While many jazz fans think of the "big band" as an outdated relic, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra has become a force to be reckoned with in a genre that is dominated by small groups, and they are making their way to the Wisconsin Union Theater this Saturday.
The group was founded as the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra in 1966, and performed as the house band of the Village Vanguard Club in New York City.
The band has underwent two major transitions: one in 1978 when Jones moved to Denmark, and the other when Lewis passed away in 1990. The group rebranded itself as the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, acquired new management, and soldiered on.
The composer plays a vital role in the modern big band; in an era where the big band is a thing of the past, coming up with new and inventive arrangements is just as important as the skill of the musicians.
In a phone interview with director John Mosca, a trombone player by trade, he attributed much of the band's success to the innovative arranging.
"The music itself is the star of the show," he said. "I don't think there's another book of music like this since Duke Ellington."
The band has performed continuously since its inception. As with any group that has been performing for as long as they have, the VJO has had its share of mishaps.
"At the Village Vanguard one time, there was a driving rainstorm," Mosca recalled. "A truck backed onto the sidewalk, breaking a grill, and water started pouring onto the band. Of course, that's where all the electrical boxes are, so it was a pretty bad scramble at that point."
Although the Village Vanguard holds a lot of memories for Mosca, he feels that it is also beneficial to "stretch out" and explore some new territory, such as their newfound success in Japan.
"In Japan, there's a pretty unique level of appreciation that the audience has," he said. "When we go there for four days, we do eight shows, and a lot of [the audience goes] to every show. Their dedication to the music is really something else."
In addition to performances and recording, the VJO established a nonprofit music development and education group called Sixteen as One Music, Inc. In addition to providing "world-wide performances, workshops, lectures and symposia about jazz and related musical genres," the group is also involved in jazz history preservation.
The VJO most recently won a Grammy Award in 2008 with the album Monday Night Live at the Village Vanguard.
Based on their humble beginnings and transitions over the past 45 years and more, Mosca still finds the band's success as a pleasant surprise.
"What no one could have predicted was that the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra would become one of the most acclaimed and innovative big bands in jazz history," he said.
Catch the ensemble live at the Wisconsin Union Theater on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 8 p.m. Student tickets are $10 with the presentation of a school ID and ticket prices range from $25-38 for the general public.
