This band was originally conceived and arranged by Rollie Rustad, who came to Durango from Minneapolis in 1979.  In that era, finding 16 to 18 musicians to play big band and a venue large enough was near impossible, so Mr. Rustad condensed the arrangements to an 8 piece big band sound. This enabled him to work in this area for many years. I had the pleasure to work with him in his band, which gave me my first opportunity to play big band music.
When Mr. Rustad passed away in 1993, his widow Pat, bequeathed the music to me. Over the years I have mixed in rock, boogie woogie, blues, tango, funk, latin, and more swing with Mr. Rustad’s original arrangements, giving us a larger variety of styles and sounds. I am thrilled to be leading this band, arranging the music, and keeping this great era of music alive for dancing and listening.
Songs in our repertoire:
In the Mood, Sing, Sing, Sing, Tuxedo Junction, Moonlight Serenade, Satin Doll, Sentimental Journey, String of Pearls, That Old Black Magic, Just in Time, In a Mellow Tone, Opus Number 1, Georgia, Brazil, I’m Beginning to See the Light, Take the A Train, Night and Day, Jive at Five, Begin The Beguine, Rock Around The Clock, Stompin at the Savoy, There Will Never Be Another You, On the Sunny Side of the Street, Our Love is Here to Stay, They Can’t Take That Away From Me, Harlem Nocturne, Don’t Get Around Much, Corcovado, My Romance, Besame Mucho, Hernando’s Hideaway, C Jam Blues, Night and Day, Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You, Always Harp’n, Blue Moon, Some Day My Prince Will Come, When I Fall in Love, Tequila, Night Train, Stardust, Woodchoppers Ball, It Don’t Mean a Thing, Besame Mucho, Black Orpheus,  In a Mellow Tone,  Chameleon, Sweet Georgia Brown, Hey You, Girl From Ipanema, Summer Time, and many more.