The Summertimes Big Band is Singapore's only all-professional and independent big band which rehearses and performs on a very regular schedule. Formed in 2009 by a bunch of 18 long time musician-friends who have been colleagues at other music ensembles and performance stages, the dynamism and synergy of this big band is often always felt beyond its hard-swinging music - to places where only sincerity, friendships and camaraderie can bring. Passion of the bandsmen are best heard at their live performances where collective dedication raises their already professional levels of performance up a couple of notches.
THE SUMMERTIMES BANDS
Summertimes had also seen the further formation of two smaller authentic jazz ensembles - The Summertimes Hotshots and The Summertimes Dixieland Swingers, playing smaller jazz ensemble and dixieland music respectively; and The Summertimes Jazz Orchestra - which augments the big band with a string section.
TWO YEARS WORTH
Twenty months after its inception, the Summertimes bands have played for over fifty performances, much to the delight to its ever-growing base of jazz enthusiast audience - including the local and regional lindy hop swing dance communities. It's first all-swing concert - "1938 - An Evening of Big Band Music and Dance" - was a sold-out success when the band enjoyed minutes of standing-ovations together with world-renowned lindy hop dancers from Sweden & USA - including the indomitable Dawn Hampton of the famous Hampton family of musicians. Most recently, the band has also been invited to play with Charlie Haden for Mosaic Music Festival 2011's opening evening at The Esplanade.
PARTNERS & CLIENTS
Clients, events and productions which the band has been involved in over the past year include MediaCorp's biggest and most extravagant annual event - MediaCorp Festival 2010, Elle Awards 2010, Channel News Asia Luminary Awards 2011 and Viewers' Choice Awards 2011, The Esplanade, Singapore Press Holdings, Rotary Club of Singapore, Citi Commercial Bank, UOB Privilege Banking and ITB Awards Asia 2010.
T h e S u m m e r t i m e s B i g B a n d Always livin' the happy times.
