 130 hours of jazz each week and is “Chicago’s Home for Jazz,” but streams globally, so it’s easy to listen anywhere. To see a full schedule and listen to a stream, please visit the website link: www.WDCB.org. For voice-command devices, like Alexa, simply say: “Play WDCB.”

12/10/2023

05/10/2023

Happy birthday (October 6) to Blue Moon Big Band tenor saxophonist Joe Sullivan!

Joe joined Blue Moon Big Band early in 2007, just in time to be part of the band's fifth CD, “The Polar Bear's Pajamas.” He's one of those guys who will quietly do his job, not miss any gigs, and subtly make you realize he's a fantastic, versatile player. With one of the sweetest tones on tenor that the band has ever had, Joe is a great section player and a fine soloist.

Joe enjoys the music of Artie Shaw, Duke Ellington, and Don Ellis, to name a few. His favorite tune is "Jumpin' at the Woodside," which the band coincidentally recorded on its first album in 1998. He says he has enjoyed big band music since first hearing it in his early teens and feels fortunate to be able to play it now. Among Joe's greatest memories is climbing Pike's Peak and enjoying the snowfall in July 2007. Joe was one of Blue Moon’s band members who appeared alongside Kevin Bacon in the 2009 movie, My One and Only.

Here is the track on which Joe recorded his very first solo in the studio with Blue Moon Big Band: http://bluemoonbigband.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/That-Old-Black-Magic.mp3.

Also featured on this recording is Teresa Leonard (vocals).

22/09/2023

Why, why, why have the weather gods been so unkind to us???

Our outdoor concert scheduled for Saturday, September 23 in Hampstead, MD has been cancelled - yet again - due to impending all-day rain. We will not be rescheduling the event for this year, but have been informed we will return in 2024.

You cannot be more disappointed than we are! Thanks for your understanding. https://bluemoonbigband.com/see-us-swing/

18/09/2023

16/09/2023

Swing into Fall with Blue Moon Big Band!

Join us on the first day of Fall (Saturday, September 23) for a FREE outdoor concert from 6-8 pm in Hampstead, MD. Get all the details at https://bluemoonbigband.com/see-us-swing/.

Hope to see you there!

12/09/2023

Happy birthday (September 12) to Blue Moon Big Band alto saxophonist Andrew Mitroff!

Andrew has been the band’s lead alto sax player for the better part of the past two decades, taking off some time in between stints to do that whole marriage and family thing! Having played on Blue Moon’s first four albums before his hiatus, he returned in time for our 20th anniversary CD, All The Cats Join In, in 2018.

Andrew is a big fan of Billy Eckstine and recalls playing with Frank Foster and the Count Basie Orchestra as one of his top musical memories. Justifiably, he considers jazz to be the only true American art form. Here is Blue Moon Big Band’s 2018 studio recording of "(Tell Me) Quando, Quando, Quando" with Andrew covering the alto sax solo: http://bluemoonbigband.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/quando-quando-quando.mp3.

Also on this recording are Jim Ellis (guitar) and Michael Hirsh and Teresa Leonard (vocals).

09/09/2023

Tonight's outdoor concert in Hampstead has been postponed due to the weather. We have rescheduled it for Saturday, September 23. Please visit https://bluemoonbigband.com/see-us-swing/ for details on this FREE concert.

Hope to see you there!

03/09/2023

Happy birthday (September 4) to Blue Moon Big Band trumpeter Don Keller!

Don officially joined Blue Moon Big Band in 2013 after sitting in as a sub on several occasions over the course of the previous year. He has actually been playing in big bands since the age of nine and has been a military musician for more than 30 years.

A big fan of Duke Ellington, Don can do it all for our trumpet section – from playing solos (mostly in the 2nd trumpet book) to covering lead. He doesn’t seek the spotlight, but when he gets his chance, he delivers! Check out Don’s solo work on our 2018 studio recording of Glenn Miller’s classic, Tuxedo Junction: http://bluemoonbigband.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/tuxedo-junction.mp3.

01/09/2023

Did you miss the Super Blue Moon on August 30? Well, no worries… there will be another one next weekend! Well… a Super Blue Moon Big Band concert, that is.

Join us for a FREE outdoor concert on Saturday, September 9 from 6-8 pm in Hampstead, MD. We’ll have SUPER discounts on CDs and a SUPER line-up of music. There will be plenty of room for dancing or just sit back and enjoy the show! Get the details at https://bluemoonbigband.com/see-us-swing.

Hope to see you for a SUPER evening of big band and swing music!

30/08/2023

Happy birthday (August 31) to Blue Moon Big Band vocalist Michael Hirsh!

What can we say about Mike that hasn’t already been said by those fortunate enough to have ever heard him sing with Blue Moon Big Band? After doing a few cameo appearances at concerts and dances with the band many years ago, we begged him to be a permanent member of the group and that kicked off a run of Mike singing on our last six CDs, going back all the way to 2001.

You could say there’s just a little music in Mike’s lineage, as his dad was a big band drummer and his mom a big band vocalist. As it works out, Mike has played drums and sung with Blue Moon over the years. It’s really difficult to pick just one favorite recording from Mike’s repertoire with the band, but here is Blue Moon’s studio recording of “It Had Better Be Tonight” from our 20th anniversary CD recorded in 2018: http://bluemoonbigband.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/it-had-better-be-tonight.mp3.

29/08/2023

Happy birthday (August 30) to Blue Moon Big Band guitarist Jim Ellis!

Jim has been a member of Blue Moon Big Band’s rhythm section since 2017 after being “discovered” by bandleader Rob Leonard who saw him playing with another group in concert. Jim’s style and the way he complemented the vocalists made it an easy decision for Rob to ask him to join Blue Moon as soon as the curtain came down that night!

A self-employed musician/music teacher, Jim has been a fantastic addition to the big band’s already stacked rhythm section but also is a stand-out when he plays in our small ensemble, Li’l Bit of Blue. Check out Jim’s playing on “How Sweet It Is” from Blue Moon Big Band’s 2018 20th anniversary CD: http://bluemoonbigband.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/how-sweet-it-is.mp3.

Also featured on this recording are Michael Hirsh (vocals) and Jorge Ayala (trumpet).

27/08/2023

Holy live music, Batman!

Come out and see Blue Moon Big Band for a FREE outdoor concert on Saturday, September 9 from 6-8 pm. Get the details: https://bluemoonbigband.com/see-us-swing/

13/08/2023

Mark your calendars for this FREE concert from Blue Moon Big Band on September 9. Get the details here: https://bluemoonbigband.com/see-us-swing/

06/08/2023

ATTENTION!

We just received this telegram by priority post all the way from Gary, IN. It might be showing our hand about what’s on the agenda for Blue Moon Big Band’s September 9 free concert in Hampstead, MD (www.bluemoonbigband.com/see-us-swing), but we’ll take that chance!

29/07/2023

Blue Moon Big Band will be playing a free outdoor concert on Saturday, September 9!

Hampstead Train Station presents Music in the Park
6:00-8:00 PM
1211 North Main Street (War Memorial Park) Hampstead, MD

The full 21-piece Blue Moon Big Band will be making a return appearance at the Music in the Park series to benefit the Hampstead Train Station. Join us for a swingin' evening in the park. Bring a blanket or chair but feel free to get up and dance the night away!

Food and drink will be available for purchase, or bring your own. Blue Moon Big Band CDs will be available for purchase.

More information can be found on the See Us Swing page at https://bluemoonbigband.com/see-us-swing/.

26/07/2023

Just for laughs...

Kenny G steps into an elevator and says, "Hey, this is a happenin' club!"

21/07/2023

The passing of one of the truly great entertainers. Tony Bennett, who died this morning at age 96, released over 70 albums during his career and won 19 Grammys.

15/07/2023

Dang, it's hot out there...

09/07/2023

It's hard to believe that 15 years ago this month we were wrapping up filming with Kevin Bacon for the movie My One and Only. Here are some pics but you can find alot more on the About Us / Our History section of our website.

25/06/2023

Rotary phones. Manual transmissions. And...

17/06/2023

Catch us on the radio tomorrow night!

Hear Blue Moon Big Band this Sunday evening (June 18) at 6pm CENTRAL time on WDCB’s “New Vintage” radio program 90.9FM in Chicago and streaming worldwide at www.WDCB.org. Their website also archives shows for two weeks at https://wdcb.org/archive.

Additionally, Chicago's Home for Jazz New Vintage Big Band Radio show is now being picked up by WETF Radio in South Bend, IN. They will be airing the program on Sunday, 6/19/23 at 12pm EASTERN and again Monday, 6/19/23 at 6pm EASTERN streaming at Jazz Radio WETF on www.JazzRadioWETF.org.

As always, we will be in good company, sharing air time with Maynard Ferguson, Tom Kubis, Israel Tannenbaum, Mike Barone, and several others. Here is a sample clip of what you’ll hear from our 2007 studio CD recording The Polar Bear’s Pajamas featuring the late Marty Knepp (drums) on Cute: http://bluemoonbigband.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/cute.mp3. Be sure to tune in!

WDCB, 90.9FM airs more than 130 hours of jazz each week and is “Chicago’s Home for Jazz,” but streams globally, so it’s easy to listen anywhere. To see a full schedule and listen to a stream, please visit the website link: www.WDCB.org. For voice-command devices, like Alexa, simply say: “Play WDCB.”

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