The Birdland Big Band is a 16-piece jazz orchestra that performs at the Birdland Jazz Club in New York City. The Birdland Big Band is led by saxophonist David DeJesus DeJesus joined as saxophonist and leader in October 2017 and brought with him an emphasis on traditional swing and the blues. He hired drummer Chris Smith, bassist Doug Weiss, trumpeter Brandon Lee, and added a fourth trombonist in Ron Wilkins. These musicians joined Glenn Drewes, Tony Lustig, John Walsh, Mark Miller, Kenny Ascher, and Nathan Childers. In 2017 vocalist Veronica Swift was added.

History

The band was created in 2006 by drummer Tommy Igoe, son of jazz drummer Sonny Igoe.''Biography Index. A cumulative index to biographical material in books and magazines'', volume 18: September 1992 – August 1993,

H.W. Wilson Company The H. W. Wilson Company, Inc. is a publisher and indexing company that was founded in 1898 and is located in The Bronx, New York. It provides print and digital content aimed at patrons of public school, college, and professional libraries in bot ...

, New York (1993) Tommy Igoe founded The Friday Night Big Band with musicians from a big band that was in residence at Birdland. That band was founded and directed by

Lew Anderson Lewis Burr Anderson (May 7, 1922 – May 14, 2006) was an American actor and musician. He is widely known by TV fans as the third and final actor to portray Clarabell the Clown on ''Howdy Doody'' between 1954 and 1960. He famously spoke C ...

, who died in 2006. After Igoe took over, he changed the name to Birdland Big Band and built a repertoire of contemporary compositions, original arrangements, and select historical works, some forgotten or rare. Guest musicians included

Will Lee William Lee (born William Lubovsky; August 6, 1908 – December 7, 1982) was an American actor who appeared in numerous television and film roles, but was best known for playing Mr. Hooper, the original store proprietor of the eponymous Hooper' ...

James Genus James Genus (January 20, 1966) is an American jazz bassist. He plays both electric bass guitar and upright bass and currently plays in the Saturday Night Live Band. Genus has performed as a session musician and sideman throughout his career, havin ...

, Conrad Korsch, and Broadway pit musicians who use the early evening sessions as a warm-up for their performances later that night. After Igoe left the band, it was directed for several years by Rob Middleton and Glenn Drewes.Tim McClelland
"Eleven – Tommy Igoe and the Birdland Big Band"
''Jazz Fidelity'', May 22, 2012

Members

* David DeJesus - Leader/Tenor * Nathan Childers - Alto * Alejandro Aviles - Alto * Mike Migliori - Tenor * Tony Lustig - Bari * Glenn Drewes - Trumpet * John Walsh - Trumpet * Raul Agraz - Trumpet * Brandon Lee - Trumpet * Mark Miller - Trombone * Sara Jacovino - Trombone * Ron Wilkins - Trombone * James Borowski - Bass Trombone * Chris Smith - Drums * Kenny Ascher - Piano * Doug Weiss - Bass

Discography

* ''The Lew Anderson Tribute Concert'' (2007) * ''Eleven'' (2012)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Birdland Big Band, The American jazz ensembles from New York City Hard bop ensembles Musical groups established in 2006 Swing music Musical groups from New York City Big bands Jazz musicians from New York (state)