MOUNT VERNON – Three bands will take center stage at the Ariel~Foundation Park Grand Opening set for Saturday, July 4th to debut the new Schnormeier Event Center in Mount Vernon. Swing’s the Thing is a 17-piece big band based in Central Ohio and will get the evening started at 5:00 p.m. With many great tunes in our book, Swing’s the Thing will bring this celebration event to life by playing hits from a variety of new artists, while respecting the origins of big band by playing tunes from the books of such legends as Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, Stan Kenton and Woody Herman, just to name a few.
“We’re excited to come to Mount Vernon and play in this wonderful new venue,” said band marketer, trombonist, and vocalist Mark Watson. “To have the opportunity to perform in a new venue and an attraction to the area is exciting. We can’t wait to take the stage and get the audience dancing and singing.”
Following the swing and dance tunes, the North side Jazz Band bring their soulful sounds of classic jazz to keep the celebration going. Lindy Hop dance tunes, classic blues, New Orleans, West Coast and Chicago jazz, all punctuated by vocals, ragtime piano renditions, and specialty numbers by band members are among their wide variety of repertoire.
“Some of the greatest music in our culture was written before WWII,” said Band Leader David Steele who also is the band’s tuba and piano player. “It’s a way we can keep the works alive from musical greats like Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Bix Beiderbecke, Hoagy Carmichael, and Jack Teagarden.”
Finishing out the evenings concert priming the audience for fireworks to follow is the renowned Brass Band of Columbus (BBC). The BBC has been at the forefront of the resurgence of the American brass band movement for three decades. The band’s instrumentation is brass and percussion only, following the tradition of British brass bands. This 45-piece ensemble includes over 30 active or retired music educators and a wide range of other professions. The BBC was founded by Dr. Paul Droste, Emeritus Professor of Music at The Ohio State University and former director of the OSU Marching Band. Tim Jameson served Director from July 2005 until March of 2010. Brian Stevens serves as the BBC’s Director since 2010.
Brass Band of Columbus – submitted photo
“I think when you get this music coupled with a beautiful new venue, it’s going to be a wonderful night to remember,” said Stevens. “We are definitely looking forward to being a part of ushering in this new park to Central Ohio with our music.”
The concert is free and open to the public. Volunteers will be on hand to direct visitors to parking. Other activities will begin at 1:00 in Mount Vernon’s new 250-acre park which is repurposed land from the former Pittsburgh Plate Glass factory at 10 Pittsburgh Avenue. More information on the event can be found at www.arielfoundationpark.org.
