Big Band Releases "Swing with a Little Twist" CD

HFC's Big Band recently released its latest CD from its 2015 European Tour titled “Swing with a Little Twist.”

“This is a great holiday gift for swing music lovers. The music on this CD was recorded from a live performance at the Arena Bindi on the boardwalk of Santa Margherita, Italy,” said Rick L. Goward, HFC founder/director of the HFC Big Band. “We were the headliner music ensemble at the Arena Bindi, where a very large outdoor audience with overwhelming enthusiasm requested encore tunes at the end of the concert, including a rendition of the Italian national anthem,” he added.

From July 6-16, 2015, the Big Band performed in its 12th European tour. In addition to the Arena Bindi, they traveled to Cannes-Mandelieu in France and the Umbria Jazz Festival, which is the largest and most famous jazz festival in Italy. This was the first time the Big Band played in the Umbria Jazz Festival, where it was standing-room only.

HFC’s music program is home to the largest music performance ensembles of all two-year colleges in Michigan. For more than 30 years, HFC music ensembles have entertained and delighted audiences in more than 1,200 concerts, conferences, jazz festivals and performances worldwide. The award-winning Big Band includes talented young professional musicians, music educators and traditional-aged music students – all of whom are enrolled at HFC to continue their performance opportunities.

The Big Band has performed on major stages and prestigious venues throughout North America, Europe and the Caribbean, including Orchestra Hall in Detroit, Carnegie Hall in New York City, the last four U.S. Presidential Inaugurations (George W. Bush and Barack Obama) in Washington, D.C., Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, Luxembourg Gardens in Paris, Edinburgh Jazz Festival in Scotland, Ford Detroit and Detroit International Jazz Festivals, the Virgin Islands, among many others.

The Big Band has shared the stage with jazz music greats including Maynard Ferguson, the Canadian jazz trumpet player and bandleader, and the legendary Count Basie Orchestra. In addition to receiving local, state and international recognition and awards, Big Band music and performances have been broadcast on Detroit PBS Television and BBC Radio. In fact, one Big Band member, James Bostek, played on “Conan,” the late-night talk show hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien.

“It’s always a pleasure to work with such exceptionally talented musicians. Their hard work has paid off and this CD is proof positive of that,” said Goward.

CDs cost $10 each. To purchase a CD, contact Goward at rgoward@hfcc.edu.