By CHERYL ROMANO/Lincoln Chronicle
Call it jazz, call it swing, call it the big band sound or call it just plain irresistible. That’s the musical catnip that the Yachats Big Band has been serving up for cool cats ‘n kittens since it first hit the stage 32 years ago.
Today, the 18-member ensemble is a fixture in the coastal entertainment scene, playing monthly gigs at the Yachats Commons on the first Thursday of each month, for benefits concerts and paid performances.
While band members have come and gone over the years, the one constant is a love for the rhythmic, danceable music that serves as the soundtrack for the “Swing Era” — roughly the 1930s into the ‘50s, and sometimes beyond. Think Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Lena Horne. Think classics like “A String of Pearls,” “Take the A Train,” “In the Mood” and so many more.
“It just feels good — it swings,” says bandleader Pete Lawson of Newport, who plays the trumpet and is one of the two original members still playing — the other is Patricia Chapman of Tenmile.
The improvisational nature of the jazz-based tunes means “It’s different every time; you never really hear the same song twice,” Lawson said.
Although the Yachats Big Band is described as a dance band, there is absolutely no obligation to do so when the music starts. But just try and keep from chair-dancing or at least tapping your toes when the music starts. There are tables and chairs at the monthly Commons performances.
“We get people from pre-teens into their 80s and above at our concerts,” says Lawson, who played trumpet in concert bands and orchestras through high school and college. The younger fans can’t resist the strong, driving rhythm of the music, Lawson says “They’re gyrating around; they can’t stay still.”
The people making the music come from all over the central Oregon coast — Yachats, Newport, Florence, Lincoln City, and even Corvallis and Eugene. They commit to weekly rehearsals at Yachats Community Presbyterian Church and the monthly concerts in Yachats.
Band members range in age from a sophomore at the University of Oregon who plays bass guitar to 85. Most are retired from careers in music — former music professors, some music book authors, plus a 911 dispatcher, an IT serviceman, and a former horticulturist. Lawson is retired biologist with a Ph.D. from Idaho State University.
Question: Why does the music of the Big Band era still appeal today?
Answer: It’s happy music with good energy; it resonates in our brains. And it’s very danceable — although you don’t have to dance to appreciate our concerts. If you want to learn a few steps, though, a group called Dance Yachats gives some instruction at our monthly performances. They start at 6:30; our concerts run from 7-9 p.m.
Q: What don’t people realize about the Yachats Big Band?
A: We’re all volunteers, and the only time we make money is when we get hired for a special event. (The contact is trombonist Eric Bigler: ebigler@peak.org; 541-270-9409). The admission fees for our monthly concerts are $10 per person, $15 per couple, and we split that with the city. What’s left for us goes to liability insurance, equipment as needed, sheet music and rarely, to pay for a substitute musician.
We also play at community fundraisers like Oktoberfest. We’ve helped fund high school scholarships in the past, and we even sponsored a bench by the Commons Pavilion.
Q: What are the requirements to become a member of the band?
A: Basic musical skills are a must. You need to be able to read music, have a love of music, and be willing to commit to the weekly rehearsals and monthly swing dances. We’re always looking for new players — trumpet, trombone, saxophone, keyboard, string bass and percussion. We are also looking for someone to manage our sheet music library. We have over 3,000 tunes in our collection, and each one has 18 parts.
Q: Do you have to be a musician to be part of the Yachats Big Band?
A: No. There are lots of people behind the scenes who help us put on our performances. Many partners of band members help us set up and tear down after our dances. Here’s another example: Jeff Taylor, a part-time resident of Yachats, is an audio technician who works with us and also advises the Commons. He’s a music business professional who has worked with clients like the band Counting Crows.
Q: Besides making music, what do you enjoy about playing with the band?
A: We have a loyal following of people locally, and of course it’s great to play for them. I love it when visitors come out, too, and discover us by accident.
Tell us a secret.
When you come to one of our monthly concerts/dances at the Commons, you can buy refreshments like coffee, cookies and pies. I make the pies.
- Cheryl Romano is a Yachats freelance reporter who contributes regularly to Lincoln Chronicle. She can be reached at Wordsell@gmail.com
The pies are fabulous!