By Debra Skaggs
Hailed as one of the finest jazz ensembles on the West Coast, The Commanders Jazz Ensemble will perform 7 p.m. Sunday at Sandy”s Flat Iron Mesa Park, 1700 E.8600 South, Sandy.
The Commanders Jazz Ensemble, a 19-piece band of the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West is stationed at Travis Air Force Base in California but travels extensively with their exciting, hard pounding, big band sound.
“We are really happy to have them come perform for us,” said Steven Ireland, Marketing Director of Sandy City. “I have never heard them perform before, but I talked with someone from Hill Air Force Base who heard them in California and said they were very good and it was a wonderful concert.”
The historic ensemble was established in 1959 as part of the North American Air Defense Command Band and merged with the Air Force Band of the Golden West in 1979, according to the press release. Performing on many radio and television shows, at Carnegie Hall in New York City and in front of millions of live audiences, the ensemble is a band of musical diversity. Guest artists, including Marvin Stamm, Steve Smith, Bob Hope and Walt Livinsky have collaborated with the band in performances and recordings.
Bringing the big band sounds to Utah, the concert is a great way to spend a summer evening.
“The concert is free,” Ireland said. “Bring chairs and blankets and just lounge on the grass.”
