DEARBORN — The Henry Ford Community College Big Band, directed by Rick Goward, will present Big Band Night from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Andiamo Dearborn. This event serves as the opening concert at the Labor Day Weekend Detroit International Jazz Festival.
The HFCC Big Band will perform a number of big band compositions and arrangements from such legendary artists as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Stan Kenton, Glen Miller and Buddy Rich.
The HFCC Big Band has performed twice at New York’s famed Carnegie Hall, eight times at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, as well as three presidential inaugurations, and most recently was honored with the County Executive’s Award by the Wayne County Council for Arts, History and Humanities.
Other world engagements include performances at Mardi Gras in New Orleans, the North Sea Jazz Festival in The Netherlands and the Edinburgh International Festival in Scotland, in addition to 27 appearances at the Detroit International Jazz Festival (formerly Montreux Detroit).
Members include young professional musicians, music educators, and traditional-aged music students, all of whom enroll at HFCC to continue their performance experience of big band literature.
To make reservations at Andiamo Dearborn, call (313) 359-3300. To receive guaranteed seating, call five days in advance for dining reservations and request the outside patio area for seating.