Back To James L Dean Orchestra Home Page

The JAMES L. DEAN BIG BAND

The JAMES L. DEAN BIG BAND is a highly versatile group that plays a wide variety of styles ranging from 40's swing to rock standards to show band performances with stars.  The band has performed in various clubs in New Jersey including:

• Solari's Restaurant; Hackensack, NJ
• Nick's Oak Room; Carlstadt, NJ
• Fair Lawn Memorial Park; Fair Lawn, NJ
• Tierney's Tavern (monthly on the 3rd Sunday night, 8 years); Montclair, NJ
• Jason's Pub; Belmar, NJ
• The Cotillion; Garfield, NJ
• Robyn's Supper Club; Elmwood, NJ
• The Brownstone House; Paterson, NJ
• Cedar Grove Inn; Cedar Grove, NJ
• The Palace; Boundbrook, NJ
• The Gate House; West Orange, NJ
• The Old Mill Inn; Spring Lake, NJ
• Whiskey Cafe'; Lyndhurst, NJ
• Crossroads Club; Garwood, NJ

Additionally, the JAMES L. DEAN BIG BAND has performed special show performances with:Claudio Roditi (trumpet), George Coleman (tenor sax virtuoso), Marlene VerPlanck, Jerry Vale, Sol Yaged, Julie Budd, and Mike Vax. (world renowned jazz educator,  trumpeter, and leader of the Stan Kenton Alumni Band).

Performing in the Band from time to time, have been renounded greats including: Spanky Davis, Muzzy (sax), Joe Cocuzzo (Rosemary Clooney's drummer), Ronnie Zito, Bill Crow, Eddie Montiero, Jack Gale, Vinnie Correo, and Johnny Bello.  These men have graced the orchestras of Frank Sinatra and Benny Goodman to Maynard Ferguson!

Special Programs of the James L. Dean Big Band:

• A tribute to Benny Goodman/Artie Shaw.
• Salute to Frank Sinatra (Van Martin vocal).
• Tribute to Glenn Miller/Tommy Dorsey.
• The many 'Facets' of the Blues (swing).
• Salute to Duke Ellington/Count Basie.
• Tribute to Stan Keaton/Boyd Rayburn.
• Contemporary Jazz orchestra favorites (Thad Jones, Buddy Rich, Dizzy Gillespie).
• The James L. Dean Orchestra presents Rio Clements (piano & vibes); a variety of contemporary, jazz, and orchestra styles.
• A tribute to Woody Herman
• Carrie Jackson Show

The JAMES L. DEAN BIG BAND has been favorably mentioned and acclaimed in reviews by George Kanzler of the Newark Star Ledger, Don Diario of the Evening Herald, the Cedar Grove Times, and the Montclair Times.

"Playing this music well is an accomplishment, but making it come alive, as the Dean band did, made it truly special..."
Page Eighteen

"We have had many bands over the years, but you get the vote for BEST band ... a great sound and wonderfully performed!..."
County of Bergen Department of Parks

Back To James L Dean Orchestra Home Page