Friday Night Swingers

 

The Columbia Big Band presented an evening of all swing music at a free concert at the Chrysalis last night. I was lucky to find on on-stage seat.

Members of the band get set up for the evening.

Plenty of folks were seated on the lawn but I wanted be as close as possible to that big, fat brass sound. I wasn’t disappointed.

It didn’t hurt that I was just a step from the concessions stand, either. I tried something new.

The evening began with a welcome from Inner Arbor Trust President and CEO Nina Basu. 

Then it was on to the music. 

I fell in love with Big Band music and swing music in high school, believe it or not, listening to two old Glenn Miller record albums on my dad’s stereo system. When I was in college I wrote a paper about how dancing was an important part of American courtship rituals during this time period. I remember reading The Last Convertible by Anton Myrer and getting such a deep sense of how the music - -  and the experience of dancing to live music - - was so crucial to the telling of his story. 

My parents actually met a dance, right after the war. But that’s another story altogether.

Last night’s performance was a part of the Chrysalis Cabaret Series. I’ve enjoyed some fabulous artists at these events: Lavenia Nesmith, Nikki Lerner, Damon Foreman, for example. The performances have often focused on the brilliance of individual artists. The experience of hearing the Columbia Big Band was a bit different. It was the talents of all their individual players focused into one ensemble that made their sound so deliciously rich. 

Yes, there were standout instrumental solos and the vocalist, Lori Crossland, was amazingly good and perfect for the swing band repertoire. But it’s how it all comes together into one unified whole that makes it so good.

This kind of music was never meant to be concert music. I’m sure that the original players from the last century would be perplexed to see a crowd sitting politely, applauding in all the right parts. It was dance music. It makes you want to move your body. With that in mind, the Columbia Jazz Band brought along dance experts from Gotta Swing to give some dance instruction during the intermission. Even Inner Arbor Trust Board member Jonathan Branch and his wife Delma gave it a try. 

What a lovely summer evening in Columbia in a park where everyone is welcome. I saw some old friends plus lots of Chrysalis regulars. As always, each concert draws new folks who are enjoying the park’s offerings for the first time. 

Up next: Yappy Hour in the Park on August 24 and two events in August 28th, Chrysalis Kids with 123 Andrés in the morning and Concert for the Human Family with Cory Caudill and Wordsmith in the evening.