Classic Big Band Jazz Returns to Birch Creek

Classic Big Band Jazz will return to Birch Creek starting July 20, with four weeks of jazz concerts running through Aug. 13.

Birch Creek’s jazz faculty comes from across the country to educate promising young musicians and perform in the Dutton Concert Barn, a century-old barn turned concert hall. Many of the faculty are nationally recognized musicians, having performed with the Count Basie Orchestra, Frank Sinatra Jr., Jerry Lewis, Dizzy Gillespie, and the big bands of the Dorsey Brothers. Professor Jeff Campbell, Associate Professor and Chair of Jazz Studies & Contemporary Media at Eastman School of Music, will celebrate his 20th year directing Birch Creek’s Jazz Program this year.

Students and faculty will perform 16 concerts at Birch Creek this summer, including, “Swing Into Summer,” “Ellington, Basie & Miller,” “The Great American Big Band,” and more. In addition to these nightly concerts, the student jazz bands will hold free outreach concerts at the Sister Bay Pavilion on July 27 and Aug. 10, 3-5 pm. Also on July 27, the Door Peninsula Astronomical Society will return to Birch Creek for its annual Night Sky Viewing, taking place after that night’s concert. For a full concert schedule visit birchcreek.org.