Big Band Sound Brings Swing and Jazz To Dogwood Park

The Big Band Sound is presenting a Memorial Day concert at Dogwood Park, and members of the community can expect a lively performance filled with jazz and swing music that will make you want to dance.

Band Leader Carroll Gotcher said that as the band has been able to play safely outdoors, it’s brought the joys of music to people during a time of isolation.

“It’s live music and we haven’t been able to have live music in so very long that everywhere we play people have just been overjoyed that we’re able to come together and listen to music and have people just revel in the fact that we’re getting closer to normal,” Gotcher said.

The band is a 20-piece orchestra comprised of trumpets, trombones, saxophones and other instruments that play 40’s-style music. Gotcher said their music can be enjoyed both by the elderly who know this style from their younger days, and by kids who just like the music.

“We play a lot of dance-style music, a lot of jazz standards for listening,” Gotcher said. “We have a vocalist who is going to be able to be with us that night so we’re really excited about that, we’ll play a wide range, and we’ll even leave room on the stage in case people want to dance.”

Gotcher said he is excited to play at Dogwood Park because there is nothing like performing live.

“I really like to perform in front of people,” Gotcher said. “I’ve been making a lot of recordings in my basement which is not nearly the same thing as playing for a crowd because you get the energy back from the crowd and you can watch them enjoying you enjoy what you do.”

The Memorial Day Concert is on May 31st at 7 p.m. Admission is free.