The Queen Bee by Sammy Nestico

This video is the first of two Big Band videos(the second to come out in a couple days) that I produced of former musicians and other musicians were a part of the St. Johns River City Brass Band. It was a professional brass band that was founded in Jacksonville, Florida by Ira Koger and Willis Page. Over the years the band was conducted by Willis Page, Sam Fricano, Paul Chiaravelle, Don Zentz, Michael Davis, and Chris Creswell. At one time the band was the official band of the State of Florida and the City Jacksonville. I was fortunate to be principal trumpet/cornet of the band for 25 plus years. Plus I was the Assistant Conductor and Personnel Manager of the band for many years.
The band started off as a British style brass band and had many other components that were part of the St. Johns River City Band as the years went on.. Groups grew out of the core of the St. Johns River City Band members such as a Brass Quintet, Jazz Combo and a Big Band just to name a few. In addition the band would do educational concerts for the Jacksonville public schools The band was well versed in performing a variety of styles of music. As the years went on because of economics and other reasons it developed into a Big Band. I have played with all of these musicians in a variety of settings such as Big Bands to backing up a who's who of international musicians.(you name it we probably backed them up) Plus performing in broadway pit orchestras for national road tours, studio work, and in various symphonies.
As mentioned in my last produced video, this all started in challenging myself not to get stir crazy in this quarantine situation we find ourselves in. Plus to keep my chops in shape. The videos started with myself playing all parts in the very first video. Then progressed on to 4 musicians(Jax Brass), eight musicians(FCWS trumpet section), Ancient City Brass(10 Musicians) and now to a 17 piece big band.
The goal is to make these videos an effort to make up for those weekly rehearsals and various concerts my musician friends are missing due to the pandemic situation. This is an on going mission to do this not only with Community Performing Groups I perform with. But now starting to projects with my professional fellow musicians friends and colleagues such as this big band video.
Most society gigs we played for we always seemed to play Count Basie's The Queen Bee by Sammy Nestico. As you all know Sammy is such a great writer and really I have never played a bad chart written by him. Hope you enjoy this video. It is mainly made from cell phone video recordings and also for the first time having my friends record here at my home studio. Lots of fun, learned a lot more doing multitrack recording for the first time in my studio. Interesting mixing 17 tracks as well as video editing/mixing 17 videos. Took some time but hope you enjoy the outcome as much as we did making it!
Saxophones
Don Zentz - Alto
Nat Michelson - Alto
Bill Prince - Tenor and Soloist
Rob Chapman - Tenor
Matt Vance - Baritone Sax
Trombones
David Steinmeyer
Ryan Bricknell
Marc Dickman
Chris Creswell
Trumpets
Marvin Ferebee
JB Scott
David Champagne
Ace Martin
Rhythm Section
Doug Matthews - Piano
Ryan Dillahay - Guitar
Dennis Marks - Bass
Clyde Connor - Drums