My Band: The Microsoft Jazz Band

[Gandalfe]

Now seven years in existance, the MJB is a labor of love for me. The musicians range from amatuers like myself to semi-pros sitting in. We gig 5 to 6 times a year and I've set the band plus the other ensembles I run as a non-profit. Here are two vids from last week's gig.

• Basie's "Switch in Time"
• Zoot Suit Riot

That's me on second alto next to the soloist tenor.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Great band! You are very lucky to have a real swinging big band, and doing ggs!

Is it the official Microsoft band? The drummer was chancing it a bit with so much emphasis on the crash cymbal

Boom boom

 

[Andrew Sanders]

Wow!!
Love it. It must be great to have a big band blasting away. The dancers were having a whale of a time too.
Just great.

 

[compound]

Wow, very pro sounding, a great deal of practice i would imagine.Great stuff.
Rob.

 

[Gandalfe]

Is it the official Microsoft band?

It's the only Microsoft Jazz Band. There is a Microsoft Orchestra too. Made up of mostly Microsofties and ex-Microsofties, these organizations have a lot of fun. In March we'll be doing the Microsoft MVP Summit. My goal is to do the annual company meeting.

Wow!! Love it. It must be great to have a big band blasting away. The dancers were having a whale of a time too. Just great.

We have a relationship with the Eastside Swing Cats who are often at our gigs. Instructors, they are really good at getting people on the dance floor.

Wow, very pro sounding, a great deal of practice i would imagine.Great stuff.
Rob.

We practice twice before each of the gigs. Everytime I bring up meeting more regularly I get push back about it being too big of a time commitment.

 

[Justin Chune]

That was great, thanks for posting.

Jim.

 

[Gallen]

That was highly enjoyable! Cheers!

Alvin

 

[kevgermany]

I thought I'd replied to this one, sorry.

Nice, looks as if you have a lot of fun there. Lots of talent hiding away!

 

[rudjarl]

Really great playing. I enjoyed it very much. Thank's for posting

 

[les3716]

What a blast - A real riot, enjoyed that - I would find it strange having the MD conducting from the side - However good sound.
Thanks, Les.

 

[Gandalfe]

What lovely comments. In the Seattle and surrounds we enjoy an embarrassment of riches when it comes to opportunities for adult amateur musicians. I am a *very* intermediate player (don't practice enough and still working on the basics) and still I participate in two bands, my sax quartet and the various sub opportunities. The sub opportunities are the most challenging because I'm basicially sight reading, which is a weakness I'm working on.

As far as starting your own group goes, the pluses are that you get to pick the music, the players, and the gigs. The downside is that people are always in transition so you can end up looking for subs for every gig. Also, since I don't have a roadie or sound guy, I often end up doing that too. When I'm lucky, my grandson helps me schlep the fronts, sound system, music, instruments, and lighting.