Search Chicago Jazz
Jazz Calendar
Nikki George
The M Lounge
February 9th 2010
1520 S Wabash
Chicago, Ill 60605
Cost: $
Get More Info
Greta Pope
Tuscany Oak Brook
February 9th 2010
1415 West 22nd Street
Oak Brook, Ill 60521
Cost: no cover
Get More Info
Sidemen Big Band
Sidemen Big Band
Date Posted: April 22 2009
Written By: chicago jazz
|
 Bookmark it!
|
From the early age of 4 years in Southern California, Wendell started picking out notes (by ear) on his father’s old Baldwin upright piano. And by the time he entered into college he had played all the instruments in the Brass family.
He marched in his high school marching band on Tuba, played Baritone Horn in Concert band, French Horn in the Orchestra and Trumpet in the Jazz band. Trumpet stuck with him the most and he had started studying with some great teachers like Claude Gordon and Glen Stewart.
He has played for such artists as Harry Babbitt, the Lemon Sisters, The Dells, the Boxtops and the O’Jays. He has also played for many years in the Latin Scene with such Latin artists as Groupo Kaos, Michael Gabriel, Adalaberto Santiago, Jessica Christina and many local artists in the Chicagoland area.
Although he himself was considered a first call sideman, for several decades Wendell wanted his own Big Band Jazz group. Then in 2004 his dream came true. “When the Sidemen was put together we had roughly about 10 compositions in the book” said Wendell.
“For the first month or so we rehearsed those tunes so much we could play them without even looking at the music” and now many of the original members are still in the group and all of them have contributed songs for the book.
Also Wendell has been buying and trading with other band leaders worldwide, and he now boasts of having a book with about 2000 songs in it and another 4000 songs that he has not even had time to sort through yet!"
“Have you ever tried to play “In the mood” with only a Trumpet and Saxophone? The truth is the only way you can have the “sound” of the big band is to have the big band! I have several other smaller groups within the Sidemen including a trio, quartet, octet, 10 piece band and even Brass Choir or Flute Choir if needed!”
Wendell’s wife Lorrie Brenner, who can sing everything from Ella Fitzgerald to Doris Day, and vocalist Bob Duda, who brings back to life the vocals of Bobby Darin along with a little Dean and Frank!
So when you hire the Sidemen you get an all inclusive seat on a ride down memory lane, with all the songs that made the big band era so popular! It’s not just the songs that people want to remember, but the experience!
The Sidemen Big Band has several steady gigs (which for any big band is rare). They play the 2nd Friday of every month at Bill’s Blue’s Bar in Evanston on Davis Street and at Mangos Café and Bar in Niles on Milwaukee Ave. on the 2nd, 4th and 5th Thursdays of every month.
And starting May 24th (Sunday) they will also be hosting 2 Seniors Dinner/Dances a month on Sunday’s at Mango’s which will be featuring all the great Fox Trots, Waltzes, Tango’s and Rumba’s that your parents and grandparents used to dance to in the 40’s 50’s and 60’s But it is not just for Seniors, anyone who loves to dance to these sounds can come down.
This will include a great Mexican Dinner and a dance floor to “strut your stuff” for $20 per person. We are also involved with Jazz in the Parrish and several outdoor festivals a year. The best way to see where we are playing is to go to our website www.sidemenbigband.com to view our calendar and of course www.chicagojazz.com.
What is your Goal for the Band?
Well I really don’t think that any of us are in it for the money! (laugh!) But I have to reflect back on all of the bands that I have heard over the years either live or recorded, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Stan Kenton, Maynard Ferguson and any other big band that had performed or cut Vinyl. There is just something about 17 individuals combining their talents together to create an overall sound that just made you melt in your chair.
That is not something that can be reproduced electronically, it needs to be played live with Brass and Reeds and strings and Skins. My overall goal is to keep playing the songs to the best of my ability for all of the composers and artists that spent hours upon hours to create. And let all music lovers know that Jazz is truly “Alive and Well”
Don't miss anymore Chicago Jazz Information.
Subscribe to Chicago Jazz magazine / Get A Free CD.
Subscribe to our Chicago Jazz weekly newsletter.
|
|
