An extension of Dave’s small bands, The Dave Whitney fourteen-piece orchestra was formed in 1989. The focus of this band is playing and preserving the classic sounds of the big band era. They play yearly dates at Canobie Lake Park and Southgate at Shrewsbury and are currently doing semi-regular dates at Chianti’s in Beverly.
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.
The Dave Whitney Orchestra has entertained for numerous swing dance parties and has performed at Ryles, the Sherborn Inn, Rockingham Ballroom, Bridgwaye Inn, and bi-monthly at Angelica’s in Middleton, MA. Future projects include a compact disc.
LINEUP
Leader,Trumpet/Cornet and Vocals – Dave Whitney
Vocals and Trumpet- Christine Fawson.
Trumpets- Joe Musumeci, Jeff Hughes, Rich Given.
Trombones- Scott Hills, Mike Strauss, John Kafalas.
Saxes- Art Bakopolus, Bob Drukman, Ted Casher, Blair Bettencourt and Kathleen Howland.
Piano- Steve Dale, Bass-Dave LeBleu, Drums-Reid Jorgensen.
Also appearing occasionally are John Clark,reeds, Dan Gabel,trombone and Roy D’Innocenzo, guitar, a charter member of Dave’s first band in 1971.
Christine Fawson
Dave Whitney
Dave Whitney
Well known in New England for his work with the Yankee Rhythm Kings, White Heat Swing Orchestra, and Chris Powers Orchestra, Dave was influenced by Louis Armstrong, Bix Beiderbecke, Bobby Hackett and many other great trumpeters of the pre-bop era. Dave has been called “Premier early style trumpeter” of this area” and “Dean of swing trumpet”. As a vocalist he was influenced by Armstrong, Prima, Tony Pastor et al, and he is also adept at smoother vocals a la Sinatra, Eddy Howard, and Perry Como.
Christine Fawson
As a vocalist and trumpet player, Christine Fawson has always loved performing classic jazz standards from the American Songbook. She has been a member of Syncopation and The Jazz Diva’s, and the R&B band Beantown. Christine has also been a solo artist at festivals and concerts around the world. She is a member of the brass faculty at Berklee College of Music.
The first Dave Whitney Orchestra CD, “Swingin’ at the WunderBar” will be out shortly.
Contact: (978) 667-5524
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.
Reeds
Ted Casher
Bob Drunkman
Blair Bettencourt
Art Bakopolus
Trumpets
Dave Whitney
Joe Musumeci
Mel Deveau
Jeff Hughes
Christine Fawson
Trombones
Mike Strauss
Scott Hills
Rhythm
Steve Dale piano, arrangements
Reid Jorgensen drums
Dave LeBleu string Bass
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 “DaveCats”, 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.
