Big Band

We're in the midst of a "swing" revival that's sweeping clubs and dance halls across the country, as a new generation discovers the vibrant, rhythmic precision of the classic jazz style of the 1930s. On the other hand, you can't revive something that never died. And as jazz aficionados know, sleek, graceful, joyously syncopated numbers such as "One O'Clock Jump," "Jumpin' at the Woodside," "Sent for You Yesterday" and other epic standards composed by the immortal Count Basie have never left the repertoire since coming to artistic life some six decades ago. Now, 16 years after Basie's death, his extraordinary orchestra is still going strong.

Under a dusky summer sky in a North Baltimore courtyard, everyday sounds of human voices in the Village of Cross Keys gave way to "Call Me Irresponsible," played by Baltimore's Big Band. When the band launched into "That Old Black Magic" by Harold Arlen, a listener stirred at the melody coming from the 80-year-old trumpeter in the back right corner of the 18-piece band. "That's Tanglefoot playing right now," said Don Arnold, a musician himself. "Sounds nice." Roy "Tanglefoot" McCoy, senior member of this municipal recreation and parks group, is probably one of the few active trumpet players in the year 2000 who can say he once played with Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole and Lionel Hampton, all at the Royal Theater in its heyday.

THE BALTIMORE Symphonic Band will be featured June 25 in the opening performance of the Concerts in the Park series at Linthicum Park. The group, which also appeared in last year's series, was formed as a community band in 1983 by Peabody Conservatory graduate Christopher Wolfe, associate professor of music at Essex Community College and member of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's clarinet section. The band numbers 50 to 60 musicians recruited in the metropolitan area, ranging in age from 16 to 80 - but with most in their 40s and 50s. Its play list includes show tunes and big band and patriotic music.

Amedio J. "Mimmie" Lorenzo Sr., whose Pulaski Highway nightclub was a popular venue for bands and entertainers during the 1950s, died Sunday of liver failure at Franklin Square Hospital Center. He was 85 and lived at Martin's Glen, an Essex assisted-living facility. Mr. Lorenzo, a former Bank Street barber turned saloon keeper, purchased his first bar, Mimmie's Musical Bar, at Eastern Avenue and Conkling Street in 1945. There, he kept his customers amused with the musical antics of Mimmie's Hell Cats, a trio.

Stardom in pop music, as elsewhere in the entertainment world, is to a certain extent all about image. Think of Bruce Springsteen, and you imagine a workingman's rock star, all honest sweat and no-frills integrity. Thnink of Eric Clapton, on the other hand, and what comes up is the noble suffering of a man who truly does have the right to sing the blues.But what image appears when we think of Phil Collins? Is it the cheerfully entertaining showman who led Genesis through such hits as "Invisible Touch"?

Clarinetist Albin Grden doesn't know much about the finances of Baltimore's Municipal Concert Band these days. But he does know one thing:In 1952, when he began playing, the paycheck from the band was his best source of summer income. This year, with fewer concerts to play, his retirement check plays that role.For 23 dates this year, the city's Concert Band and Big Band continue carrying on a tradition from more than a century ago. The two bands -- the Concert Band plays traditional music such as marches, while the Big Band offers more contemporary music -- perform around the city.

Clarinetist Albin Grden doesn't know much about the finances of Baltimore's Municipal Concert Band these days. But he does know one thing:In 1952, when he began playing, the paycheck from the band was his best source of summer income. This year, with fewer concerts to play, his retirement check plays that role.Yet, for 23 concert dates this year, the city's Concert Band and Big Band continue carrying on a tradition from more than a century ago. The two bands -- the concert one playing traditional music such as marches, with the Big Band offering more contemporary music -- perform around the city.

FIVE DECADES after the big band industry faded away, America is dancing to swing again. But instead of Benny Goodman or Artie Shaw, the bandstands feature the likes of Royal Crown Revue, Cherry Poppin' Daddies and Brian Setzer.The Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey ghost bands still entertain the geriatric set on tours and ocean cruises. Contemporary zoot-suiters and bobby-soxers, though, prefer a jumpier style, one that mixes rock with Count Basie and Louis Jordan.This retro-swing movement started on the West Coast nearly a decade ago. This year, thanks to MTV and a Gap commercial, the craze hit the East Coast in a big way.The composition of a retro-swing orchestra is not very different from a 1930s big band.

Not for nothing do the jazz musicians of Diva refer to themselves as "No Man's Band."For, defying stereotypes, all of the 15 members of this New York-based, hard-swinging big band are women.Led by drummer Sherrie Maricle, Diva will bring its varied repertoire and zest for music to the Severna Park High School auditorium at 8 p.m. today under the auspices of the Anne Arundel Community Concert Association.The idea for this ensemble, which has been known to mix standards like "Caravan" and "Stardust" with novelties like "Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead," came from Stanley Kay, a former manager and relief drummer for the Buddy Rich Big Band.

When Jason Moss was in high school, playing in a blues rock band, his grand-father worried that the young guitarist was wasting his time. "When's Jason going to get into a real band, a big band, when this rock thing blows over?" Grandpa complained to Moss' mother.These days, his grandfather couldn't be prouder. Moss is one of the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, a Seattle-based swing-revival band whose current album, "Zoot Suit Riot," became a Top-20 hit after the title track became a staple on MTV."