The Stardust Memories Big Band returns for its sixth season. The band opens its 2020 outdoor concert series on Jan. 27 in Cambier Park in Naples, and Jan. 28 in Riverside Park in Bonita Springs.
The opening show, “Greatest Hits of the Big Band Era,” features many of the legendary arrangements made famous by Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Les Brown, Woody Herman, Count Basie, Duke Ellington and many others.
The 2020 outdoor schedule consists of five different shows, each of which is performed at Cambier Park, Naples (Monday nights), and at Riverside Park, Bonita Springs (Tuesday nights) for a total of ten performances. Those shows will include “Greatest Hits of the Big Band Era,” “Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw,” “SINATRA” featuring Walt Andrus, “Quincy Jones and Sammy Nestico” and “Best of the Season by Request.”
See the band’s full 2020 outdoor schedule advertisement (on page 3) contained in the January issue of Happenings Magazine, or on the “Shows” page of the band’s website at www.stardustmemoriesbigband.com.
All shows are from 7 to 9 p.m., and each show will be advertised in the Naples Daily News “In the 239”, in The Bonita “Banner and on WAVV 101.1FM.
A $5 per person contribution is requested at each concert.
The band is the vision of founder and band leader Craig Christman, and brings together some of Florida’s finest jazz musicians (Naples, Fort Myers, Tampa, Sarasota, Orlando, Miami). These working professionals have a collective resume that includes The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra under Buddy Morrow, The Si Zentner Big Band, The Chick Corea World Tour, The Count Basie Orchestra, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, The Airmen of Note, and performances with artists including Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Doc Severinsen, Quincy Jones, Johnny Mathis, Nathalie Cole, Steve and Eydie Gorme, Nat King Cole, Ann Hampton Callaway, Tom Jones, Lou Rawls, Barry Manilow, The Temptations, The Four Tops, and numerous orchestras and Broadway shows.
The band’s primary mission is to provide the best big band entertainment available to audiences in SW Florida. Recent written comments received from audience members include:
“The City of Naples is extremely fortunate to have this kind of high-quality big band performing in our city. They are a rarity in the performing arts in the U.S. today”
“I don’t think there is any better quality or more professional group in the country that plays big band music like The Stardust Memories Big Band”
“Never have I been exposed to this level of stellar musicians.”
“Attendance at Stardust Memories Big Band shows is by far the highlight of our winters”
The band, organized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, recreates the sounds of the legendary American Big Bands including Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Woody Herman, Les Brown, Count Basie and Duke Ellington, and the more contemporary big bands of Stan Kenton, Buddy Rich, Doc Severinsen and The Tonight Show Band, and many more.
For 2020, the SMBB will continue an important mission objective by providing direct financial support to Music for Minors Foundation, and The Music Foundation of SW Florida. These two local area non-profit organizations provide instruments, summer training camps, and scholarships to young and aspiring musicians from our local schools.
To learn more about and listen to The Stardust Memories Big Band, visit www.stardustmemoriesbigband.com.
