The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra began its life as the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra in 1966.The world-famous Village Vanguard jazz club in New York City booked the newly formed band for three Monday nights that February. Those performances were wildly successful and the engagement was extended indefinitely. The Village Vanguard’s owner, Max Gordon, told Mel Lewis, “We’ll keep it going until it tapers off.” Over half a century and more than 2700 Monday nights later, it still hasn’t. The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra stands apart from all other modern ensembles of its kind and is still as strong and vital as ever.
EVERY MONDAY NIGHT
SAXOPHONES: Dick Oatts (lead alto) Billy Drewes (alto) Rich Perry (tenor) Ralph Lalama (tenor) Gary Smulyan (bari)
TRUMPETS: Nick Marchione (lead trumpet) John Chudoba, Terell Stafford, Scott Wendholt
TROMBONES: Marshall Gilkes (lead trombone) Jason Jackson, Dion Tucker, Douglas Purviance (bass trombone)
RHYTHM SECTION: Adam Birnbaum (piano) David Wong (bass) John Riley (drums)
Two Sets ~ 8:00pm | 10:00pm