Opus One Big Band will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, at Hall-Dale High School. The band, under the direction of Dale Perkins, has been playing together for more than 20 years and features some of the finest big band musicians in central Maine. The concert will benefit the Hall-Dale High School music program.

In the tradition of Benny Goodman, Jimmy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Gene Krupa and Glenn Miller, the Opus One Big Band has planned a concert full of favorites as well as lesser known tunes. The program includes the jazz and swing standards of the 30s and 40s, including “Sing, Sing, Sing,” “Sweet Georgia Brown,” “Straighten Up and Fly Right,” “Woodchopper’s Ball,” “Hay Burner,” “Jersey Bounce,” “The Way You Look Tonight,” “Four Brothers,” “Stars Fell on Alabama,” and the number one big band song of all time, “In The Mood.” The show will also include some pieces that were written after the heyday of big bands, including the 1961 Horace Silver hit “Filthy McNasty, Taste of Honey,” which was made popular by Herb Albert in the 70s, “Centerpiece” from 80s jazz composer Frank Mantooth, and “Jazz Police,” a composition of contemporary artist Gordon Goodwin and his Big Phat Band.

Members of the HDHS Jazz band Quinn Stebbins on trumpet, Noah McDougal behind him on bass, and Bryce Bragdon on guitar. Contributed photo

The Hall-Dale Middle School Jazz Band, under the direction of John Reeves, will open the concert. This is the first time that Hall-Dale has had a middle school jazz band. The evening will end with combined performances of the Hall-Dale High School Jazz Band, directed by Deb Large, with Opus One.

Admission will cost $8 or $5 for students. There’s no room for a dance floor, but it’s okay to dance in the aisles.

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