Marty Ashby is joined by saxophonist, arranger, composer, and educator Mike Tomaro for a special program marking America’s 250th anniversary, celebrating military jazz bands and the musicians who serve the country while burning down the bandstand.
Tomaro spent 18 years as a member of the Army Blues Jazz Ensemble, a unit of “Pershing’s Own,” The United States Army Band, and brings both a musician’s ear and an insider’s perspective to the conversation. With the U.S. Navy Band Commodores coming to the MCG Jazz stage on June 18, the episode explores the artistry, discipline, and swing that have long defined these ensembles.
Along the way, Marty and Mike discuss the extraordinary musicianship of these groups, the discipline required to perform at that level, and the living thread that connects today’s military jazz bands to the golden age of the big band — from Duke Ellington and Glenn Miller to the great orchestras that helped define American music.
MCG Jazz Spotlight - Friday and Sunday at 6, Saturday at 1pm.
Louie Bellson
