CityView Magazine

jazz An old sound with a new twist By Nathan Walls ‘60s when soldiers and civilians alike swung to the sounds of swing music at Fort Bragg, a former hotbed of the style. Now, not only is the sound making a comeback, so is one of the bands behind it. After a brief run in the 1990s that ended with the death of several band members, including lead trumpet player Wade Benson, the orchestra has been revived by Geron Gambill, with the help of Dr. Neal Finn. “The thing about the Fayetteville Jazz B Orchestra is that most of our charts are arranged by Dr. Neal Finn, and while they are standard tunes, they have a fresh interpretation – they are arranged especially for the band,” said Gambill, band manager and lead trumpeter. Finn is an assistant professor of instrumental music at Fayetteville State University and the orchestra’s musical director and arranger. He also has his own show on WFSS, Fayetteville’s public radio station. “I always appreciate the love of great music, and I want to keep the music going,” he said. Snyder Memorial Baptist Church, is the church where Gambill administrator, has helped with the rejuvenation as well, offering the orchestra rehearsal space. The Arts Council of Fayetteville-Cumberland ig band is back. The Fayetteville Jazz Orchestra is breathing fresh sound into tunes reminiscent of the 1950s and County has assisted in the cause as a sponsor, and various businesses have chipped in, too. The Fayetteville Wine Society recently asked the orchestra to play at its spring gala and fundraiser. Like popping a cork, the jazz orchestra kept aged classics bubbly at the charity wine-tasting event held at the Fox Hollow estate near Vander. Members energized the crowd of around 200 with tunes such as “In the Mood,” “Sentimental Journey,” “Take the A-Train” and “Satin Doll,” honoring musical forefathers like Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Glenn Miller and Duke Ellington. The 18-member group is accentuated by trumpets, trombones, saxophones, an electric guitar, bass guitar, keyboard and drum set. Made up of men and women, young and old, the band is a diverse group. For Roy Roach, an original member, playing with the group conjures pleasant memories. “It felt good to go back and play with a section like that,” he said. “I hadn’t played with four trumpets in 10 years.” Roach knows his history because he lived it. The head man for the Roy Roach Orchestra, which still plays, he first fell in love with big band music in the 1950s when it was at its peak on Fort Bragg. Back then, Fort Bragg clubs were hopping to the beat two to three times a week, enjoying the talent of Roach’s dance band, the Rudy Lamone Big Band and others. Opposite | Leonard Starks plays with the Fayetteville Jazz Orchestra. Top | Dr. Neal Finn is the orchestra’s musical director and arranger. Above | C.J. Morrisey, from left, Kelly Hardee, Dr. Bob Haynes and Steve Truckenbrod entertain the crowd at a recent fundraiser for the Fayetteville Wine Society. CityViewNC.com | 21 All that

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