Founded in 1975, in the last few decades the exciting Compaq Big Band has risen to prominence throughout New England as one of the most accomplished full-size big bands in the region, featuring a cookin’ rhythm section and 14 horns that achieve an ultra-tight sound, led by terrific instrumental soloists. To complement this high-energy ensemble, they showcase a rotation of Greater Boston’s best jazz vocalists, with the entire band ultra-focused on show technical production quality

 

The Compaq Big Band’s ‘book’ is one of the best in the Northeast. While certainly faithful to traditional Swing Era classics when programming vintage swing dances and galas, for concert/club gigs they really dig their chops into challenging swing and jazz arrangements popularized by the most approachable yet progressive big bands of the last five decades – think Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Buddy Rich, Stan Kenton, Maynard Ferguson, Tom Kubis, Gordon Goodwin, Chris Walden, and more.  And for vocal tunes, they perform many charts as originally sung by Ella Fitzgerald, Diane Schuur, Natalie Cole, Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble, and many other greats.

 

Among their many accomplishments, the band has produced and opened two shows of Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, performed several times with legendary jazz trumpet virtuoso Wayne Bergeron as their guest, visited the United Kingdom on a 10-day/7-gig tour, headlined New Hampshire Magazine’s “Best of New Hampshire” galas multiple times, produced two commercial CDs, and performed to many sold-out concert audiences at iconic Greater Boston music venues such as City Winery, Regattabar at the Charles Hotel, Scullers Jazz Club, and Ryles Jazz Club. The band is busy year-round, gigging at commercial and collegiate swing dances, nonprofit/charity fundraisers, weddings and private celebrations, theaters, jazz clubs, multi-jazz band nights at area high schools, arts festivals, outdoor summer concerts, and more.