For you big-band fans

Jerry Swanberg, host of KBEM's "Big Band Scene," puts together monthly lists of live big-band music in the Twin Cities during the summer because there's so darned much of it. I just today received July's list. Rather than spend the rest of my natural life entering all of these dates on the live jazz calendar, I'll drop it in below.

On Jazz Day (April 13), I invited Jerry (among others) to reflect on our local jazz scene for MinnPost, and this is what he wrote:

Big-band jazz is quite popular in the Twin Cities, where it has its own niche. We’re probably the fifth most active place in the U.S. for big-band jazz, behind New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco. There are about 35 big bands in the Twin Cities, and 25 have recorded CDs. Many are semi-pro and some are nonprofit, but most are rehearsal/kicks big bands. This summer, there will be 84 concerts by 32 big bands in 38 city parks. You can catch big bands for dancing every week. Of the 700 high schools in the state, about 300 have jazz ensembles. All our universities and colleges have jazz ensembles. Regrettably, the young jazz musicians do not appear to continue as jazz fans, because very few attend the big-band events in town — except those at the Wabasha Caves, which attract the young swing dancers. 

UPCOMING JULY BIG BAND EVENTS

Jerry O’Hagan & his Orchestra – Ballroom Dance

            Sun, 7/01, 8, 15, 22 – Cinema Ballroom, 1560 Clair Ave. St Paul – 7 PM

Beasley’s Big Band – Big Band Jazz

            Tues, 7/03 – O’Gara’s Bar & Grill. 163 N. Snelling, St. Paul – 7:30 PM
Big Band Tuesday  - Jazz Central, 407 Central Ave, SE Mpls – 8:30 PM / FREE

            7/03 – Bill Simonsen Big Band

            7/10 – Cedar Avenue Big Band

            7/24 - Adam Meckler Orchestra

July 4^th BIG BAND BANG! with Fireworks / FREE

            St. Croix Jazz Orchestra, Pioneer Park, Stillwater – 7 PM

            Roseville Big Band - Roseville’s Central Park Amphitheater – 7:30 PM

            Jazz on the Prairie Big Band – Round Lake, Eden Prairie – 5:30 PM

Wabasha Street Caves – Big Band Swing Night every Thursday – 7 PM

            7/05 - Moonlight Serenaders; 7/12 -MN Jazz Orchestra;

             7/19 – Beasley’s Big Band; 7/26 - Swingbeat Big Band

Tim Patrick and his Blue Eyes Band – Swing Dance

            Fri, 7/13 – Eagles Club, 2507 E. 25^th St,  Mpls – 8 PM

Classic Big Band & the Nostalgics Vocal Quartet – Swing to the Real Thing     

             Fri, 7/13 – Bloomington KC Hall, 1114 American Blvd – 8 PM / 952-888-1492

River City Jazz Orchestra – Swing Dance

            Tues 7/17  – South St. Paul VFW, 111 S. Concord, S, St, Paul  – 7 PM / FREE

Jerry O’Hagan and his Jazz Orchestra – Ordway Summer Dance Series

            Thur, 7/19 – Landmark Plaza, DT St. Paul – 7:15 PM / FREE

                        Free Dance Lessons at 6 PM

Medina Ballroom – Ballroom Dancing - 500 Hwy 55 – 8 PM

            Fri, 7/20 – Jerry O’Hagan & his Orchestra

            Sat, 8/04 – Tim Patrick & his Blue Eyes Band

Moonlight Serenaders Big Band with vocalist Lee Engele - Outdoor Concert

            Tues, 7/24 – Minnesota History Center, DT St. Paul – 6:30 PM / FREE

Pete Whitman’s X-Tet – Big Band Jazz

            Thurs, 7/26 – Artist Quarter, 408 St. Peter St,  DT St. Paul – 8 PM

BIG BAND SUMMER CONCERTS IN THE PARKS

Sun, 7/01 – Jin tenBensel’s Trombone Ensemble – Como Park Pavilion – 3 PM

Sun, 7/01– Beasley’s Big Band - Como Park Lakeside Pavilion – 7 PM

Tue, 7/03–Pizzazz Jazz (11 pc. BB)–Ballroom Dance-Ojibway Park,Woodbury-7 PM

Fri, 7/06 - Brio Brass – History Cruzer Car Show, North St. Paul – 7 PM

Mon, 7/09 - Jazz on the Prairie Big Band - Lake Harriet Bandshell, Mpls – 7:30 PM

Tues, 7/10 – Bend in the River Big Band - Excelsior Commons – 7 PM

Tues, 7/10 – Brio Brass - Roseville’s Central Park Amphitheater – 7:30 PM

Wed, 7/11 – Jazz Hounds Big Band – Delano Central Park – 6:30 PM

Wed, 7/11 - Brio Brass – White Bear Ave. Parade, St. Paul to Maple Grove – 7 PM

Sat, 7/14 - Maple Grove Jazz Ensemble - Town Green Amphitheater, MG – 7 PM

Sun, 7/15 – Stan Bann’s Big Bone Band - Como Park Pavilion, St. Paul – 7 PM

Mon, 7/16 - Jazz on the Prairie Big Band - Centennial Lakes Park, Edina – 7 PM

Tues, 7/17 – Capri Big Band – Bryant Square Park, Mpls – 6:30 PM

Tues, 7/17 – Tim Patrick & his Blue Eyes Band – Ojibway Park, Woodbury – 7 PM

Tues, 7/24 - Bend in the River Big Band – Como Park Pavilion, St. Paul – 7 PM

Tues, 7/24 - Tim Patrick & his Blue Eyes Band – Excelsior Commons – 7 PM

Thur, 7/26 - Jazz on the Prairie Big Band - Hopkins Downtown Park – 7 PM

Sun, 7/29 - Jazz on the Prairie Big Band - Staring Lake Park, Eden Prairie – 7 PM

Tues, 7/31 - Roseville Big Band - Roseville’s Central Park Amphitheater – 7:30 PM

Tues, 7/31 - Red Rock Swing Band - Ojibway Park, Woodbury – 7 PM 

Tues, 7/31 - Bend in the River Big Band – Minnetonka Amphitheater – 7 PM

Tues, 7/31 – Zuhrah Shrine Flames Big Band - Como Park Pavilion, St. Paul – 7 PM

Thur, 7/31 - Classic Big Band & the Nostalgics – Boerboom Park, Osseo – 7 PM