The Greece Jazz Band is a 25+ piece Big Band comprised of volunteer musicians who enjoy playing jazz music and entertaining audiences. In a typical year, we play 15-20 performances all around the greater Rochester, New York area. Some of our performances can be seen on Cable Channel 12. The band is sponsored by the Greece Performing Arts Society.
Music is not the chosen profession of most of the band members. In fact, only a few performers have chosen music careers. The rest are engineers, lawyers, scientists, teachers, students and other professions. All the performers have great musical talents, however, and are drawn together by a love of making music and bringing it to the community.
Since forming in 1997, the band has played many venues. In addition to formal auditorium concerts, where we play our more serious and challenging jazz charts, we also hold dances and play for charity functions, adult living and care facilities, school music outreach concerts, holiday mall concerts, and festivals. Click on the link below to see our Performance History and our Upcoming Schedule. Also check out the Photo Gallery to see us at some past performances. Click on the "contact us" link below if you would like to book the Greece Jazz Band.
Performance History and Photo Gallery
The Greece Jazz Band has a large and varied repertoire. Our library contains more than 300 charts and growing. Our repertoire includes standards (Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, etc.), including vocal tunes, dance charts, and more modern jazz compositions (Thad Jones, Louis Bellson, Sammy Nestico, etc.). Although swing is the most popular musical style for our band, we also play a significant amount of Latin, Ballads, Waltz, Rock and other types of music.
The Greece Jazz Band issued its first CD in December of 2001. To find out how to order a CD, click here. We are also seeking new players for the band, particularly on piano, guitar and trumpet. Email us if you have musical talent and want to have a great time playing some great jazz music!
While President of the Greece Performing Arts Society from 1995-1998, Chuck Huffine noticed that something was missing from the four existing performing groups were offering. While certainly the groups were playing a few arrangements of popular big band charts, surveys of the audience clearly indicated that big band music was the type that people wanted to hear most, and they wanted more. Since playing in a big band since high school, Chuck longed for a community-based big band where both old and new jazz could be played. So, in April, 1997, he formed the Greece Jazz Band. With initial help from Tom Ellison, and music teacher in the Greece Central School District and a fantastic jazz musician, the band began rehearsing on May 1, 1997. The band's first performance was on July 19, 1997 for the Town of Greece's 175th Anniversary Celebration, and we have grown into one of the Rochester area's premier jazz big bands. Click on the "Performance History" link to see a listing of our past performances.
Mission
The mission of the Greece Jazz Band is to provide an opportunity for volunteer musicians of all ages and backgrounds in the greater Rochester area to perform, learn and experience contemporary jazz music, and to bring that music to the residents through performances in the community.
Rehearsals
Rehearsals are regularly Monday Evenings, 7-9 pm, Apollo Middle School, Maiden Lane, Greece.
Map to Apollo Middle
School
Volunteer Needs
The Greece Jazz Band is usually on the lookout for talented players who will fit into the band. We also need people to handle sound and lighting at our performances, as well as photographers, videographers, and people to assist us with publicity. Email us by clicking "Contact Us" below if you can help, or would like to audition for the band.