THE lulls immonrauna: BANDSTAND nm THE 2005 BIG BAND REUNION M9 ERP X ADA MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Well, we did it, Despite some obstacles, another Big Band Reunion is inthe history books. Gratitude goes out to Golden ‘Bandstand award recipients Louie Bellson and Snooky Young, singers Polly Podewell and Matt Brown, and featured pianist ‘Tamir Hendelman. You all came together to make Sunday, March 6,a very special afternoon. Photographs of the event, courtesy of Francine (Mrs, Louie) Bellson and Bill Lopinski, appear on pages 4 and 5. Sadly our third intended Golden Bandstand honoree, rumpetste Clora Bryant, could not be with us, having been forced to ithdrav fom participation the week before due toa medical situation. There's ood news, however: Clora is now doing much better and every effort will be made to include her ina future Reunion. And speaking of future Reunions Those who attended the event in March will recall my closing remarks, in which I acknowledged the lower-than-expected ‘andienoe turnout. For those who couldn't be there, here's what | said Well, fiends, the only thing that may be harder than saying goodbye to somebody or something and knowing t's for the Last time may be saying goodBye and not knowing if 1's the last time. Those of you who have attended even one ‘previous Big Band Reunion will have noticed that our turnout this year is significantly less than we are accustomed 10 seeing. I'm happy to report that the Big Band Academy is not going 1o-go broke as a result of this event's weaker ‘thanexpected ticket sales, but we will ned to reevaluate the viability of putting on future banguets featuring full-size big bands. Souf and underline 15) it turns out that thst he Last time we We all together in ths setting, the lcademy ‘and | wish o thank you most sincerely for your patronage, your love, hate, compliments, criticism ..andloyalty. AS vou have applauded us many times, now applaud you.” ‘This wasn’t the way I'd always dreamed of closing a program, but it was necessary that the disippointing size of the gathering ‘be addressed. Order forms forthe Reunion had been mailed out the week after Christmas and checks came back ata steady rate until the lst week of January, when they abruptly stopped. In 2004, we sold 660 tickets. Now [stared at the contract I'd signed with the Sportsmen’s Lodge back inthe summer, agreeing to meet the cost ofa minimum of 600 guests... and we'd sold barely 300 tickets. Between our obligations tothe house and the 17-piece band, we were facing the prospect of depleting our entire lueasury and owing several thousand dollars more. I thought to myself, "You know, you're going to have to eal off this event.” ‘Of course, the event went on as planned, though not because of a second surge of orders. 1 phoned our friends atthe Sportsmen's Lodge, explained our predicament and they very graciously waived the 600-guest minimum, enabling uso exhale and go forward. Sure, it's quite possible the graciousness ofthe Sportsmen's stemmed from thei knovedge that if they took 2 hardball atitude and we canceled only five weeks abead of the date of the Reunion, the Empire Room would be dark that afternoon and the Lodge would lose a lot more money than i they gave usa break. But whatever the reason, the break we got was one we can’t count on getting again, ‘So with respect to future live shows, the task at hand is to figure out how to increase our audience and/or reduce our expenses. Just seconds after I'd stepped off the stage on March 6, people began coming up to me with suggestions of how to save the Big Band Reunion, some less practical than others. For instance, we will not be writing toa one-time clarinet and saxophone player ‘named Alan Greenspan, asking fora grant. Mr. Greenspan's duties these days as chairman of the Federal Reserve Board likely \would preclude him from acting on our request. Stil the time folks take to submit ideas is deeply appreciated and the BBAA ‘board of directors will consider all reasonable possibilities, {expect tobe able to report ews concerning a 2006 Reunion on this page in the August newsletter “Meanwhile, please keep the faith .. and keep swingin’!BIG BAND REUNION 2005 BBy John Tumpak According to big band historian George T. Simon, the big band era began in 1935 and came to a close in 1946, The later portion ofthat claim was challenged on the afterioon of Sunday, March 6, when some 400 supporters of big band music turned ‘out for the Big Band Academy of America's annual Reunion at the Sportsmen's Lodge in Studio City The first Reunion to feature alive band was organized and hosted by the late Milt Bernhart, with support from Steve Alle, in 1986 and the Reunion has grown over the years to become the premier annual event in the United States celebrating swing ‘music, This year's Reunion carried onthe tradition and demonstrated once more tha there is still strong support for music of the big band era Legends in attendance included Van Alexander, Harry Betts, Ray Charles (the “other” Ray Charles), Bud Combine, Bob Florence, Jake Hanna, Joc Hamell, Horace Hedit, Jr, Roc Hillman, Donna and Marilyn King, Mundell Lowe, Johnay Mandel, ‘Spud Murphy, Pete Rugolo and Butch Stone. Larry Clinton, Jr, and Bea Wain were also there, sitting together and reminiscing about Wain's days vocalizing on hit records for Clinton, Sr, inthe late "30s, Executives of Professional Musicians Local 47 ‘were presen ata table, including big band drummer and composer Bonnie Janofsky. ‘The print and electronic media were well ‘represented by authors Steven Haris and Peter Levinson, big band radio personalities Don Kennedy and David Miller, and ‘entertainment editor Tom Hatten of KNX NewsRadio in Los Angeles. ‘With the engaging and witty David Bernhart serving as master of ceremonies, celebrated trumpeter Snooky Young and distinguished drummer Louie Bellson were initiated onto the Big Band Academy's “Golden Bandstand” and presented with lifetime achievement awards. Young did not perform, bu a highlight ofthe afternoon was Bellson bringing the audience 10 its feet with an electrifying turn on drums. It was easy to see why Louie is recognized as one ofthe genre's all-time greats. ‘Anchoring the musical program was the 17-piece BBAA Blue Ribbon Band under the direction of Pat Longo, who has led the band every year since the beginning. The ensemble played "Bandstand Boogie" from Longo's latest CD, “The Hit List” and performed stirring tributes to Milt Bernhart, Joe Harnell, Artie Shaw and the indisposed Clora Bryant. Comprised ofthe top studio musicians in town, the Blue Ribbon Band played its charts with precision, trly swung and was well received by the assemblage. It was big band jazz at its best. ‘The important role played by singers during the big band era was illuminated through the work of two quality vocalists. Polly Podevell wasn op form, singing selections honoring Les Brown, Benny Goodman, Woody Herman and Artie Shaw. And Matt Brown more than satisfied fans of Nat “King” Cole and Frank Sinatra with his smooth, rhythmic interpretations of ‘Unforgettable” and “Fly Me To The Moon.” ‘The Reunions of the Big Band Academy are true cultural treasures, as they provide rare opportunities for mecting and interaction between those who participated in the swing era and younger big band enthusiasts of today ‘The big band era was a unique period in our history and its music will ikely never return as the nation’s dominant form of entertainment. However, one can experience the era’s flavor and mix with its famed personalities at a BBAA Reunion. It's jewel ofan event This article originally appeared in the Aprit 2005 edition of L.A. Jazz Scene and is reprinted through the courtesy of publisher Mya Daniels. For subscription information, write to 8721 Sunland Boulevard, San Valley, CA 91382-2839 or ell (318) 293-0584 FOR THE RECORD ‘Our profil of Sonny Miller inthe February issue of The Bandsian incorrectly stated that Lebanon, Tennesse, i locate just ‘utside of Knoxville. In fct, Lebanon is located outside of Nashville. Sonny mentioned this eror to us, adding along the way that he's never even been to Knoxville. Not that he has anything against Knoxville. Undoubledly. it's a city with a proud history and many atrative features. It's just that his parents never saw any need to take him there. And his parents were anything but negligent. Sonny’! beat up anyone who says otherwise. How do I get into these things? ngsSEEN AT THIS YEAR'S BIG BAND REUNION > ei The BBAA Blue Ribbon Band. Louie Bellson, left about to receive ‘his Golden Bandstand avward. Snooky Young, right, receiv crowd. Note the confetti in D You had to be there plaudits of the Bernhart’s hair. Pat Longo congratulates Louie ‘om a knockout performance.ALSO SEEN AT THE REUNION Louie and Francine Bellson after the show. Tamir Hendelman fills in at the plano {for his mentor, Joe Harnell, Polly Podevell sings and Ihaits a cab simultancoustsebay 152005 Devi ema GE Non Per Set Dusan CA S05 1835 Werecve tne Feri, The Swine Eo Davis at fay. Doyo inno am the pape ata mens ii main’? Ore you now png omosea maga’? How sting 1 len Mile. ‘Th inf langag of you sop ies nd nephew tensive, sve oly ‘ote evving big bad em extn gcd tm Weel Reader? puss Yossie tt only males ed te se otha ly ales ne Jez mises or woul! bens wh ae reed in Big Band sic! Wing enin. Caw ym vid what were young?” Weare wel pci, pepe, mayo ‘whom ae sl fo, ven exelent mucin. "hap ou conse youre yew ing rept ck your Dade eanzaven Layyosag, LV ° 3 z » 8 3 z ° ¥ ‘Nol tse myname. You have payed very poo, vn usable judges © Ss © : z ® 2 = 3 8 a 3 w 4 Ver aca, Dear A, You're undoubtedly aware that periodicals routinely discard anonymous leters without even reading them, let alone considering them for publication. Why validate the hit-and-run attack of someone who couldn't muster enough courage oftheir conviction to sign ‘what they'd just written? On the other hand, you've unwittingly presented me with a perfect opportunity to state clearly and forthe entire membership the philosophy ofthe Big Band Academy of America under this administration. We will be respectful, but not reverent. There are countless newsletters and magazines across the big band landscape that depict Juminarie ofthe era as practically godlike figures, though we know in our brains that these people were made of flesh and bone, just like everybody else, While I wasn’t able to meet Glenn Miller, I did get to know several bandleader peers of his who lived atleast into the 1970s and I'm confident they (and perhaps even Miller himself) would have chuckled atthe cover of our February issue, particularly as it was timed to coincide with the publication of the annual Sport Illustrated swimsuit edition. ‘And intellectual honesty ist the only reason to take a slightly different approach. Irthe Big Band Academy survives long-term, ‘twill be because we were abe to distinguish ourselves from the rest of the pack, and an ingredient necessary o achieving that distinction {is going to bea sense of humor that some may find occasionally borders on the rude. Sorry to have to say so, but there simply aren't ‘enough supporters of big band music these days to enable all who publish to succeed by doing essentially the same thing. ‘A, my friend, you needn't have feared that I would come to your home and bite your head off if knew who you were. In fact, you're still welcome to call me, reveal your identity and we'll engage in a stimulating discussion of the future of big bands like two mature Adults. However, I should warn you Ifthe February cover gave you pause, you'll have astroke when you se the cover I'm planning for ‘an upcoming issue, Let's just say it casts Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters in a whole new light. Oh, yeah Very sincerely, A president.