Support Your Local Big Band! 50 States in 50 Days! THE LIST!!!!

Goodday, everyone!

I've decided to follow-up to my "Support Your Local Big Band" series that I have been posting on Facebook.  This series showcases a different local big band from a different region or territory on an almost daily basis (I say almost, because after the first series, I haven't been keeping up with it as dilligently).

I am a HUGE fan of large ensemble jazz music, as I believe that it is the jazz musician's version of the symphony orchestra, having evolved and developed into it over time from its beginnings in popular dance music.

Territory bands during the big band era were confined to their hometown and surrounding region, and today that is the extent of most big bands that are currently active.

This list shows that there is AT LEAST one band in each of the 50 United States (as well as in Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico), and I have included a link to each band's website, if indeed they have one.  I have limited it to professional, semi-pro, amateur, and community bands rather than emphasize student groups (high school, college, university).  That will likely be another list.

This is no doubt an incomplete list, as there are likely still so many bands out there that I can't even fathom.

So, brace yourselves!  Here is the United States of Big Band:


(UPDATE, 29 June 2016:  Thornapple Jazz Orchestra is based out of Michigan NOT Tennessee.  Special thanks to Howard Lamb for the correction.  UPDATE 20 July 2016:  Added David Berger, Maria Schneider and Pedro Giraudo to New York, NYC)

Alabama- Magic City Jazz Orchestra https://www.facebook.com/Magic-City-Jazz-Orchestra-153006333233/

                        Rocket City Jazz Orchestra http://www.rocketcityjazz.org/

Alaska- Fairbanks Community Jazz Band http://communityband.org/

            Anchorage Jazz Ensemble http://www.v3.alaskasp.com/2/2/default.aspx

Arizona- Mesa Jazz Orchestra https://www.facebook.com/Mesa-Jazz-Orchestra-150584674966295/

                        Arizona Jazz Masterworks Orchestra http://www.fredforney.com/ajmo.php

                        Superstition Jazz Orchestra https://www.facebook.com/Superstition-Jazz-Orchestra-323427297668841/info/?entry_point=page_nav_about_item&tab=page_info

Arkansas- Arkansas Jazz Orchestra http://www.arkansasjazzorchestra.com/

California (Bay Area)- Rockville Roadkill Big Band https://www.facebook.com/RockvilleRoadkillBigBand

                        Contemporary Jazz Orchestra http://www.alexbudman.com/cjo/

                        Sacramento Jazz Orchestra http://www.sacjazzorchestra.com/

                        Ernie Smalls Big Band

California (Central Valley)- Fresno Jazz Composers Orchestra http://www.jazzfresno.org/content/view/129/

California (L.A.)- Mike Barone Big Band http://www.mikebaronemusic.com/mike-barone-big-band.html

                        Charles Rutherford Pacific Jazz Orchestra

                        Los Angeles Jazz Orchestra Unlimited

                        Elliot Deutsch Big Band http://www.edbigband.com/

                        Wiseguys Big Band http://www.wiseguysbigband.com/

                        Chris Walden Big Band http://www.chriswalden.com/

                        Tom Kubis Big Band http://www.tomkubis.com/

                        Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band http://www.bigphatband.com/

California (South)- Coronado Big Band https://www.facebook.com/Coronadobigband/

Colorado- John Akal’s Ultraphonic Jazz Orchestra http://www.ultraphonicjazz.com/

Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra http://metropolitanjazzorchestra.com/

Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra http://www.coloradojazz.org/

Brad Goode’s Colorado Big Band http://www.bradgoode.com/

Pete Olstad/Bob Montgomery Big Band

Colorado Composers Big Band http://www.coloradocomposersbigband.com/

Connecticut- Hartford Jazz Orchestra http://www.hartfordjazzorchestra.com/

Delaware- Rhythm Doctors Big Band http://www.rhythmdoctors.org/

Florida- Helios Jazz Orchestra http://heliosjazzorchestra.blogspot.com/

            Gulf Coast Big Band http://gulfcoastbigband.com/

            South Florida Jazz Orchestra http://southfloridajazzorchestra.org/

            Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge http://www.chuckowen.com/about/jazz-surge/

            Naples Jazz Orchestra http://www.naplesjazzorchestra.com/

Georgia- Jazz Orchestra Atlanta http://www.orchestraatlanta.org/

            Atlanta Swing Orchestra http://www.atlantaswing.org/

            Joe Gransden Big Band http://www.joegransden.com/

            Georgia Big Band http://georgiabigband.4t.com/

Hawaii-Aaron Arinita Big Band https://www.facebook.com/aranitabigband

Chop Suey Jazz Orchestra http://chopsueyjazz.weebly.com/

PBS Big Band http://www.honolulujazzscene.com/index.php?i=F&id=48

Idaho-Boise Modern Jazz Orchestra http://boisemodernjazzorchestra.weebly.com/

            Swing Street Big Band http://www.swingstreetbigband.com/

Illinois (State)- Moonlight Jazz Orchestra http://www.moonlightjazz.com/

Central Illinois Jazz Orchestra http://www.peoriajazz.com/home.php?section_lvl=website_artist&sub_lvl=profile&artist_id=2004051714593840a919aa50650

Illinois (Chicago)- Great Postmodern Nightmare https://www.facebook.com/greatpostmodernnightmare

Chicago Jazz Orchestra http://www.chicagojazzorchestra.org/

Orbert Davis’ Chicago Jazz Philharmonic http://www.chicagojazzphilharmonic.org/

Shout Section Big Band http://www.shoutsection.com/

The Jazz Consortium Big Band http://www.jcbigband.com/

Chicago Grandstand Big Band http://www.chicagograndstandbigband.com/

Bill O’Connell’s Chicago Skyliners http://chicagoskylinersbigband.com/

Indiana- Indianapolis Jazz Orchestra http://www.indianapolisjazzorchestra.org/

Iowa- Des Moines Big Band http://www.desmoinesbigband.com/

            Jazzed Up Big Band https://www.facebook.com/jazzedupbigband/

High Society Big Band http://www.highsocietybigband.com/

Turner Center Jazz Orchestra http://www.turnercenterjazzorchestra.org/

Kansas- Topeka Big Band http://www.topekabigband.org/

            Topeka Jazz Workshop Band http://www.topekajazz.com/content/

Kentucky- Swing Street Big Band https://www.facebook.com/SwingStreetBigBand/

Louisiana- Port City Big Band http://www.portcitybigband.com/

            New Orleans Jazz Orchestra http://thenojo.com/

Maine- Portland Jazz Orchestra http://www.portlandjazzorchestra.com/

Maryland- Station North Jazz Orchestra

            Annapolis Junction Big Band http://annapolisjunctionbigband.com/

Massachusetts- Aardvark Jazz Orchestra http://www.aardvarkjazz.com/

                        Beantown Swing Orchestra http://beantownswing.com/

                        Thinkin’ Big Band http://www.thinkinbigband.com/Thinkin_Big_Band/Welcome.html

Michigan- TnT Big Band http://tntbigband.com/

            Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra http://www.grjo.com/

            Motor City Jazz Orchestra http://motorcityjazzorchestra.com/

            The Metro Detroit Jazz Orchestra https://www.facebook.com/metrodetroitjazzorchestra/

            Thornapple Jazz Orchestra http://thornapplejazzorchestra.yolasite.com/

Minnesota- Cedar Ave. Big Band http://www.cedaravenuebigband.com/

            Jazz MN Orchestra http://www.jazzmn.org/

            Swing Street Big Band http://swingstreetonline.com/

            Minnesota Jazz Orchestra http://www.minnesotajazzorchestra.com/aboutmjo.php

            Nova Contemporary Jazz Orchestra http://www.novajazz.net/

            The Wolverines Big Band http://www.wolverinesbigband.com/

Mississippi- Coast Big Band http://www.coastbigband.com/

Missouri- Dave Dickey Big Band http://www.jazzstl.org/experience/artists/dave-dickey-big-band/

            Missouri Jazz Orchestra https://www.facebook.com/Missouri-Jazz-Orchestra-MOJO-262483519235/

            Kansas City Boulevard Big Band

            Kansas City Jazz Orchestra http://www.kcjazzorchestra.org/

Montana- Ed Norton Big Band http://ednortonbigband.com/

Nebraska- Nebraska Jazz Orchestra http://www.artsincorporated.org/njo/

Mike Gurciullo’s Las Vegas Lab Band http://www.goochbigband.com/

Omaha Big Band http://www.afmentertainment.org/groups/524-omaha-big-band

Nevada- Reno Jazz Orchestra http://renojazzorchestra.org/

            Nevada Jazz Orchestra http://www.barryrossmusic.com/#!about/cjg9

New Hampshire- Seacoast Big Band https://www.facebook.com/SeacoastBigBand

                        Compaq Big Band http://www.compaqbigband.com/about.php

New Jersey- Monday Blues Jazz Orchestra http://www.mondaybluesjazz.com/

New Mexico- Albuquerque Jazz Orchestra http://www.albuquerquejazzorchestra.com/

New York (Upstate)- Western New York Jazz Orchestra https://www.reverbnation.com/westernnewyorkjazzorchestra

Rochester Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra http://www.rocjazz.com/director-vocals

Empire Jazz Orchestra http://www.albanyjazz.com/musicians/empirejazzorchestra.html

New York (NYC)- Vanguard Jazz Orchestra http://www.vanguardjazzorchestra.com/

                        Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra http://www.jazz.org/JLCO/

                        Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society http://www.secretsocietymusic.org/#&panel1-1

Seth Weaver Big Band http://www.sethweavermusic.com/

New York Jazz Repertory Orchestra https://www.facebook.com/BillWarfield/

                        Interplay Jazz Orchestra http://www.interplayjazzorchestra.com/

                        DIVA Jazz Orchestra http://divajazz.com/

                         David Berger Jazz Orchestra http://www.davidbergerjazz.com/

Pedro Giraudo Big Band http://www.pedrogiraudo.com/

                        Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra http://www.mariaschneider.com/  
North Carolina- North Carolina Jazz Repertory Orchestra http://www.ncjro.org/

                        Piedmont-Triad Jazz Orchestra http://www.ptjazzorchestra.com/meettheband/index.html

North Dakota- Fargo/Morehead Kicks Big Band http://www.fmkicksband.com/

Ohio- Toledo Jazz Orchestra http://toledojazz.org/

                        Cleveland Jazz Orchestra http://www.clevelandjazz.org/

                        Columbus Jazz Orchestra http://www.jazzartsgroup.org/columbus-jazz-orchestra/

                        Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra http://www.cincinnatijazz.org/

Oklahoma- OKC Jazz Orchestra http://okcjazzorchestra.com/

                        Sounds of Music Orchestra Big Band http://www.soundsbigband.com/

Oregon- NoPo Big Band http://nopobigband.com/

            Southern Oregon Jazz Orchestra https://sojazzorchestra.com/

Pennsylvania- Unforgettable Big Band http://unforgettablebigband.com/

                        Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra http://pjopgh.org/

                        Philadelphia Jazz Orchestra http://www.philajazzorch.com/

                        Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia http://www.jophilly.org/

                        Brian Pastor Big Band http://www.brianpastorbigband.com/

Rhode Island- John Allmark Jazz Orchestra https://www.facebook.com/Johnallmarkjazzorchestra/

South Carolina- Charleston Jazz Orchestra http://jazzartistsofcharleston.org/cjo/

South Dakota- Sioux Falls Big Band

Tennessee- Memphis Jazz Orchestra https://www.facebook.com/MemphisJazzOrchestra/

                        Nashville Jazz Orchestra http://www.nashvillejazzorchestra.org/

                        Tyler Mire Big Band http://www.tylermiremusic.com/?page_id=1070

Texas (DFW)- Pecos River Brass http://www.pecosriverbrass.com/band/

                        Rebel Alliance Jazz Ensemble https://www.facebook.com/rebelallianceband/

                        Dallas Jazz Orchestra

                        Galen Jeter’s Dallas Jazz Orchestra https://www.facebook.com/DallasJazzOrchestra/info/?entry_point=page_nav_about_item&tab=page_info

                        Les Elgert Jazz Orchestra

                        Basically Basie Big Band

                        Shelley Carrol/ Brad Leali Big Band http://www.nichelsonentertainment.com/shelley_carrolbrad_leali_big_band/

                        Adonis Roses’s Ft. Worth Jazz Orchestra http://artandseek.org/calendar/organization/1183/fort-worth-jazz-orchestra

                        The Official Texas Jazz Orchestra

                        Kris Berg Metroplexity Big Band http://krisbergjazz.com/Home_Page.html

                        Keith Karns Big Band http://keithkarnsmusic.com/big-band

Texas (Austin and Central)- Nacho Average Jazz Orchestra http://najo.org/

                        Waco Jazz Orchestra http://www.wacojazzorchestra.com/index.html

Texas (West)-   Swing Street Big Band http://www.wintertexaninfo.com/Bands/Swingstband.html

Texas (Houston)- Houston Jazz Orchestra

Utah- Wasatch Jazz Project http://www.wasatchjazzproject.com/b2u1vekpqo1mylvytyt9n982li4bqm

Vermont- Vermont Jazz Ensemble https://www.facebook.com/vermontjazzensemble/

Virginia- Central Virginia Jazz Orchestra http://www.cvjazz.com/

Washington- Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra http://swojo.org/

                        Emerald City Jazz Orchestra https://www.facebook.com/Emerald-City-Jazz-Orchestra-232096894012/

                        Bob Curnow’s Spokane Big Band http://www.bobcurnowbigband.com/

West Virginia- West Virginia Jazz Orchestra https://www.facebook.com/WestVirginiaJazzOrchestra/

Wisconsin- Madison Jazz Orchestra http://www.madisonjazzorchestra.com/

            Brew City Big Band http://www.brewcitybigband.com/

            Milwaukee Jazz Orchestra

Wyoming- Yellowstone Big Band

            Big Horn Big Band https://www.facebook.com/Big-Horn-Big-Band-117208248290642/

Puerto Rico- Humberto Ramierez Jazz Orchestra https://www.facebook.com/Humberto-Ramirez-Jazz-Orchestra-36521558108/

Washington D.C.- Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra http://www.bohemiancavernsjazzorchestra.com/

                                    Taylor/Fidyk Big Band

                                    Alan Baylock Jazz Orchestra https://www.facebook.com/AlanBaylockJazzOrchestra