The Airmen of Note

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The Airmen of Note, 2018, DAR Hall, Washington D.C. Airmen of Note 2018 Official Photo.jpg
The Airmen of Note, 2018, DAR Hall, Washington D.C.

The Airmen of Note is a jazz ensemble that forms part of the United States Air Force Band. Created in 1950 to carry on the tradition of the Major Glenn Miller Army Air Forces Orchestra, the "Note" is a touring big band that consists of 18 professional jazz musicians. [1]

Contents

The band has presented jazz performances to audiences throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia and produces broadcasts and recordings, with one release, Cool Yule, reaching number two on the JazzWeek jazz album chart. [1] [2]

In 1954, the Airmen of Note played Miller's band in the movie The Glenn Miller Story . [3]

Musical style

The Glenn Miller sound has remained central, but the band adopted a more contemporary sound in the 1950s and 1960s largely due to staff arrangers such as Sammy Nestico. Over the past four decades, Mike Crotty and Alan Baylock have taken that role. To augment its writing staff, the Airmen of Note has commissioned works by Bob Florence, Bob Mintzer, Rob McConnell, and Bill Holman. Sammy Nestico and former band member Tommy Newsom have composed works for the group. [4] [5] The group took a further step in diversifying their sound in their 2019 album Global Reach, which featured tunes inspired by cultures from across the world. [6]

The Airmen of Note, 2013, U.S. Capitol, Washington D.C. The United States Air Force Band - Airmen of Note.jpg
The Airmen of Note, 2013, U.S. Capitol, Washington D.C.

Music education

Many of its members have backgrounds in music education. They lead clinics at high schools and colleges across the country and have been invited to perform at conventions such as the International Association of Jazz Educators, Music Educators National Conference, and The Midwest Clinic. [4] [7]

Guests

The Airmen of Note have recorded and performed with Allen Vizzutti, Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Williams, Sarah Vaughan and Nancy Wilson. In 1990, the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series, featuring the "Note" in concert with icons of jazz. Musicians that have joined the "Note" for the program include Al Jarreau, Clark Terry, Phil Woods, Kurt Elling, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Paquito D'Rivera, Nicholas Payton, Gordon Goodwin, and Karrin Allyson. Every year, the Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast over National Public Radio, independent jazz radio stations, satellite radio, and the internet. [8]

Discography

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Airmen of Note". Air Force Bands. United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 14 December 2024. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  2. ↑ ""Cool Yule" No. 2 on the charts!". Jazz T-Bone. Joe Jackson. January 2010. Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2025.
  3. ↑ Correll, John T. (1 November 2013). "Glenn Miller's Air Force Odyssey". Air & Space Forces Magazine. Archived from the original on 12 July 2024.
  4. 1 2 "The Airmen of Note". Kennedy Center. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  5. ↑ Pierce, Ed (11 November 2019) [Original date 2018-03-03]. "US Air Force 'Airmen of Note' to perform in Biddeford". Portland Press Herald. Portland, Maine. Archived from the original on 5 March 2025.
  6. ↑ Silver, Matt (20 May 2019). "Jazz Album of the Week: The U.S. Air Force's Airmen of Note On A Trip Around The World!". wrti.org. Archived from the original on 9 October 2024.
  7. ↑ "The Airmen of Note". jazzednet.org. Jazz Education Network. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016.
  8. ↑ "Air Force Bands > USAFBand > Events > National Tours > Airmen of Note". Air Force Bands. United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 21 February 2025.
  9. ↑ "Air Force Bands > Bands > The United States Air Force Band > Multimedia > Albums". Air Force Bands. United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 17 January 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
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