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The George Gee Swing Orchestra The 17-piece George Gee Swing Orchestra has been the powerhouse core of George’s perpetual swing-fest for 25 years. George formed the Orchestra while he was a student at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. They remained based there throughout the 1980's. Even though the city was in dire economic straits – and Swing hadn’t been played regularly on pop radio in decades - the George Gee Swing Orchestra flourished! The big band performed steadily - at colleges, clubs, country clubs, society events, concert halls and festivals – building an impressive, loyal fan base throughout the area. Road trips included jaunts to New York City for special appearances at Harlem’s world-famous Apollo Theater and numerous "Savoy Sunday" shows for the New York Swing Dance Society. When George returned home to New York City in 1990, he re-shaped his Swing Orchestra, loading it with master New York-based musicians who brought a profound diversity of musical and life experience to his bandstand. The repertoire still focuses on the classic big band songbooks of legends like Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller and the Dorsey Brothers – but George always ensures that even time-honored favorites are given a refreshing new twist. Remarkable Grammy nominee MaxJazz recording artist Carla Cook is the George Gee Swing Orchestra’s featured female vocalist. Grammy-nominee Carla offers luscious balladry, kickin' blues shuffles and inspired scat. George and the 17- piece Swing Orchestra have released four sizzling CDs:
The Jump, Jive & Wailers
An impressive sibling to the 17-piece George Gee Swing Orchestra, the Jump, Jive & Wailers configuration allows George’s world-class cats plenty of room to let loose and really blow – resulting in stunning, high-energy rockin’ grooves. And that devilish rhythm section peppers the mix with cutting-edge variations – delighting listeners and challenging dancers to keep it fresh! The band has a mammoth tour resume – including top swing clubs, swing dance societies, and “lindy exchanges” across the US, numerous tours of top concert halls, and powerful "Battles of the Bands" in New York, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, Cleveland, Philadelphia and Quebec. George Gee’s Jump, Jive & Wailers were the first modern era American big band to lead a swing dance in Tokyo and in Zurich. They were even summoned to perform for rocker Ozzy Osborne's 50th birthday party in Beverly Hills! George Gee Swing Music! “Happy Swing by Happy People!” INQUIRE ABOUT THE BAND | VIEW A SAMPLE SONG LIST | MAJOR EVENTS
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The George Gee Swing Orchestra (formerly known as
“The Make-Believe Ballroom Orchestra”) deeply
enjoys their hard-earned reputation as the swingin’-est, blowin’-est,
hepp-est classic big band in New York City. And they take special
pride in their ranking as the #1 swing dance band by legendary Savoy
dancers like Frankie Manning and Dawn Hampton – and dedicated
fans around the world.
The
George Gee Swing Orchestra was the first big band to play on MTV.
They were featured in an NBC-TV movie (with stars Tyne Daly and
Richard Crenna) and were spotlighted on Entertainment Tonight,
Live With Regis & Kathie Lee and performed for
11 million viewers on "Live from Lincoln Center."
on PBS Television. They also provided specially scored music and
made an "animated" appearance on an episode of the Fantastic
Four cartoon for Marvel Comics. They’ve dazzled audiences
from Boston to Beverly Hills and from Zurich to Tokyo. Recent highlights
include headlining at Lincoln Center's prestigious Midsummer Night
Swing with Broadway and cabaret star 
Rollickin’
roadhouse boogie is the heart and soul of George Gee’s
Jump, Jive & Wailers. This electrifying 10-piece unit, created
in 1998, is fondly known as the “Economy Big Band” by
George and his many fans around the world. “It’s just
a matter of economics,” explains George, “My 10-piece
band is simply a more easily affordable option for venues and events
with more limited budgets.” But there’s no compromising
on the Swing! With vocalist/ trumpeter 
Bandleader
George Gee fires up the crowds with his campy "Hey-Ba-Ba-Rebop"
antics. The real key to this band’s power is the amazing level
of interaction. The call-and-response jive between Dokes and the
band members on gems like Every Day I Have the Blues
is simply hilarious. Everyone falls right into place as Szymanski
calls out the Shim Sham steps during his rendition
of Tain’t Whatcha Do. The mighty horns are given
broad freedom to chime in during bluesy solos - creating fresh supporting
patterns with each performance. There is enormous synergy with the
dancers; George’s masterful musicians spontaneously translate
the dancers’ smooth moves to shape the next musical phrase.
And then there is George – who one moment hushes the band
to a walking vamp so low that you feel it more than hear it –
then revs up and propels his Jump, Jive & Wailers into a decadent
swing frenzy!