who here likes big band music?  

Hi alexiapays. Me too. I love the 40', 50' big bands and love the classic songs too. I have some CDs from that and I hear many times. I really love it.
cheers

Hi - I love big bands too, but didn't really start getting into them until I was in my late 40s. I think I've got a lot more open-minded musically as I've got older. Recently I've been tuning into a programme on BBC2 (UK radio station) that dedicates itself to 1940s big band music, and I've been blown away. The songwriting skills back in those days was excellent (pretty much all of it is American bands and songwriters), with a depth of mood, words and music....done with great skill and artistry. Some of those big band musicians were incredible as regards their instrumental skills, and I'm so glad I've got to love the musical genre. Like Lennon & McCartney and others, the songs of that 1940s big band era have gone down as true all-time classics. Thanks for bringing up this subject. :-)

In a separate post I mentioned going to a great big band concert tonight. It is a professional band of top quality, the Continentals. They play a big free concert twice yearly in Richmond, VA. It's worth it to travel here just to hear them and their wonderful swing soloists and singers. Outstanding. There were 700 of us there tonight. Watch the website (www.co.henrico.va.us/rec) in the Spring for the announcement of the summer concert, perhaps in July. While in Richmond you can visit Hollywood cemetery, Historic Williamsburg, Yorktown (British surrender to Washington), Monument Avenue, Virginia Beach beaches, etc. All this is free and if you like big band music you will hear one of the best bands still playing the old music.