Mark Sands' Realtime Dixieland Band slated to perform at CAC
NORWICH — This month the Chenango Arts Council is set to host another unique performance: Mark Sands’ Realtime Dixieland Band on Saturday, Feb. 10, at the Martin Kappel Theater in Norwich beginning at 7 p.m.
To the layperson the event might serve as just another show at the historic former high school auditorium, but for those grounded within the local music scene of past, it's anything but.
The special performance pays homage to longtime music educator and big band enthusiast Bob Arnell by retired music educator Mark Sands, who—like the late Arnell—has dedicated his life to the proliferation of the arts, specifically unique improvisational and traditional contemporary music.
Dixieland, sometimes referred to as hot jazz or traditional jazz, is a style based on the music that developed in New Orleans at the start of the 20th century. The four main influences were ragtime, military brass bands, the blues, and gospel music, and Sands found his ear for it early on.
“I started performing in bands in 1968 at the age of 15. Through the years I have played in groups performing everything from 1940s “Society Style” to folk and 50s-80s popular styles. When I moved to Norwich I met Bob Arnell and performed in several of his bands, including the Otselic Valley Dixieland Band,” said Sands. “From 2003 to 2013, I performed with my own group 'First Class.' We performed throughout this area including many summer music concert series,” he added.
While nothing gold can stay, First Class would eventually disband, giving way to some free time in which Sands would reflect. “I took some time to think about the style of music that is missing in our area,” said Sands; “I came up with Dixieland.”
Sometime later, Sands would purchase Bob Arnell's extensive Dixieland library and soon started rehearsing with a fresh set of faces. “We started out with several performances in the summer of 2017, and we are gradually picking up new bookings throughout central New York,” said Sands.
According to Sands, the usual instrumentation of a Dixieland band is trumpet (cornet), clarinet, sax, trombone, banjo and/or piano, string bass (or tuba) and drums—which just happens to be the setup the Realtime Dixieland Band features.
The group of locals—led by Sands on vocal and drum duty—is flushed out by Greg Maistros on Clarinet, Greg Langdon at Saxophone, Gary Solomon on Trumpet, Carl Pickett on Sousaphone, Sal Salvaggio on Banjo and Becky Sabin on Trombone and vocals.
“We're thrilled to be able to bring local talent with a connection to the heyday of Norwich to our audience,” said CAC Executive Director Alecia Oneill. “Both Mr. Arnell and now Mark (Sands) were part of a local culture in local music and education that is important to recognize, and this performance is a great example of the CAC doing its part in making that happen,” said Oneill.
Oneill indicates that the performance is made possible through a generous sponsorship from Wells Fargo Advisors of Norwich.
Mark Sands' Realtime Dixieland Band takes the Martin Kappel Theater stage at the Chenango Arts Council on Saturday, February 10, 2018 beginning at 7 p.m.—doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets range in price form $10-$15 and can be purchased online at www.ChenangoArts.org, by calling 607.336.ARTS or in-person at the Arts Council box office located at 27 West Main Street in Norwich Monday-Friday from 9-5 p.m.
Discounts are available for Chenango Arts Council members and subscribers.
To the layperson the event might serve as just another show at the historic former high school auditorium, but for those grounded within the local music scene of past, it's anything but.
The special performance pays homage to longtime music educator and big band enthusiast Bob Arnell by retired music educator Mark Sands, who—like the late Arnell—has dedicated his life to the proliferation of the arts, specifically unique improvisational and traditional contemporary music.
Dixieland, sometimes referred to as hot jazz or traditional jazz, is a style based on the music that developed in New Orleans at the start of the 20th century. The four main influences were ragtime, military brass bands, the blues, and gospel music, and Sands found his ear for it early on.
“I started performing in bands in 1968 at the age of 15. Through the years I have played in groups performing everything from 1940s “Society Style” to folk and 50s-80s popular styles. When I moved to Norwich I met Bob Arnell and performed in several of his bands, including the Otselic Valley Dixieland Band,” said Sands. “From 2003 to 2013, I performed with my own group 'First Class.' We performed throughout this area including many summer music concert series,” he added.
While nothing gold can stay, First Class would eventually disband, giving way to some free time in which Sands would reflect. “I took some time to think about the style of music that is missing in our area,” said Sands; “I came up with Dixieland.”
Sometime later, Sands would purchase Bob Arnell's extensive Dixieland library and soon started rehearsing with a fresh set of faces. “We started out with several performances in the summer of 2017, and we are gradually picking up new bookings throughout central New York,” said Sands.
According to Sands, the usual instrumentation of a Dixieland band is trumpet (cornet), clarinet, sax, trombone, banjo and/or piano, string bass (or tuba) and drums—which just happens to be the setup the Realtime Dixieland Band features.
The group of locals—led by Sands on vocal and drum duty—is flushed out by Greg Maistros on Clarinet, Greg Langdon at Saxophone, Gary Solomon on Trumpet, Carl Pickett on Sousaphone, Sal Salvaggio on Banjo and Becky Sabin on Trombone and vocals.
“We're thrilled to be able to bring local talent with a connection to the heyday of Norwich to our audience,” said CAC Executive Director Alecia Oneill. “Both Mr. Arnell and now Mark (Sands) were part of a local culture in local music and education that is important to recognize, and this performance is a great example of the CAC doing its part in making that happen,” said Oneill.
Oneill indicates that the performance is made possible through a generous sponsorship from Wells Fargo Advisors of Norwich.
Mark Sands' Realtime Dixieland Band takes the Martin Kappel Theater stage at the Chenango Arts Council on Saturday, February 10, 2018 beginning at 7 p.m.—doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets range in price form $10-$15 and can be purchased online at www.ChenangoArts.org, by calling 607.336.ARTS or in-person at the Arts Council box office located at 27 West Main Street in Norwich Monday-Friday from 9-5 p.m.
Discounts are available for Chenango Arts Council members and subscribers.
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