Welcome to GeorgeGee.com

Please join us to celebrate New Years’ Eve Eve & The Piano Store’s 10yr Anniversary

In the Main Ballroom:
GEORGE GEE's JUMP, JIVIN, WAILERS
with John Dokes & Hilary Gardner on vocals
(10 piece Big Band)

Upstairs in the Library Lounge:
QUEEN ESTHER & THE HOT FIVE

with Guest Bartender
Eryn Reece (LUPEC NY and LOUIS 649)

in the Sargent Room:
GELBER & MANNING
The feuding vaudeville lovebirds.

HELEN PONTANI
The Burlesque Tap Dancing Sensation

PANDORA
The Greek Goddess of Burlesque

DJ RIKOMATIC
Spinning an eclectic mix of soul, funk, swing & blues to keep you dancing

At the main bar, cocktails designed by our friends from
LOUNGERATI & WIT's END plus former Piano Store bartender KEVIN BROWN

Plus, Zelda: The Magazine of the Vintage Nouveau!

December 30th, 2009
8:00pm doors open. Live Music starts at 8:30pm
**psst - it's NOT New Years Eve (i.e amateur's night out)...
it's the night BEFORE **

$25 - Cash Only at door
$20 - Online in Advance
http://www.TheSalon.biz

Instigated by Patrick Soluri, Andre Soluri, Loungerati, and Prohibition Productions. The Salon founded by Patrick Soluri.

HALLOWEEN SWING BASH – SATURDAY, OCT. 31st, 2009

Shanghai Jazz comes to New York City's by way of The Grand Harmony Palace in Chinatown, NYC! Delicious Chinese food with plentiful side dishes of SWING and JAZZ - all served HOT in the climate-controlled, colorful and exotic motif of a 1920's/1930's Shanghai Jazz Club (with a large dance floor and full bar). Located conveniently in the heart of Chinatown, NYC, USA on the intersection of Canal and Mott. George Gee and his world-famous Swing Dance Orchestra and NYC favorite Lt. Jim and The Blue Saracens takes the stage on Halloween Night - October 31st, 2009 - to provide discerning music and dance lovers with a syncopated dance beat of music from the 1920s/1930s/1940s Big Bands to keep all smiles in tuned! It will be a SCARY evening of Halloween hijinks!

GRAND HARMONY PALACE
98 Mott Street, off Canal Street in Chinatown
NYC. (212)226-6603

Available now! GJazz Records is happy to announce the new CD - "Settin' the Pace" - with Frank Foster and The George Gee Big Band! Recorded this past April after the band's previous appearance at Birdland Jazz Club, the recording features music and arrangements by Frank Foster - many never previously recorded! Frank directed this the whole project and masterfully guided the Big Band in the recording studio to his satisfaction. The results are twelve exciting tracks of swingin' Big Band jazz, on which Grammy nominee vocalist Carla Cook lends her soulful renditions on three songs. And as Frank says, "Given the proper setting, you just might prefer to dance!"

Please visit newly formed label - GJazz Records - for complete information on "Settin' the Pace." Included are sound samples, reviews, band biographies, photos and the complete liner noted by Frank Foster.

Two official CD Release events in New York City are being planned. The first one will be on Monday, September 27th at Birdland at 8pm and a swingdance party (in partnership with Jellyroll Productions) on Friday, October 1st at Il Campanello Restaurant (136 West 31st Street) at 9pm. Special discounts for the new CD will be offered at these events, but you can get your copy now at GJazz Records!

Our April 20th show at Birdland Jazz Club was a huge success! Check out this fabulous review at Roberta On The Arts. Paying tribute to the great American composer and arranger, Frank Foster, the big band played two swingin' sets in front of a SRO audience. In the crowd, we saw the smiling faces of such luminaries such as Frank Wess, Earl May, Frankie Manning, TS Monk, Slide Hampton, Dorthaan Kirk from WBGO, Dawn Hampton, Hilton Ruiz, George Avakian, Jane Jarvis, Cobi Narita and many more fans. And Frank Foster and his lovely wife, Cecilia, was smilin' ear-to-ear all evening long. Having Frank conduct the big band orchestra was a great thrill and the return of Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist Carla Cook was the icing on the cake. Frank and the band went into the recording studio the following days to record a new album of his music. More on that next time.......

DATE: Tuesday - April 20th, 2004
SHOWS: 9pm and 11pm
WHERE: Birdland Jazz Club, 315 West 44th Street, NYC (212) 581-3080
WHAT: The George Gee Orchestra Salutes Frank Foster

Saxes: Ed Pazant, Marshal McDonald, Michael Hashim, Lance Bryant, Alex Harding
Trombones: Charles Stephens, Eddie Bert, Robert Trowers, Jack Jeffers
Trumpets: Walt Szymanski, Steve Wiseman, Mark McGowan, Shawn Edmonds
Piano: Jon Cowherd, Bass: Daryl Hall, Guitar: Joe Cohn, Drums: Willard
Dyson, Vocals: Carla Cook

The 17pc. George Gee Orchestra will be performing a selected repertoire of Frank Foster arrangements at Birdland on Tuesday, April 20th. Legendary American jazz composer and arranger Frank Foster has agreed to attend the performance as special Guest of Honor at this special tribute program. Mr. Foster has been a staunch supporter of bandleader George Gee and his big band orchestra for many years and last performed together on the stage of Roseland Ballroom at dance legend Frankie Manning¹s 88th Birthday Party in 2002. Their original pairing was at the old Metropolis Jazz Club in Union Square, when Frank appeared with The George Gee Orchestra as featured saxophonist soloist in 1995. "George Gee shows the true spirit of the big band every time he steps up to the bandstand!" explains Mr. Foster of George Gee's love for the music. This special tribute program will be the launch of a studio recording project collaboration between the two bandleaders. The big band will be recording their first studio album (all of their previous efforts with the full big band have been in "live" situations) the very next day, under the auspices of Mr. Foster. The album will be a celebration of the music of Frank Foster.

"Frank and I discussed this exact project a few years back, right before he suffered his stroke. Obviously, it was shelved and the timing just wasn't right until now," says Gee. For George Gee, this is a dream program, beginning with his initial encounter with Count Basie in 1979, while interviewing the big band master for his Pittsburgh college radio station. A relationship Mr. Gee maintained and nurtured until his untimely passing in 1984, the spirit and music of Count Basie lives on today in The George Gee Orchestra. Explains Gee, "This show has a lot of meaning to me, as I am a great admirer of Frank's work and the whole Basie mystique."

A very talented tenor saxophonist and arranger, Frank Foster has been associated with the Count Basie Orchestra since 1953. Foster contributed plenty of arrangements and such originals as "Down for the Count," "Blues Backstage," and the standard "Shiny Stockings" to the Basie repertoire. Foster remained in the Basie saxophone section throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, recording with such greats as Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald and many too numerous to mention. He took over the helm of The Basie ghost Band in 1986, revitalizing it and staying at the helm until 1995. Recently, his Loud Minority Big Band has been playing and recording regularly and he continues to write music on a daily basis. Frank and his longtime wife, Cecilia, resides in Virginia.

Big Bandleader George Gee has been busy touring the country and the world recently, as a highly soughted-after swing dance orchestra in the lindyhop circuit. Their high-power swing backbeat has bought the band everywhere from Tokyo to Zurich and from Harlem to Chicago to Hollywood. They were even summoned to perform at Ozzy Osbourne's 50th Birthday Bash in Los Angeles! Every year, they are featured along with some of today's top jazz artists at The Friends of Charlie Parker Jazz Benefit Concert in NYC, having performed with Milt Jackson, Milt Hinton, Ray Brown, Billy Taylor, Clark Terry and Benny Powell. For 2004, the big band is traveling to concert halls throughout the United States with a special "Count Basie and Glenn Miller Centennial" concert program. The Orchestra has been selected to be the opener for Lincoln Center's "Midsummer Night Swing" in June and the band has a planned tour of the Far East in October.

GEORGE GEE RETURNS TO JAPAN!

We are very happy and excited to announce that The George Gee Swing
Orchestra will be doing a series of performances In Tokyo, Japan from October 31st until November 4th! You may remember that we were the first swing band of the modern era to play at a swing dance in Japan back in 1999. Photos of that swingin' bash are archived at the site of The Tokyo Swing Dance Society. The 2003 George Gee Japan Swing Tour actually starts on October 12th and 19th, when George will DJ ("All Big Bands, All The Time") at special events for The Osaka Swing Dance Society and The Yokohama Swing Dance Society in their respective cities!

Then two jumpin' and dancin' LIVE shows on October 31st and November 1st. And two swingin' concert LIVE shows on November 4th and 5th. All in Tokyo, Japan!

Friday - Oct. 31st Bflat Jazz Club with special guests - The 17 piece Crescent Jazz Orchestra from Tokyo (Musicians from NYC - Pianist Kuni Mikami, Trumpeter Walt Szymanski, Drummer Willard Dyson and Saxophonists Ed Pazant and Alex Harding will be joining one of Tokyo's top big bands, playing selections from a new
George Gee CD - there will be room for dancing)

Saturday-Nov. 1st Sensations Dance Club
This will be a hot and heavy swing dance party with the 10 piece George Gee and The Jump, Jive & Wailers Swing Orchestra. Large dance floor for all to enjoy! Don't miss this great party!

Tues/Wed-Nov. 4th & 5th TUC Jazz Club
A special concert performance of the music of Lionel Hampton with the George Gee Band at this intimate nightclub

Please check out the Japanese Page for complete schedule information in Japanese. Dress to Impress! Plenty of George Gee CDs will be available for purchase at all venues.

On October 31st in Tokyo, Japan (see above), we will have our Worldwide Release CD Party of "George Gee Swingin' at SWING CITY ZURICH" on ZORT Music Records at The Bflat Jazz Club. Featuring 14 great new tracks recorded live in Zurich, Switzerland with The George Gee 17 piece Swing Orchestra, this is our first release in almost three years! Selections include "Trumpet Blues and Cantible," "One Man Dance," "Sunny Ray," "The Comeback" along with new renditions of some of our most demanded numbers - "Splanky" and "Blues in Frankie's Flat."

If you can't make it it to Tokyo, don't worry - we'll be having our big NYC CD Release and Welcome Back Party on Thursday, Nov. 20th at JACK ROSE at 771 Eighth Avenue (47th Street) in a special collaboration with Yehoodi and Jellyroll. The George Gee 17 piece Swing Orchestra featuring vocalist Vivian Sessoms will perform!

The summer of 2003 is almost behind us and we ll have the remainder of the year to keep on swingin! The big band had a tremendous season, with hot stops on both the east coast and west coast! As usual, pumped-up audiences delighted to the swing orchestra at Catalina Island and The Famous Derby in Southern California, with a detour to the historic Hotel del Coronado in San Diego. Back east found the band
swingin' in front of SRO crowds at lower Manhattan's Pier 25 concert series, at The Musikfest in Pennsylvania and Chevy Chase Ballroom in DC. Of course, the historic Battle of the Big Bands occurred back in June for the Harlem Jazz Dance Festival which shocked and awed lindyhoppers from all over the world!

NEWSFLASH - JAPAN SHOWS AND CD PARTY OCTOBER & NOVEMBER !

You may remember that George Gee and gang was the first swing band of the modern era to play a swing dance event in Japan back in 1999. Photos of the swingin' soiree are archived at the site of The TokyoSwing Dance Society. We are happy to announce that we have confirmed two shows in Tokyo on Friday, October 31st and Saturday, November 1st (with more shows being planned). This will be our special "Stompin' at the Savoy / CD World Release Tour " of our new recording "Swingin' Live in Zurich!" - recorded in June 2000 and will feature swing dance events in collaboration with some great Japanese jazz musicians. Musicians from New York City will include pianist Kuni Mikami, trumpeter Walt Szymanski, saxophonist Ed Pazant and drummer Willard

Dyson. In addition to these live programs, George Gee will also be special guest DJ ("All Big Band, All The Time") in Osaka and Yokohama - dates and details are forthcoming.

MAY 25 - We're getting ready to tour the Bahamas as we entertain global lindyhoppers on The Frankie Manning 89th Birthday Cruise! For the past fives years, the band have been honored to be the house band for this great swing celebration that draws music and dance lovers from all around the world. In 1999 it was in NYC, 2000 in Tokyo, 2001 in Boston, 2002 back in NYC and now 2003 on a Bahamas cruise. HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRANKIE !!!

JUNE 6 & 7 - Our annual trek across the country to the West Coast occurs the first weekend of June, as The Jump, Jive & Wailers return to the majestic Casino Ballroom by the sea at Camp Catalina on Catalina Island on Friday, June 6th and then back to the mainland to jump at The Famous Derby in Hollywood, California on Saturday, June 7th. Look for our new featured vocalist John Dokes on this tour.

Then back home to New York City for a series of exciting hometown
appearances, check it out:

June 12th - The Second Annual Dawn Hampton Birthday Party at DanceManhattan Studios in lower Manhattan starting at 10:30pm. The Jump, Jive & Wailers, along with fellow bandleader - Ron Sunshine and DJ Tomo - invite everyone to celebrate the birthday of another legendary dance personality - the incomparable Dawn Hampton. Please contact DawnsBDay@yahoo.com for ticket information. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAWN!!

June 13th - BATTLE OF THE BIG BANDS in HARLEM - The NYC rematch of 17 piece big band behemoths George Gee and The Make-Believe Ballroom Orchestra and The Harlem Renaissance Orchestra at the debut of the newly-renovated Alhambra Ballroom in historic Harlem. This historic event is reminisce of the classic battles which echoed in Harlem ballrooms throughout the original Swing Era and is also a reunion of these two Big Bands from their original January 1999 meeting. This event is a featured performance of the Harlem Jazz Dance Festival, The JVC Jazz Festival and SWING CITY NY ( we appeared at SWING CITY ZURICH in 2001).

June 14th - The NY Daily News will be sponsoring a Ballroom/Swing dance competition on the Coney Island Boardwalk in Brooklyn, NY on Saturday, June 14th with The George Gee 17pc. Swing Orchestra. Competitions will be held during the afternoon and open dancing from 5pm to 8pm. Watch here for more details!

2003 promises to be quite an exciting year!! Folks seem to realize once again how important music is to their lives. The bottom line is that it makes you HAPPY, especially this wacky world of swing, jazz and big band. Please return soon to find out about additional performance dates further in the year. Here is a preview of some additional upcoming special events:

Check out the Performance Schedule for a series of local dance engagements in our hometown of New York City before the end of the year. Come and celebrate being in the Swing Capital of the World at hot clubs such as Nell’s in Union Square and also at CACHE and Jack Rose in Times Square. Experience the trademark high-energy jive shows of George Gee and the band at their next live performance!

Unfortunately, I am sorry to say that our New Year's Eve engagement in Las Vegas has been unexpectedly cancelled. If you are in New York City during the holidays, please come and swing with us at The World-Famous Rainbow Room, high atop Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan. Happy Holidays to all and thank you for your continued support!

It's been almost a year since that fateful morning in NYC on September 11th. What makes it even more poignant is the fact that we just performed at The World Trade Center Plaza just over a week earlier. I remember the band swingin' with the Twin Towers literally towering right over us. The smiling faces and happy feet were all around us, in a scene that will forever be etched in our memories. Obviously, it's a different world now and innocence is more of a rarity. But we're all stronger and more diligent in our beliefs, may that be a sign of our future and progress.

What can be said of that extreme morning that hasn't already been said and re-said? I'd like to think that the band and myself had just a little to do in the healing process in the days afterwards. On Sept. 12th, the next day, we pressed on and perform at The Cotton Club in Harlem. Believe it or not, a sizeable crowd was on-hand, determined to get back to "normality" as much as we could - considering the extraordinary circumstances. I barely remember the surreal haziness my mind was going through as the band played on.

Then the next morning on Sept. 13th, torn between staying in our city that desperately needed our support or hitting the road on a pre-planned driving tour of the Midwest to continue to spread the Gospel of Swing. With the motto: "The Show Must Go On!" - we packed onto the bus and headed out of Manhattan and westward bound. I'll never forget the image of lower Manhattan behind us with the lost of the familiar NYC icons and smoke smoldering into the sky. Our thoughts raced at a thousand miles a minute, not knowing what laid in the future or even what awaited us upon our return. It was a very strange time in history.

Now it's a year later. Things are sort of getting back to regularity. We're all getting used to seeing the changed skyline of the city. Gigs are slowly, but surely filling back our performance schedule. America still stands strong, probably more determined than ever. Never forget.

And, oh yeah, that Midwest Tour was the best road trip ever! We made our way to Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Indianapolis and Chicago. Folks were awed that we were from New York City and still had the will to come to their town to play music - Happy Music - this crazy thing we call swing. People came out enthusiastically and in droves - we made people forget - we helped healed the soul - we kept the swing in their hearts and the bounce in their feet. That's all we know how to do.......

Viva Las Vegas! George Gee and The Make-Believe Ballroom Orchestra with featured guest vocalist - Grammy nominee Carla Cook - will be headlining at The MGM Mirage Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on New Year's Eve, December 31st, 2002 to lavishly bring in 2003! Please come back soon for complete information and reservation details.

The list of bands that trombonist Eddie Bert has performed with in the past 60 years is a definitive "Who's Who of Jazz" Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Charlie Barnet, Charles Mingus, Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Benny Goodman, Bobby Short - it has been an honor having him in The George Gee trombone section for the past decade. Music promoter Alan Sugarman is throwing an All-Star 80th Birthday Concert Bash at Town Hall for Eddie Bert on Thursday, May 16th. Scheduled performers include Clark Terry, Benny Powell, Slide Hampton, Carla Cook and special visitors - all accompanied by The George Gee 17pc. Concert Jazz Orchestra. Certain to be one of the major jazz events of the of the season, don't miss it!

Since 1999, legendary Savoy dancer Frankie Manning and George Gee have been celebrating Frankie's birthday together on a annual basis - NYC's famed Roseland Ballroom and then in San Francisco a few days later in 1999, in Tokyo at the dawn of the new Millennium and last year at one of the birthplaces of the nation, Boston. In 2002, the tradition continues, as Frankie Manning's 88th Birthday Party is back in NYC on Saturday, May 25th at Roseland Ballroom. Featured on the program is Frankie's favorite modern-day swing big band - The Make-Believe Ballroom Orchestra. A full-scale party is planned all night long with the addition of guest vocalists Grammy Nominee Carla Cook and Ron Sunshine, along with The Frank Foster Swing Plus Band. This is definitely going to be the major swing event of the year, don't miss it!

Then its off to Southern California for the first time in two years, as The Jump, Jive & Wailers return to Camp Catalina on the beautiful island of Catalina (off the coast of LA) on June 7th and then to The Famous Derby in Hollywood, CA on June 8th. Looking forward to swingin' for all of our West Coast friends again!

When in New York City, you can catch the band on many Fridays at CACHE in Times Square for swingin' and dancin'! For an evening of Big Band Jazz in an intimate cabaret jazz club setting, visit the Concert Jazz Orchestra every Wednesday evening at CACHE for The George Gee Big Band Workshop. And don't forget, we make a special appearance at the Harlem Jazz Dance Festival on May 19th. See the Performance Schedule for updated information.

Thank you so much to all the folks in Zurich, Switzerland for making us feel so welcomed during our visit to Zurich Arts Festival 2001. The week started with the Opening Ceremonies at The Main Railway Station with Benny Powell and The World-Famous Count Basie Orchestra and our Make-Believe Ballroom Orchestra with over 6000 crazed swing lovers in attendance. The clanking of the trains were minor compared to the sounds of all the hot music and lindyhopping feet! Other highlights included The Jump, Jive & Wailers' collaborations with the elite dance teams of The Rhythm Hot Shots from Sweden and The Jiving Lindy Hoppers from London at Theaterhaus Gessnerallee before enthusastic crowds. And, oh yes, the cheese and chocolates were delicious!

Did you see us on TV on PBS last July 19th? The Make-Believe Ballroom Orchestra was a featured segment on the "Live At Lincoln Center" program, which was seen by an estimated 8 MILLION viewers across the country. Filmed live at Midsummer Night Swing in the Plaza at Lincoln Center here in NYC with over 5000 dancers in attendance. The 17 pc. band was swingin' "Organ Grinder Swing" with vocalist Ann Hampton Callaway and jazz violinist Claude "Fiddler" Williams uninterrupted during the final seven minutes of the program!

The Photo Gallery is finally up and running. Check out photos of George and the band from past, present and future! New pictures will be added constantly, so always be sure to come back and visit. And here is another reason to swing on by: sign the Guestbook and be eligible for our monthly drawings to win a George Gee CD. Lucky winners will be announced monthly right here at georgegee.com, you gotta be in it to win it! Everyone everywhere can enter, no shipping or handling necessary.

Come and celebrate Easter Sunday with the debut of The George Gee Concert Jazz Orchestra at St. Peter's Church in New York City on Sunday, March 31st at 7:30pm. A very special concert with performances by trombonist Benny Powell and pianist Jane Jarvis, featuring their own original big band compositions. The Benny Powell Quartet will also be performing at The Jazz Vespers at 5pm.

Thank you to The Travellers and Hiroyuki Yamada from The Tokyo Swing Dance Society for flying from the other side of the planet to NYC to be part of International Swing Night with us at Cache in Times Square on January 25th. A great time was had by all and once again, diplomatic HARMONY through SWING!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS: The George Gee Concert Jazz Orchestra will begin a weekly Wednesday Big Band Jazz Night at Cache in Times Square on April 3rd. Cabaret jazz club seating with a very small dance floor at the rear of the club. A great chance to hear the band perform muscial selections outside of our normal "swing" realm! But don't worry, it'll be "swingin'" !! And then on Thursday, May 16th, a very special 80th Birthday All-Star Concert Celebration for legendary trombonist Eddie Bert at NYC's Town Hall. These shows are not to be missed! Please check out the Performance Schedule for complete updates.

The Jump, Jive & Wailers return to the road from February 8th to 16th for a Midwest/Southeast Tour with stops in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Indiana (PA), Spartanburg (SC) and Charlotte (NC). Please check our Performance Schedule for updated tour information.

ATTENTION - VENUE CHANGE! International Swing Night with The Travellers on Friday, Jan. 25th has been moved to Cache ( 221 W 46 Street , between 8th Avenue and Broadway). Doors open at 9:30pm, dance lesson at 10:00pm and The Travellers (from Japan) kick off the festivities at 10:30pm with The 10pc. Jump, Jive & Wailers afterward. Special addition includes guest DJ Hiroyuki Yamada (President of The Tokyo Swing Dance Society) spinning between band sets.

To further enhance swing relations and HARMONY among the world, promoter Lo-Fi Lee and myself are promoting an International Swing Night at The Supper Club in NYC on Friday, January 25th, 2002. Opening for The 10pc. Jump, Jive & Wailers will be our friends, The Travellers from Japan - a swing/jump quartet making their Big Apple debut. Veterans of shows in LA, London and Vegas - these fashionable jivesters will surely ignite the dance floor with their brand of Nippon jive! The Travellers play at 9:00pm, George Gee at 10:30pm and a special bilingual dance lesson with Chad and Midori at 8pm.

George Gee and The Jump, Jive & Wailers return to the premiere dance venue in NYC - the very elegant and swank Supper Club - on Sunday, December 30th for The New Year's Eve EVE Swing Ball! This is the band's first appearance at this club in over five years! Celebrate New Year's Eve a day early on Sunday, December 30th - a day before all the usual craziness of Times Square that is traditional on December 31st!! Complete with a midnight countdown and party favors - Support NYC nightlife and all this great city has to offer - a worthy trip for Out-of-Towners. A Lo-Fi Lee Production, here is the scoop:

The New Year's Eve EVE Swing Ball
Sunday, December 30, 2001
The Supper Club
240 West 47 Street Between Broadway & 8th Avenue
Phone: 212-921-1940

Doors Open & Dancing Begins 8:30pm!!
Dance Lesson by Dance Manhattan Studios - 8:30pm
Live Swing Band: George Gee's Jump Jive & Wailers
Admission $20 - All Ages Admitted
Opening Band @ 9pm: The Swing Doctors
DJ Larry Kang starts spinning on the main floor at 8:30pm -- dance lesson is upstairs in The Blue Room

I would like to personally in invite you to come and be part of a very special rare big band jazz concert appearance by:

George Gee and his 17 piece Make-Believe Ballroom Orchestra at St. Peter's Church (The Jazz Ministry) located at 619 Lexington Avenue (entrance on 54th Street) - at the base of The Citicorp Building in NYC this Sunday, November 4th, 2001 from 7:30pm to 9:30pm in the very musically acoustic setting of the Church Sanctuary. An admission donation of $10 is kindly requested.

Musicians in the big band include:
Rick Germanson - piano
Matt Hughes - bass
Dave Meade - drums
Lance Bryant, Michael Hashim - tenor saxes
Ed Pazant, Mark Gross - alto saxes
Matt Hong - baritone sax
Charles Stephens, Eddie Bert, Wayne Coniglio, AJ Johnson - trombones
Walt Szymanski, Steve Wiseman, Evan Barker - trumpets

Performing works by Frank Foster, Lance Bryant, Walt Szymanski, Ray Santos, Jimmy Heath, Duke Ellington, and more. This is a non-dance situation, but an opportunity to sit and enjoy the classic big band ensemble. Please help us spread The Gospel of Swing!

Thank you so much to all the folks in Zurich, Switzerland for making us feel so welcomed during our visit to Swing City Zurich 2001. The week started with the Opening Ceremonies at The Main Railway Station with Benny Powell and The World-Famous Count Basie Orchestra and our Make-Believe Ballroom Orchestra with over 6000 crazed swing lovers in attendance. The clanking of the trains were minor compared to the sounds of all the hot music and lindyhopping feet! Other highlights included The Jump, Jive & Wailers' collaborations with the elite dance teams of The Rhythm Hot Shots from Sweden and The Jiving Lindy Hoppers from London at Theaterhaus Gessnerallee before enthusastic crowds. And, oh yes, the cheese and chocolates were delicious!

The Jump, Jive & Wailers are on the road again in mid-September, with stops in several new swing regions for us.. We return to Pittsburgh on Sept. 13th to make our debut at Dowe's on 9th and then The Edgewood Club on Sept. 14th. We migrate to Indianapolis to The Pike Performing Arts Center to debut our new show with The SwingDance America dance troupe. Then an exciting show at one of the most beautiful ballrooms in the Midwest - The Willowbrook Ballroom - in Chicago. Its going to be quite a shindig, check out this flyer. And on the long journey back home to NYC, we re-surrect the time-honored tradition of "The Battle of The Big Bands" with The Ernie Krivda Fat Tuesday Big Band at The Bohemian National Hall in Cleveland. Please come by and swing with us!

Please check our schedule for a complete updated schedule. Look for the new photo gallery to be up and running very soon. If you get a chance, sign the guestbook and let us know what's on your mind. See ya on the dancefloor!

2003 finds The George Gee Society Swing Orchestra as the house band for The World-Famous Rainbow Room, high atop on the 65th floor of Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan, NYC! The 10 piece dance orchestra swings and sway every Friday evening from 8:30pm - 1:00am. The program begins with a lighter fare of ballroom favorites at 8:30pm for dining and dancing and then the main course of hot swing in a nightclub atmosphere starting at 10:30pm. Come for dinner and light dancing anytime after 7:00pm or drinks and dessert with a heavy dosage of jive starting at 10:30pm. A fabulous NYC nightlife experience in a classic Art Deco Big Apple setting!

On Friday, February 21st and 28th, music director/trumpeter Walt Szymanski will lead the orchestra at The Rainbow Room, while George Gee takes a well-deserved vacation to visit the in-laws in Japan! But not one to stray too far from his swing/jazz roots - George will be the featured celebrity DJ at two dance events for The Yokohama Swing Dance Society on Saturday, February 22nd and March 1st at The Weins 21 club in Yokohama, Japan! George will be spinning Big Band favorites from the 1930s onward, please come by if you're in the neighborhood.

Ever wanted to take a cruise ship with your favorite swing band (George Gee and The Jump, Jive & Wailers), some of the best dance instructors in the country, and the cat who started it all? Well, your dreams have been answered: Legendary Savoy Dancer

Frankie Manning (featured in Ken Burns' Jazz Documentary) will be celebrating his 89th Birthday in 2003 at "Frankie HOPS the Caribbean" from May 25th to June 1st on Carnival Paradise Cruise Ship, docking out of Miami, FL. We're honored to be part of Frankie's celebration for the 5th year in the row! A must for music and dance lovers – a great week of the 3 “S’s” – Sun, Surf & Swing – all in honor of the original “Gentleman of Swing” – FRANKIE MANNING!