Former members of the McDonald's All-American High School Band will perform Thursday through Saturday in Williamsburg and Cape Charles, as The All-American Concert and The All-American Jazz bands.
The bands feature more than 70 musicians from 30 states, and the concerts are free. The Williamsburg shows include patriotic songs, marches, show tunes and American pop medleys. Featured alumni include jazz saxophonist and Norfolk native Charlie Young.
Friday's performance in Williamsburg is held in honor of Juneteenth and the 100th anniversary of the opening of Harlem's Savoy ballroom.
Not only did the Savoy feature some of the era's best-known jazz and big band musicians, but it was one of the first integrated ballrooms in the United States. The Williamsburg show will include classics such as Duke Ellington's "April in Paris" and Stan Kenton's "A Time for Love."
Performance times and locations:
- 7 p.m., Thursday. City Square Park, Williamsburg, 412 N. Boundary St., featuring the alumni band
- 7 p.m., Friday, Kimball Theatre, 428 W. Duke of Gloucester St, Williamsburg, featuring the alumni jazz band
- 1 and 2 p.m., Saturday, SailFest Cape Charles, 11 Marina Road, Cape Charles
The Cape Charles event is the finale and will feature both bands playing patriotic classics and jazz favorites. The shows also feature a piece, The Declaration, which was written for the alumni group and features excerpts from the Declaration of Independence and is composed by band alumnus and Broadway arranger Kim Scharnberg for the nation’s 250th.
Visit allamericanalumniband.org for more information.
