The Flying Squid Battalion, after performing at Carnegie Hall and Fillmore East, West, and North, embarked on a tour of Europe, Asia, Scandinavia, Australia, the Pacific Ocean, Antarctica, and Saturn. In its illustrious 50-year career, the band has performed for the Queen of England, President Reagan, the Prime Minister of Japan, Pope John Paul II, President Lincoln, and Julius Caesar.
...or not.
Actually, the Flying Squid Battalion, under the leadership of wind doubler Paul Morelli, is a new band devoted to playing great dance music of all kinds. We perform swing music from the big band era through the modern era, along with soul and rock classics. What sets us apart from other bands that play swing is that we are only half the size (an 8-piece instead of a 17-piece). Because our wind players double and our charts are carefully crafted, we get more sound out of fewer musicians. What sets us apart from other bands playing soul music is that we have a full horn section and can perform those tunes more authentically.
The Flying Squid Battalion has performed to rave reviews for Red Hot Lindy Hop swing dances at the Gallery Ballroom and St. Peter’s Church and for swing night at Celeste Dance Club. Our high-energy shows and ability to play a variety of styles made those nights memorable for the dancers. Because we appeal to every generation, FSB will make your event much more fun as well.
Paul Morelli has been playing gigs in Memphis since 2001, playing various wind instruments with such ensembles as the Jimmy Dorsey orchestra, the Memphis Hepcats, Memphis Jazz Orchestra, Joyce Cobb, and the Soul Outsiders. You can hear Paul on recordings by Squirrel Nut Zippers frontman James Mathus, Third Man, the Black Diamond Heavies, Jumpback Jake, and Lightnin’ Malcolm, most of which feature his horn arrangments also.
Here is our always-growing set list (we can also learn any tune a client requests):
Alexander’s Ragtime Band (dixieland standard)
All the Things You Are (standard)
Almost Like Being in Love (standard)
And Sometimes Y (jump-swing original)
At Last (Etta James)
Autumn Leaves (standard)
Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen (standard)
Besame Mucho (Latin standard)
Beyond the Sea (standard)
Big Bird (Eddie Floyd)
Bluesette (Toots Thielman)
Body and Soul (Benny Goodman)
Caravan (Duke Ellington)
Chester Cheapskate (cool jazz original)
The Chicken (Jaco Pastorius)
Cissy Strut (The Meters)
Cleo’s Mood (Willie Mitchell)
Cold Duck Time (Eddie Harris)
Corner Pocket (Freddie Green)
Cry Me a River (standard)
Don’t Get Around Much Anymore (Duke Ellington)
C Jam Blues (Duke Ellington)
Evil Octopus Dance (fusion original)
Fade (Latin ballad original)
Fantasy (Earth, Wind, and Fire)
Fly Me to the Moon (standard)
Go Daddy-O (Big Bad Voodoo Daddy)
Green Onions (Booker T and the MGs)
Hexadecimal Shuffle (blues original)
Hold On, I’m Coming (Sam and Dave)
I Get a Kick out of You (standard)
I Wish (Stevie Wonder)
I’ll Be Around (The Spinners)
Impressions (John Coltrane)
In the Mood (Glenn Miller)
It’s All Right With Me (standard)
Killer Joe (standard)
Knock on Wood (Eddie Floyd)
Lullabye of Birdland (Ella Fitzgerald)
Moondance (Van Morrison)
Moonlight Serenade (Glenn Miller)
Night Train (standard)
No One Knows My Plan (They Might Be Giants)
Orange Colored Sky (standard)
Over You (Lynn Cardona)
Pass the Peas (Maceo Parker)
Putting on the Ritz (standard)
Satin Doll (Duke Ellington)
Save Your Love for Me (standard)
Sing, Sing, Sing (Benny Goodman)
Snowjive (swing original)
So What (Miles Davis)
Sugar (Stanley Turrentine)
Superbone Meets the Bad Man (Maynard Ferguson)
Woodchopper’s Ball (Woody Herman)
Zoot Suit Riot (Cherry Popping Daddies)
MyGen
Profile Generator
