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Little Big Band

About Me

SKIP SPIRO Trumpet/Flugelhorn/Valve Trombone/Bandleader Skip Spiro is a musician because he loves to play. And if enthusiasm is infectious (and by the way, it is...), then get ready to catch an amazing show of big band music, old and new. Spiro is originally from New York where the family musical gene was passed on from grandmother Rose (piano teacher) to father Stan (saxophonist and bandleader) to son Skip (trumpeter, flugelhornist, valve trombonist). At the age of 13, Skip was the youngest musician to be admitted to the Stan Kenton Summer Jazz Clinics at the University Of Connecticut. It was there that he was selected to play lead trumpet with the Herb Pomeroy Orchestra. At the age of 14 Skip put together his first band, a 15 piece jazz ensemble. Skip Spiro and The Rhythm Kings Orchestra went on to appear on The Merry Mailman and Chubby Jackson local New York television shows, as well as NBCs The Merv Griffin Show. Spiro continued as a very busy bandleader throughout high school playing weddings, jazz clubs, high school proms, and local beach clubs, appearing several times with jazz legend Maynard Ferguson. At the University of Massachusetts, Skip once again formed a large jazz ensemble that became very much in demand touring the New England area and was regularly featured on the UMass radio station WMUA. Over the years, Skip has continued as an active musician on the West Coast, having appeared with Spiral Staircase, Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers, The Wolfman Jack Show, and Tina Turner. Todays current version of the Skip Spiro Band is in the form of a Little Big Band. Comprised of 2 trumpets, 1 trombone, 3 saxes, and traditional rhythm section, the Little Big Band is big enough to put out a big band sound, yet small enough to allow for each player in the band to express his or her individual creativity. Skip sums it up by saying, Ive never had more fun with a band than I am now. Each of the players in the group are extremely accomplished ensemble players as well as being very exciting soloists. And beyond that, they are just great people to work with. Wherever we appear, I believe that kind of group enthusiasm really comes through.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 23/04/2006
Influences: Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Maynard Ferguson, Charles Mingus, Art Blakey, Artie Shaw, Louis Armstrong, Stan Kenton, Slide Hampton, Stan Spiro, John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Clifford Brown, The Beatles, Art Farmer, Frank Sinatra, Freddie Hubbard, Blood Sweat & Tears, Johnny Hodges, Bill Chase, Woody Herman, Buddy Rich, Don Ellis
Sounds Like: LITTLE BIG BAND REHEARSAL "COUNT BASIE MEDLEY"LITTLE BIG BAND REHEARSAL "FOCAL POINT"LITTLE BIG BAND REHEARSAL "FIRST SIGHT"MAYNARD FERGUSON: A PEEK BEHIND THE SCENES
Type of Label: Major

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