The Main Stem Orchestra is a 14-piece band on a mission to recreate the great swing music from the years 1935 through 1945. The group performs big band dance music that was born on the heels of the early traditional jazz bands, but predates the rise of Bebop in the late 1940’s.

Focused on authenticity, the Main Stem Orchestra works from an extensive library of vintage arrangements encompassing the swing era’s most prolific bands and composers. With a deep respect for the music, the group utilizes period correct instrumentation and techniques to faithfully reproduce a sound that is as close to the original as possible. With a driving desire for excellence, the group features a top-notch ensemble, which draws on some of Chicago’s most-respected jazz talent.