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MARC BEAUDIN/SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-PRESS Some members of The Stardust Memories Big Band, made up of professional musicians from Southwest Florida. They play and other music from the big-band era. Stardust Memories Big Band to debut Expect hits like ‘In the Mood’ and more be able to play it is even bet- big-band music in the 1920s, from the big-band era. And ter!” ’30s and ’40s. And he hopes a unlike local amateur bands, his during concert Saturday in Cape Coral Now Christman hopes to lot of those fans show up at the group is made up entirely of bring that same joy to big-band Italian American Club to see professionals. By Charles Runnells “Moonlight Serenade” “Chatta- lovers throughout Southwest just what his 18-piece band can “I thought, boy, if we had [email protected] nooga Choo Choo,” you name it. Florida. His new Stardust do. professional musicians, we “I’ve always said I was born Memories Big Band debuts Other local bands play this could really do this music jus- raig Christman wasn’t in the wrong time,” says Saturday with a concert in kind of music, including the tice,” Christman says. “It’s the alive during the glory Christman, 43, of south Fort Cape Coral. professional Naples Or- best musicians in Southwest days of big-band mu- Myers. “I should have been Christman knows he’s not chestra (for which some Star- Florida. I called them all my- sic, but he knows and born in 1920. alone in his love of Glenn Mil- dust Memories members also self. We’ve played together in loves the hits nonethe- “When I hear the music, it ler, Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey play). But Christman says his various bands over the course lCess: “In the Mood,” “Begin the brings me a lot of joy. It just and other cherished bandlead- band focuses exclusively on Beguine,” “April in Paris,” makes me feel happy. And to ers from the golden age of dance-oriented swing music See BAND » 17

GULF COASTING » THE NEWS-PRESS » FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014 » 3 COVER STORY IN BRIEF

Auditions scheduled Band The Southwest Florida Symphony, Lee County’s Continued from 3 only professional orchestra, will hold auditions from Oct. 8-11. of about 20 years.” These are blind audi- The band features mu- tions, judged by a panel of sicians from the Naples Phil- five musicians, including harmonic Orchestra, South- Maestro Nir Kabaretti. west Florida Symphony, local Positions being auditioned churches and colleges, and are: the pit orchestras for Broad- » Section violin, seven way Palm dinner theater and positions open; auditions The Naples Players. It boasts happen Oct. 8; four trumpeters, four trom- » Second oboe and sec- bonists and five saxophone/ ond trumpet; auditions Oct. clarinet players, plus a 9; rhythm section and a guitar- » Principal viola and ist. Christman also hopes to section cello; auditions Oct. add male and female vocalist 10; and sometime soon. » Principal keyboard and Christman, himself, has section percussion auditions played with other local take place Oct. 11. groups (including Southwest Auditions will be approx- Florida Symphony and The imately 10 minutes long and Naples Philharmonic Orches- will consist of required tra), and he does freelance excerpts, solo selection(s) work playing clarinet, flute, and sight-reading. Required oboe, English horn and sax- MARC BEAUDIN/SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-PRESS repertoire and excerpts are ophone for touring musicals Some members of The Stardust Memories Big Band, professional musicians from Southwest Florida. They play available at swflso.org un- at Artis-Naples and Barbara Glenn Miller and other music from the big-band era. der the About Us drop down B. Mann Performing Arts menu or by emailing aalba- Hall. [email protected]. But in the back of his played just as it’s written on Qualified musicians mind, Christman says, he’s See The Stardust the page. But the sheet music should send a one-page always wanted more than IF YOU GO Memories Big still leaves sections for im- resume to the Southwest that. “I wanted to have my Band rehearse provised solos by Christman Florida Symphony Office at own group. This is just some- » What: Stardust Memories at news-press.com. and other band members. 8290 College Parkway, Suite thing I’ve wanted to do all my Big Band debuts “These guys just stand 103, Fort Myers, FL 33919, life.” When: 8-11 p.m. Saturday up,” Tsaggaris says, “and in care of personnel man- Christman grew up listen- they make it up on the spot.” ager Alex Albanese. Al- Where: The Italian American ing to big-band music in his last month: Crisp, emotional The band has already re- ternately, a digital resume Club, 4725 Vincennes Blvd., hometown of Cape Coral. and entirely danceable ver- corded high-quality demos of may be emailed to aalba- Cape Coral “My dad played it all the sions of brassy big-band clas- its rehearsals to post on its [email protected]. time,” he says, “and I loved it Tickets: $35, including din- sics such as “In the Mood,” website. “When people hear Resumes and a $40 re- as a kid … There’s just some- ner ($32 for club members) “Stardust,” “Don’t Be That our demos,” Christman says, fundable deposit are due by thing about the sound of a big Info: 542-6515 or ccitaliana- Way,” “Let’s Dance,” “Moon- “I want them to think, ‘Wow, Sept. 21. Phone calls regard- band. mericanclub.com light Serenade” and “I’m that’s a local band?’” ing these positions will not “You hear this music, and More about the band: Getting Sentimental Over Christman hopes word be accepted. it makes you happy. It makes stardustmemoriesbigband- You.” gets out among big-band en- you want to dance.” .com Professionals make a thusiasts and that his dream Well, it makes other people world of difference with this project takes off in Southwest dance, anyway. Not Christ- music, says trombone player Florida. He wants to play man. He just taps his toes. Lex Tsaggaris, 66, who dou- clubs, fundraisers, local danc- “I can’t dance,” he says The Stardust Memories bles as the band’s publicist es and wherever else people with a grin. Big Band has had only two and business manager. love and appreciate big-band Those old arrangements rehearsals so far in the band “If you don’t play this music done well. also have sentimental value room at Florida SouthWestern tight,” the Naples resident “Our mission is to keep for Christman: They’re a way State College (formerly Edi- says, “it sounds awful! Most this music alive,” he says. he can still connect with his son State College). But these of these songs are very pre- “We’re really going for the father, Gene Christman, who professional musicians are cise.” nostalgia factor. We want to died when Christman was 17 used to reading sheet music Unlike the improvisation- be a musical time machine.” years old. and learning it quickly. heavy forms of jazz that came “This is a way to keep his The results were obvious later, big-band jazz is highly THE NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO memory alive, too,” he says. at the band’s second rehearsal structured music meant to be Conductor Nir Kabaretti

GULF COASTING » THE NEWS-PRESS » FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2014 » 17