ALAMOSA – The SLV Big Band is slated to perform a Veterans Day Concert on Saturday, November 10, at 7 p.m. in Richardson Auditorium on the ASU campus.  The concert is free and open to the public.

In honor of Veterans Day, the concert will include a combination of patriotic numbers and also a number of big-band arrangements of nostalgic songs that can be associated with each of America’s military conflicts beginning with WWII. This includes the original arrangement of Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree  made famous by the Andrew Sisters in WWII – to classic hits like Fly Me to the Moon – to more contemporary jazz tunes like Out of the Doghouse  that have appeal to veterans from more recent conflicts.  There will also be a medley of Armed Forces songs in which all veterans of the Coast Guard, Army, Air Force, Marines, and Navy will be asked to stand and be recognized for their service. 

“Performing a Veteran’s Day concert to honor those who have served our country is a tradition of the SLV Big Band,” said Loren Buss, bass player and board member of the SLV Big Band. 

Dr. Kerry Hart, director of the SLV Big Band said, “In addition to some of the traditional patriotic numbers, there will be new songs performed this year with added authenticity. This includes some female vocalists on several numbers such as Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree, Beyond the Sea, and a sing along with the audience on America the Beautiful.” 

Buss said, “The Veterans Day performance by the SLV Big Band tends to be a well-attended event, a popular event for the community, and for many veterans, it is the highlight of the year.”

The members of the SLV Big Band include Loren Buss on bass, Kevin Rice on guitar, Allen Stuart-Heltzel on piano, and Alex Youngbird (sitting in for Matt Hurst) on drums. Saxophones include Nate Jennings, Anita Olme-Cranson, Matt Wellman, Will Henninger and Curtis West. Trumpets include Randy Carroll, Bob Mattive, Susan Storm, Lin Warwick and Michael Busch. Trombones include Dave Hinkley, Erich Schwiesow, John Noriega and Peter Wise. The vocalists are Tita Louise Martinez, Kayla O’Leary, Amelie Pacheco, Rian Carrillora and Alonna Younger.  Carillora and Younger are current vocal students at ASU. 

Hart noted that the SLV Big Band is comprised of some of the best jazz musicians living in the Valley.  “Honoring our veterans with a performance by a musical organization known for its quality and excellence is the best we can do to recognize those who have served our country. It is an honor for the SLV Big Band to perform in this venue,” Hart said.

While the concert is free and open to the public, veterans are particularly invited to attend this event to be recognized and honored.