Austin Big Band hitting Legion stage
Published 10:28 am Wednesday, November 23, 2016
- Bradley Carlton sings during a song played by the Austin Big Band, a 17-piece jazz band that features musicians from southern Minnesota and northern Iowa Saturday at the Riverland Community College 75th anniversary gala at Northbridge Mall. Carlton said he has been a member of the band for nine years. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune
Tradition will continue tonight when the Austin Big Band takes the stage at the American Legion Club in Austin.
It will mark the 20th year the 17-member band has played at the annual Thanksgiving Eve dance. The band will play tonight from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
The band has been around since 1994, said band leader Nathan Wradislavsky, when the late Henry Charles brought together a band of musicians, some of whom were active during the Big Band era.
Members began to meet at the old American Legion clubrooms and began playing a few events around Austin, Wradislavsky said.
“I began playing with the band casually in 1994 when a saxophone instructor of mine invited me to sit in,” he said. “It was an interesting atmosphere for a high school student. I would rejoin the group on 2007, after many of the original members had retired. After playing a couple gigs in Austin we decided to take the band to the next step and organize a bit. We have been enjoying playing throughout southern Minnesota and northern Iowa since.”
On average the band performs eight to 10 gigs a year “with our busiest year booking 24 gigs,” he said. “Almost all members have other full-time jobs, so playing that much is a bit of an accomplishment.”
The band began playing the Thanksgiving Eve dance when the Legion relocated to its current building 20 years ago. It was originally an event for the Legion members but has since been opened to the public. While dancing is encouraged, there are plenty of people who come to enjoy a night out with friends and family while listening to the band.
The band will also perform around Austin for the holiday season. The band will play from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the annual Holiday Cars Open House on Saturday, Dec. 3 and from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Hormel Historic Home on Saturday Dec. 17, as an addition to the Christmas at Home event at the Paramount Theater that day. The Hormel event will feature some special guest singers. Tickets for the event are available through the Hormel Historic Home.
For more information on the band, visit its Facebook page or see their website; www.Austinbigband.com.
