Testimonials

From Lithopolis: Performance date: May 19th, 2023.

We really enjoyed Swing's the Thing performance in our nearly 100-year-old auditorium. We appreciated the classic big band tunes as well as newer music. Every toe was tapping and even a couple was moved to dance in our breezeway! Thank you for an enjoyable evening!

Deb Silvia, Executive Director, The Wagnalls Memorial  (Home Page - Wagnalls Memorial Library)

From Delaware: Performance date: July 27th, 2023.

Our park district has featured “Swing’s the Thing” Big Band two summers in a row during our concert series, which is something we rarely do unless the band is extra special. Our audience can’t resist swaying to the big brassy melodies and rhythms of this e 16-piece orchestra. We adore Swing’s the Thing, and know they will light up your stage  has with melodies of times gone by.

SAUNDRA MCBREARTY, CVA

Outreach and Volunteer Specialist

2656 Hogback Road, Sunbury, OH 43074

office:  740.524.8600 x 6

preservationparks.com (Preservation Parks of Delaware County, Ohio)

From Cambridge: Performance date: August 11th, 2023.

Swing’s The Thing’ Big Band

In this day and age where you can get a recording of any music you

love, it’s hard to imagine that when you hear it in person then it’s a whole other glorious and amazing level. This is the exact experience provided when ‘Swing’s The Thing’ Big Band came and performed for our community at the Salt Fork Arts and Crafts Festival. I had a good idea that they would be high powered and ‘in my face’ with the trumpet talent that they carry as well as musically interesting with technical and range stretching saxophone and drum set solo’s but we were all in for a real treat with the timing and range of styles presented in thoughtful progression throughout the night’s program.

‘Swing’s The Thing’ opened the performance by demonstrating their quintessential Big Band sound and continued through the selections to highlight each of the sections of the group. Then they brought pianist Jan Schlosser – Wise and trombonist Mark Watson as vocalists to the stage singing well known Jazz standards by Eberly and Sinatra, to name a few. Some folks even got up and danced to the songs that moved them. When it seemed that they couldn’t surprise the audience with any more variety, they changed it up with the softest and most delicate piece that could be played. The quote by Louis Armstrong, “Hot can be cool, and cool can be hot, and each can be both. But hot or cool, man, jazz is jazz” was very apropos in describing how the music made us feel. The grand finale didn’t disappoint as the brass came off of the stage and surrounded the audience with a rousing rendition of Sing, Sing, Sing, accompanied by the driving rhythm section and amazing drumming by set player Brian Moore.

The group played extremely tight and not only left those of us who crave the high level technical musicianship of a top group feeling invigorated by the sound but there were also those singable tunes that stuck in our head’s as the big band left for the night- accessible for all in attendance. The only problem was that they left us wanting more.

Janine Schmelzer Bock

Performing Arts Committee, Salt Fork Arts and Crafts Festival Cambridge, OH