It's been an Amazing year with the Berkshire Big Band! Thanks to all who came out to to the show yesterday and who have supported us all year long. And most of all, a big thanks to Chip Zellner for keeping the band going and Bill Geddes for keeping up the website!! Don't forget you can check upcoming performances at www.berkshirebigband.com. We plan to start up again in the Fall.

For now...

I will be appearing with the

Farmington Valley Band
July 3, 7:30pm
Mill Pond, Canton, CT
This concert is Free to the public/outdoors
(If rain we will be at the Canton High School
just one block to the right from the park entrance,
go right.)

The Sonny Carroll Big Band
July 5th for the New Milford
"Fourth of July Celebration"
6pm on the Green. (Go early for parking)
Free to the public.
No rain date.

See you there!

Last chance this season to see the
Berkshire Big Band

Brookfield Library, Brookfield, CT (RT. 25)
Sunday, June 29, 4:00-5:30pm
This outdoor concert will feature
local talent - vocalist, Barbara Bock.

Bring a lawn chair, snack, refreshment, sit back with your Jazz ears on and bop to the Jazz sounds at the Afternoon at the Arbor
(Rain or shine)
See you there!

The Berkshire Big band played a great gig at Ashlar of Newtown, Wednesday night, June 18th. There were a number of "Berkband" fans attending, besides the residents. ANd it was announced that our Bass player married his wife that day, after living together for 19 years!
As usual, Jon Saxon wailed on the Georgia, What an incredible tune/arrangement that is! But, I can't leave out Pete Roe on the trumpet! Don't forget about Mike on soloing on Tenor, Kurt on Trombone, Stu Woods had a pretty cool solo on the bass. And our Bari Player taking a chorus on Brown baggin' it. Oh , yes, I also played a solo on the flute. What a blast!
Susan Judge was our vocalist, lovely! Having worked there, she was very familiar with the residents and was happy to share some trivia about the songs. It was full house! The director did a terrific job announcing us. I also think he was very happy with the evening, despite the rain (we were originally scheduled to play out doors). Maybe next year.
Next gig: Sunday, June 29, Brookfield Library, 4-5:30, Brookfield, CT

Poetry:
Saturday, June 7, I collaborated with friends Tom Nicotera and Marcia Lewis in running an event at the Faxon Library ( W. Hartford, CT) honoring William S. Burroughs as part of a (mini)Beat Poetry Fesival in the Hartford Area.

I played tenor saxophone with a another good friend on Alto, Dan Wilcox, who came all the way down from Albany for CT poetry. Complete with dimmed lights, costume, fake candles and a little mood music in between the features, it was the coolest! This was all followed by a day of more "Beats", in Buddhism, also honoring Allen Ginsburg and Charles Bukowski.

Among the highlights from the whole weekend include, Julia Paul's discussion on Women Beat poets, Christine Beck's one woman performance of four women from the beat generation, Susan Alison's performance of Ann Waldman's work, Terri Klein's touching discourse on her son in connection with beat poets and buddhism! It was great seeing Lisa Ann Lobasso again, now up for the future poet laureate of CA and meeting some of the other really cool poets from Kansas, Mass., New Jersey, NY and Ohio.
I also enjoyed the late night open mic at that very loud bar, where I could hear a pin drop when I read! Though, so did the other ladies that read(all two of them.)

I can't wait to read the new books I picked up by, Lori Desrosier, Susan Alison and Zachary Moll!

That's me with the Berkshire Big Band (S. Judge photo)

The Berkshire Big Band at Heritage Village
Last night a private concert held and sponsored by the Men's Club at Heritage Village retirement comunity, was a success! With light introductions by our band leader, Chip Zellner, of the great selection of tunes by Charlie Parker and Oliver Nelson to a brand new arrangement by our lead alto, Jon Saxon, of Coltrain's "Impressions", (what a rockin' tune!) and many more, we wound up the night with a standing O!
Our vocalist, Susan Judge entertained the crowd with some delightful story backrounds of the tunes she sang. Really delightful! My particular favorite, was a tune called "Flute Salad" in which I play a solo on with the flute. That was really fun.
The next gigs: Free to the public Wed. June 18th Ashlar of Newtown & Sunday June 29, Brookfield Library
(both outdoors - rain or shine)

Find out more at: www.berkshirebigband.com