by Jerry Swanberg

The Twin Cities Jazz Society and “Big Band Scene,” a radio program on KBEM/Jazz 88, will host “A Big Band Christmas” Dec. 27, at 7 p.m. The concert will be held at the St. Barnabas Center for the Arts, St. Barnabas Lutheran Church, 15600 Old Rockford Road, Plymouth, MN 55446. Two big bands will perform: the Good News Big Band, directed by Brian Richter, and the KC Gospel Orchestra, directed by Kevin Mills. Tickets are sold at the door for $10 ($7, TCJS and KBEM members). There is plenty of free parking. The concert is also part of the “Jazz@St. Barneys” concert series.

The Good News Big Band will perform favorite Christmas music done in the big band style, such as: “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “O Holy Night,” and “Jingle Bells” and also newer arrangements like “Hot Chocolate” and “Rockin’ On Top of the World” (from the movie The Polar Express). These tunes will feature arrangements from Gordon Goodwin, Chris McDonald, Jeff Anderson, and Tom Kubis.  Featured soloists include Teresa Jackson, vocals; Pete Davis, trumpet; Scott Leung, tenor sax; Ed Smith, guitar; and Stephan Sylvander, drums.

The band consists of 18 volunteer musicians from around the Twin Cities area that perform primarily Christian-based music done in a big band swing style. Besides playing Christian big band music in churches, the group also plays secular venues where a varied range of music from traditional swing, funk, ballads and Latin can be heard. Annually, the Good News Big Band develops a Christmas big band program to play within the Twin Cities area.

KC Gospel Orchestra has been swinging in the Twin Cities since the summer of 1995 under the direction of leader / composer / arranger Kevin Mills. Some past performances have included the Soul Liberation Festival, Music Minnesota, the Minnesota Music Educators and Minnesota Choral Directors Associations, Concordia College, North Central University, and Orchestra Hall (with the North Central University Chorale). The group has also opened for Denver and the Mile High Orchestra.

At the Dec. 27 “Big Band Christmas” concert, the KC Gospel Orchestra will play Christmas big band arrangements by Kevin Mills (“It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” and “O Little Town of Bethlehem”) and KCGO bassist Pete Karstad (“Two Scandahoovian Carols”), plus arrangements from the great Tom Kubis from L.A. (“Joy to the World” and “Jingle Bells”). The soloists include saxophonists Doug Rasmussen, Mark Yannie, Tim Kraft, Chris D’Ascenzo and Ben Mills; trumpeters Pete Davis and Dan Kuch; trombonists Eric Songer, Rick McKinley and Mike Scott; pianist Gary Gratz; and vocalist Jen Eckhoff. Thirteen-year-old Madeline Mills will sing a song in which she negotiates a better contract with Old St. Nick. 

Give a listen to “Big Band Scene” on Jazz 88 / KBEM 88.5 FM on Monday, Dec. 15, 10 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 21, 7 p.m., to hear a preview of this swinging “Big Band Christmas.”