The Blue Big Band drew its largest ever crowd on Sunday as the community jazz orchestra performed a number of pieces from Duke Ellington’s Far East Suite.
Despite the title of the concept album, most of the music was inspired by a tour of countries like Jordan, Egypt and India, according to Blue Big Band Musical Director Timo Shanko.
“This was fantastic. It was our largest crowd ever,” said JoE Douillette, founder of Blue Big Band. “We play for ourselves, and it’s worth it no matter what, but when you know you’re bringing the music to more people it’s special.”
Shanko introduced the music to the audience, saying that the first piece symbolizes the start of the trip to Southeast Asia and the Middle East, when the airplane first touches down and the band members get the first feel of the air across the world. Another song was named after a traditional dance in Jordan.
“I think it’s uncanny that it’s about a place in the world that’s in such turmoil,” said Douillette. “I think for us to celebrate the beauty of that through Duke Ellington’s perspective, it means a lot. It seems to coalesce in a beautiful way.”
The Blue Big Band is made of musicians of all ages, from high school all the way up to older adults. The group practices once a week and members invest their own money to drive the success of the band. Douillette said he originally started the band because he just wanted an excuse to play his beloved trombone more often.
“We’re celebrating our local musicians,” said Douillette. “These things are what you have to teach people our community should be celebrating, as much as a football or soccer game or a parade.”
To start off the concert, a jazz quartet played a few songs before the entire band took the stage. Amy Bellamy was on piano, Andrew Fogliano on tenor saxophone, Boey Russell on drums and Timo Shanko played bass.
One of the high school students and Douillette’s daughter, Aria Balliro, sang the vocals for the quartet’s part of the show and also plays trombone for the bigger band. As Balliro and the quartet performed, Douillette sat in the audience and watched, smiling.
“It’s surreal,” said Douillette. “She’s graduating so having watched her love music from an early age and be able to have the confidence to get up on stage, it’s so special.”
Balliro will be attending McGill University in Canada this fall.
