Midwest Big Band: A Summer Soundscape

featuring
Jim Bulanda

Saturday, June 7, 2025 • 7:00pm

Big band music of the ‘20s, ‘30s and ‘40s has gifted American culture with arguably the greatest love songs on the charts. Listening to the crooning of “Rat Pack” members Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Bing Crosby, Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop on the radio was enough to melt any icy heart until it skipped a beat to the thrill of a saxophone. Band leaders like Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, and Glenn Miller drew crowds and bridged racial divides through the love language of swing.

For the past three years, this professional quality, historical, 18-piece big band has been thrilling audiences across Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland with their world-class talent. Instrumentalists include the best semi-professionals in the Region, some of whom have toured professionally with Ray Charles, played freelance in Los Angeles, or taught music at the high school and college levels. Local vocalist Jim Bulanda, who is famous for his “Tribute to Frank Sinatra Show,” has joined the band to style the jazz standards.

Presented by Memorial Opera House