SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, IL. – The US Air Force Band of Mid-America's Shades of Blue Jazz Ensemble will present a series of concerts around Scott Air Force Base:
- Wednesday, February 25, 1:00 p.m.: Farrington Grade School, 20941 E. Divide Rd., Bluford, IL 628141
- Thursday, February 26, 7:00 p.m. – Kirkwood Performing Arts Center (KPAC), 210 E Monroe Ave, Kirkwood, MO 63122
- Friday, February 27, 7:00 p.m. – Panther Dome Gym, O'Fallon Township High School, 600 S Smiley St, O'Fallon, IL 62269
- Saturday, February 28, 7:00 p.m. – Shryock Auditorium, 1050 S Normal Ave, Carbondale, IL 62901
- Sunday, March 1, 3:00 p.m. – Mascoutah Performing Arts Center, Mascoutah High School, 1313 W Main St, Mascoutah, IL 62258
- Monday, March 2, 7:00 p.m. – Hettenhausen Center for the Performing Arts (The Hett) at McKendree University, 400 N. Alton St, Lebanon, IL 62254
- Wednesday, March 4, 7:00 p.m. – Centralia Community Arts Center, 1250 E Rexford St Centralia, IL 62801
Concert and venue information:
- All concerts are free and open to the public.
- Ticket reservations are required at afbandtix.org.
Shades of Blue Jazz Ensemble
The Shades of Blue Jazz Ensemble performs a variety of styles, ranging from traditional big band jazz to bebop, swing, and modern jazz. At one of their concerts you are just as likely to hear the music of contemporary composers as you would the classic sounds of Count Basie or Glenn Miller.
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The ensemble has backed many jazz greats such as Jamey Aebersold, Bobby Shew, Allen Vizzutti, and Jeff Jarvis, and is often requested for featured performances at jazz clinics and festivals throughout the country. Several of the band’s members are also gifted composers and arrangers, and their compositions are often featured in concert.
Whether performing for a head of state, before a capacity crowd in our 10-state touring area, or for our troops at home or abroad, the Shades of Blue Jazz Ensemble reflects the heritage and pride of our great nation and the United States Air Force. We are pleased to be joined by Grammy award winning saxophone performing artist Charles (Chip) McNeill.
Organizer and Parent Organization
The United States Air Force Band of Mid-America represents the professionalism and excellence found every day throughout the United States Air Force. All musicians are active-duty airmen stationed at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. The band recently won the 2022 NATAS Mid-America Emmy for Arts & Entertainment Long Form Content for their “Spirit of the Season” holiday program that was broadcast on over 100 national TV stations.
About the USAF Band of Mid-America
The United States Air Force Band of Mid-America is the principal musical ambassador of Headquarters Air Mobility Command. These talented Air Force musicians have had the distinction of performing for Pope John Paul II, Presidents George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Jimmy Carter, the Queen of the Netherlands, and hundreds of other US and foreign leaders. The band performs free civic outreach and recruiting concerts for audiences throughout the Midwest, playing more than 400 engagements each year. In its broader travels, the band has performed in New York City, Philadelphia, Seattle, the Gulf Coast, Germany, the Netherlands, Costa Rica, Barbados, Grenada, Guatemala, Venezuela, Bolivia, and the Azores. Whether recording or performing for live, radio, and television audiences, band members reflect Air Force excellence to millions of people each year.
