The Big Band Sound jazz orchestra

The Big Band Sound, a 20-piece jazz orchestra

Jazz! Swing! "All at once, the band started to swing and took off with the momentum of a runaway freight train, and this was one chariot that was swinging high, indeed."

- Taconic Newspapers
The Big Band Sound orchestra recreates the swinging jazz sounds of the big band era, performing compositions that span an entire century of music, including classics made famous by Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw,

Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Harry James and Tommy & Jimmy Dorsey. In the tradition of these great orchestras, The Big Band Sound is a 20-piece jazz band consisting of six saxophones, four trombones, four trumpets, guitar, bass, piano, drums, and male and female vocalists.

The Big Band Sound has an active library of hundreds of compositions, from jumping jive to slow and sweet, all to bring the brassy big band era boisterously to life. The foundation of the band's repertoire is based firmly in the classic swing era of the 1930s and 1940s with all those golden hits, but the band also performs a wide variety of music from the 1950s through today that continue the tradition of the stirring, full-bodied sounds of the big bands. The Big Band Sound performs the greatest music in the world in the most exciting setting of a live big band!

The Big Band Sound is based in Poughkeepsie, New York and has received rave reviews while performing throughout the Hudson Valley ever since 1975, including concerts, dances and shows at the

Paramount Center for the Arts, Mohonk Mountain House, Sharon Playhouse, Vanderbilt Mansion, Mills Mansion, Locust Grove, Bard College, Vassar College, Marist College, Dutchess Community College, the Culinary Institute of America, West Point, Millbrook Vineyards & Winery, and local parks and festivals, in addition to appearing at private events and on local radio stations.

Notable appearances of
The Big Band Sound include being featured on the nationally syndicated American Standards By The Sea radio show, being featured on the nationally syndicated Jim Lowe & Company radio show, accompanying singing star Julius LaRosa, being the on-stage big band for a local production of the broadway musical "The 1940's Radio Hour" and producing our own "Glenn Miller and Count Basie Centennial", "30th Anniversary of The Big Band Sound" and "Broadway! Big Band Style" events.

The Big Band Sound has recorded two CDs, each containing over 73 minutes of the swingingest big band tunes! And The Angels Swing! Live! contains a wide selection of up-tempo classics as well as beautiful ballads and Live and Swingin'! is full of great tunes for swing dancing all night long!

Please check out our schedule of upcoming events to find out where you can listen and dance to the swinging sounds of The Big Band Sound. You're welcome to visit this site often - new events are constantly being added! We hope to see you at a dance or concert soon!

Meanwhile, you can find out about The Big Band Sound's own postage stamp and visit lots of our favorite big band and swing links.

The Big Band Sound is a run as a cooperative orchestra and is a member of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber Of Commerce.

If you'd like to inquire about having The Big Band Sound perform at your function or if you'd like to be added to our mailing list, please contact Dave Cole at: BigBandSound@compuserve.com

These pages were last updated on May 7th, 2008.