NEWS
NORTHCOAST BIG BAND CHRISTMAS TRUCE BALL
NORTHCOAST BIG BAND Featured at SIXTH Annual Christmas Truce Ball
The Northcoast Big Band provided the musical center piece for a wonderful evening of dancing and camaraderie with the sold-out event attended by over three hundred guests for the SIXTH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TRUCE BALL.
The excitement and anticipation of having this professional eighteen piece orchestra perform all the Big Band favorites from the 1940 World War Two era captivate the entire audience. Dancers were in era appropriate uniforms and ready to thoroughly enjoy this evening’s promise of music, dancing and creating new memories.
The Northcoast Big Band worked closely throughout 2025 with the event planning leaders in making this year’s Christmas Truce Ball larger and even more successful than ever. WW ll Reenactors of all Nationalities were treated to a lavish dinner at the beautiful La Pizzaria Event Center bringing together all the elements of Fellowship, Armed Forces Tribute and moments of Remembrance.
The Big Band ignited the after-dinner festivities opening with three of Glenn Miller’s greatest hits, A String of Pearls, Stomp’in At The Savoy and Moonlight Serenade. The dancers responded and immediately filled the dance floor.
The Beautiful Songstress BARBARA ROSENE added enchantment and connection to the audience and dancers by performing her rendition of Blue Moon and the band’s CD Album Title Song, As Time Goes By. Karl added the subtle melody embellishment on Vibraphone as the night moved forward.
Other feature tunes capturing Barbara’s un-mistakable vocal artistry included The Nearness of You, All of Me and When I Fall in Love. Her lyrical magic captivated the dances and kept the dance floor filled for all of the featured selections.
The dynamic vocalist JAY NYE commands the attention of everyone in the room as he memorizes the audience to the popular dance number Sway followed by the romantic, The Way You Look Tonight.
Jay led the band and captured the audience on the Bobby Darin iconic Beyond The Sea and Dean Martin’s You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You.
The magic of Jay’s vocal artistry captivated the room with Lee Greenwood’s patriotic GOD BLESS THE USA. The rousing applause and standing ovation followed from all three hundred patriots in attendance
The dynamic vocalist JAY NYE commands the attention of everyone in the room as he memorizes the audience to the popular dance number Sway followed by the romantic, The Way You Look Tonight.
Jay led the band and captured the audience on the Bobby Darin iconic Beyond The Sea and Dean Martin’s You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You.
The magic of Jay’s vocal artistry captivated the room with Lee Greenwood’s patriotic GOD BLESS THE USA. The rousing applause and standing ovation followed from all three hundred patriots in attendance
The energy and excitement grew through the evening as the band performed one of Clarinetist Artie Shaw’s feature tunes, Begin the Beguine performed Artist Director Mike Sherwood on Clarinet moving on to Pennsylvania 6500 and Little Brown Jug. The first half of the program ended with the ever-popular Armed Forces Salute, a medley of theme songs for the five branches of the U,S. Military. Another standing ovation of the evening indicated ,…there was far more music yet to come.
The band’s Saxophone Section provided the beautiful smooth harmonic parts with clarity while featured soloists created their own deserving spotlight.
L to R: Joe Rongone, Nick Oslin, Mike Sherwood, Brad Vandrasik and John R. Smith.
The band’s Trombone Section defines what a solid fullsounding section brings to the entire ensemble. From ballads to Latin to up-tempos, Trombones add the depth and foundation to the band.
L to R: Jean Wroblewski-Keehn, Jim Klann, Kyle Crowley and John Olsson.
The band’s Trombone Section defines what a solid fullsounding section brings to the entire ensemble. From ballads to Latin to up-tempos, Trombones add the depth and foundation to the band.
L to R: Jean Wroblewski-Keehn, Jim Klann, Kyle Crowley and John Olsson.
Trumpet Section Leader, Eric Holler (standing) defines the section’s artistic rendering during his virtuoso solos or underneath the band’s other instrumentalists or talented vocalists.
Supported with Trumpet section professionals, Nora Moen, Deb Csikos-Vandrasik and Ryan Harris, the team consistently delivers individual artistic character to each tune. The Northcoast Big Band has a defining sound and delivery to each arrangement. The Trumpet section consistently presents the Five-Star musical presentation that sets this band apart from every other.
The evening would not be complete without a beautiful vocal duet of Barbara Rosene and Jay Nye, performing the ever popular UNFORGETTABLE. This selection has become a show piece for the band and one of the most requested tunes in our music book.
The gifted talents of our two professional vocalists helps define the professional stage presence and superior performance sound the band’s reputation has consistently delivered. Both artists have significant feature solo tunes on the band’s newly released CD Album, AS TIME GOES BY,…The Golden Age of Big Bands Continues.
The evening would not be complete without a beautiful vocal duet of Barbara Rosene and Jay Nye, performing the ever popular UNFORGETTABLE. This selection has become a show piece for the band and one of the most requested tunes in our music book.
The gifted talents of our two professional vocalists helps define the professional stage presence and superior performance sound the band’s reputation has consistently delivered. Both artists have significant feature solo tunes on the band’s newly released CD Album, AS TIME GOES BY,…The Golden Age of Big Bands Continues.
The Northcoast Big Band thoroughly enjoys performing and it shows within every performance. We’re never so serious we don’t have a fun moment before or after the evening. What better opportunity than to use the Crew 1944’s JEEP on display at this event to highlight the band’s lighter moments. We’re a “band family” that loves the music we play and performing for audiences of all sizes and musical tastes.
THE EVENING’S INTERNAL SET LIST
