Dave Whitney Big Band                                                                           Videos by Harold McAleer

An extension of Dave’s small bands, this fourteen piece orchestra was formed in 1989.  The focus of this band is playing and preserving the classic sounds of the big band era.  The orchestra is comfortable playing for the listener and is equally at ease playing for dancers.  Besides saluting the big name bands such as Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, and Harry James, the Whitney Orchestra also plays the music of other fine bands such as Tony Pastor, Vaughn Monroe, Frankie Carle, Scat Davis and Red Nichols.  Dave was with the Chris Powers band, and some of his musicians have stayed on with him.  Dave LeBleu bass is a charter member of the band.   Some members of the band came from Lucinda Ellert’s Happy Feet Orchestra.  Blair Bettencourt played with Dave in the Yankee Rhythm Kings. Mike Strauss has filled in with the band since Angelica’s.  An invaluable addition to the band has been vocalist and trumpeter Christine Fawson.

Dave Whitney is a beacon of swing.  He opened with Harry James’ Music Makers, What a fabulous Big Band sound!  Charlie Spivacks Star Dreams got John and Gisela Brunecini  up dancing quickly.  Dave’s theme song, a Roy D’Innocenzo arrangement, When Somebody Thinks Your Wonderful – Dave vocal with whole band in harmony behind him.  This moves right along very quickly!

One O’Clock Jump came from Count Basie’s Kansas City Swing Band;  Dave played with the Chris Powers band and has many of his arrangements that had Ted on tenor sax, Mike Strauss trombone, with Dave LeBleu  really Jumping!

Christine Fawson has it all, congenial and fun, fantastic trumpeter and vocalist

Special guest Christine Fawson has  played with Whitney’s smaller bands, but this was her first time with the Big Band, wishing she could do this every night!   She picked a tune by Lerner and Lowe-arranged by Lenny Niehaus, Almost Like Being in Love.  Her favorite composers were the Gershwins – Our Love Is Here To Stay.  She turned to scatting on a Cole Porter arrangement, of Let’s Do It.

Art Bakopolus has been with the band almost since its inception

Art Bakopolis on alto sax for a tune Johnny Hodges did, I Got It Bad and That Ain’t Good. 

A 1945 Eddy Howard tune – the ‘Boy Singer’ Dave Whitney took the vocal on My Adobe Hacienda.  Kay Kyser’s  College of Musical Knowledge, Swing Era, 1942 Pushin’ Sand was recorded in 1942 but wasn’t released until a year after because of the AFM recording ban.  Dave does an imitation of Lawrence Welk calling out Guy Lombardo’s Everywhere You Go.

Mike Strauss,  featured  trombonist.

Mike Strauss featured on trombone with Night Train, made famous by Buddy Morrow, and also Rose of The Rio Grande.

Jeff Hughes featured on trumpet for Bunny Berigan’s classic 1937 I Can’t Get Started – the dancers’ version.   Christine returned to the party for Bobby Troup’s Daddy.

Ted Casher, a New England Treasurer!

Our other treasure, Ted Casher on tenor sax with Billy Strayhorn’s B.P. was Awe inspiring!

Duke’s swing classic, Stomping At The Savoy  and Neal Hallett’s  Boston Tea Party were the set closers.

For the Dixielanders in the audience, Dave began set two with a “little band within a big band”, using Bob Crosby’s March of the Bob Cats with “Dave Cats”, Blair tenor sax, Jeff and Dave trumpets, Ted clarinet, Mike Strauss trombone, Steve Dale piano, Dave LeBleu bass.  Check the interaction between Jeff and Dave trumpets, plus swinging sax, clarinet and trombone.

Louis’ 1925 Struttin’ With Some Barbecue is always a favorite.  In 1938 Louis did it with his Big Band.  Tiny Hill’s  Skirts was a tune they often did at Angelica’s, Dave loves to sing this one.

Christine sang All of Me – a Lenny Niehaus arrangement, for our dearly departed Lynn Sickle.

Christine praised the rhythm section, the backbone of this band.

Dave LeBleu

Reid Jorgensen

Steve Dale

Joe Musemeci

Trumpeter Joe Musemici, Chris vocal Ted on clarinet for a tune Duke did with the Be Bop trumpets  Nearness of You, a Steve Dale arrangement. Ted was featured on clarinet on Honeysuckle Rose with the Bebop trumpets.

Another Duke – there’s always room for him – Do Nothing ‘Till You Hear From Me.  Duke did this as a Concerto  for Cootie (Williams)

From The Gene Krupa Band, Christine sang a favorite tune of the swing era with Anita O’Day,  Boogie Blues –  Karpopolis making use of the complete alto sax register, Strauss trombone, rhythm backup, Christine scatting on a 240° Hot One!

Bettencourt followed it with a fine baritone vocal on Ray Eberly’s Blue Champagne.  We never knew Blair could sing!!  He’s great!

In 1985 Dave recorded Pie Face with the Chris Powers Band. They made room for Christine in the trumpet section for a fun 3-piece trumpet tuning, Christine, Jeff,  and Dave.

Three-Trumpet Tuning

Dick Cathcart was the jazz trumpeter behind actor Jack Webb’s portrayal of the legendary Pete Kelly in the 1955 film Pete Kelly’s Blues.  Dave and Christine on trumpet, closed this marvelous evening.

It was a pleasure to see Ruth Schwab back.  She always opens her home for this band’s rehearsals.

Ruth Schwab, Joe Grassi, and Elke

We’ve been listening to Dave Whitney’s Big Band playing and preserving the classic sounds of the big band era. ever since it’s inception.  This was an outstanding performance.  Dave said “This is the best edition of my Big Band since I started it in 1989”.  We have no argument with that!!

Watch for them at Canobie Lake Park. June 8th, 1pm in the Ballroom. Free admission for age 60 plus.