Misplaced Pages

This article uses citations that link to broken or outdated sources. Please improve the article by addressing link rot or discuss this issue on the talk page. (December 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

The Airmen of Note is a jazz ensemble that forms part of the United States Air Force Band. Created in 1950 to carry on the tradition of the Major Glenn Miller Army Air Forces Orchestra, the "Note" is a touring big band that consists of 18 professional jazz musicians.

The band has presented jazz performances to audiences throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia and produces broadcasts and recordings, with one release, Cool Yule, reaching number two on the JazzWeek jazz album chart.

In 1954 the Airmen of Note played Miller's band in the movie The Glenn Miller Story.

Musical style

The Glenn Miller sound has remained central, but the band adopted a more contemporary sound in the 1950s and 1960s largely due to staff arrangers such as Sammy Nestico. Over the past four decades, Mike Crotty and Alan Baylock have taken that role. To augment its writing staff, the Airmen of Note has commissioned works by Bob Florence, Bob Mintzer, Rob McConnell, and Bill Holman. Sammy Nestico and former band member Tommy Newsom have composed works for the group. The group took a further step in diversifying their sound in their 2019 album Global Reach, which featured tunes inspired by cultures from across the world.

Music education

Many of its members have backgrounds in music education. They lead clinics at high schools and colleges across the country and have been invited to perform at conventions such as the International Association of Jazz Educators, Music Educators National Conference, and The Midwest Clinic.

Guests

The Airmen of Note have recorded and performed with Allen Vizzutti, Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Williams, Sarah Vaughan and Nancy Wilson. In 1990, the Airmen of Note established the Jazz Heritage Series, featuring the "Note" in concert with icons of jazz. Musicians that have joined the "Note" for the program include Al Jarreau, Clark Terry, Phil Woods, Kurt Elling, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Paquito D'Rivera, Nicholas Payton, Gordon Goodwin, and Karrin Allyson. Every year, the Jazz Heritage Series is broadcast over National Public Radio, independent jazz radio stations, satellite radio, and the internet.

Discography

• Surprising Sounds of the Airmen of Note (1966)
• Big Band Sound '67 (1967)
• In Concert Sound (1967)
• Airmen of Note & Friends (1968)
• Here Come the Airmen of Note (1968)
• Rock Jazz (1970)
• With a Little Help From Our Friends (1972)
• Two Sides of the Airmen of Note (1973)
• Come Out Swingin (1973)
• Airmen of Note and Sarah Vaughan (1974)
• Brothers in Blue (1974)
• New Spirit (1977)
• Today! (1978)
• Just in Time (1978)
• Live from Mobile (1979)
• Just the Way We Are (1980)
• Noel (1981)
• Better Than Ever (1983)
• Bone Voyage (1984)
• Crystal Gardens (1985)
• Somewhere Out There (1986)
• Jazz Heritage: Old, New, Borrowed & Blue (1989)
• Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (1991)
• Children of the Night (1993)
• The Glenn Miller Tradition (1994/1982)
• Blues & Beyond (1996)
• Legacy (1997)
• Christmas Time Is Here (1998)
• Invitation (1999)
• Let's Dance (2000)
• Fifty Years of the Airmen of Note (2000)
• ¡Tiempo Latino! (A Celebration of Latin Jazz) (2004)
• A Holiday Note from Home (2006)
• Keep 'em Flying (2006)
• Out in Front (2006)
• Airmen of Note Live! (2007)
• Cool Yule (2009)
• Airmen of Note "60" (2010)
• Compositions (2012)
• Airmen of Note (2016)
• Veterans of Jazz (2017)
• Best of the Jazz Heritage Series, Vol. 1 (2018)
• Global Reach (2019)
• AIR Power! (2019)
• Out Of The Clouds (2023)

See also

• United States military bands
• Alan Baylock
• Tim Eyermann
• Walt Levinsky
• Joe Locke
• Vaughn Nark
• Sammy Nestico
• Bob Snyder
• Allen Vizzutti
• Don New

References

1. ^ "Airmen of Note". Air Force Bands. United States Air Force. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
2. ""Cool Yule" No. 2 on the charts!". Jazz T-Bone. Joe Jackson. January 2010. Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2024. Citing "JazzWeek Jazz Chart—January 04, 2010". JazzWeek. Trefzger Media LLC. January 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
3. Airmen of Note, Leadership
4. Airmen of Note, Photos
5. Jazzednet, Airmen of Note, Music education
6. "Air Force Bands > Bands > The United States Air Force Band > Multimedia > Albums". www.music.af.mil. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
7. "US Air Force Airmen of Note | Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 January 2019.

External links

• Airmen of Note — official Air Force Bands site

v t e United States Air Force
Leadership	Department of the Air Force Secretary of the Air Force Under Secretary of the Air Force Air Staff Chief of Staff Vice Chief of Staff Director of Staff Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Four-star generals Three-star generals 1940–1959 2000–2009 2010–2019 2020–present House Armed Services Committee House Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces Senate Committee on Armed Services Senate Subcommittee on Airland Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
Structure	Commands Reserve Air National Guard Field Operating Agencies Installations Direct Reporting Units District of Washington Operational Test and Evaluation Center USAF Academy Major commands ACC AETC AFGSC AFMC AFRC AFSOC AMC PACAF USAFE–AFAFRICA Numbered Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Expeditionary Fifteenth Sixteenth Eighteenth Nineteenth Twentieth Twenty-Second Wings ANG Groups ANG Squadrons ANG Security Forces Civilian auxiliary: Civil Air Patrol
Personnel and training	Personnel Rank officers cadets enlisted Specialty Code Aeronautical ratings Judge Advocate General's Corps RED HORSE Security Forces Medical Service Chief of Chaplains Chief Scientist Training: Air Force Academy Officer Training School Reserve Officer Training Corps Basic Training Airman Leadership School SERE Fitness Assessment
Uniforms and equipment	Awards and decorations Badges Equipment Aircraft Uniforms
History and traditions	History Aeronautical Division / Aviation Section / Division of Military Aeronautics / Army Air Service / Army Air Corps / Army Air Forces "The U.S. Air Force" Air Force Band Airman's Creed Core Values Flag Symbol Memorial National Museum Women Airforce Service Pilots Air Force One / Air Force Two Honor Guard Thunderbirds Service numbers Air & Space Forces Association
Category

• 1950 establishments in the United States
• Musical groups established in 1950
• 20th-century history of the United States Air Force
• American jazz ensembles
• Big bands
• Bands of the United States Air Force
• Glenn Miller