Bill Prince and Bobby Shew
A Memorable
Celebration
compiled by Richard J. Fote
Sunday
evening, October 26, 2003 marked the twenty-fifth anniversary celebration of the
Altamonte Jazz Ensemble directed by Mike Arena. It is fitting to recognize the
contribution that this group, which was organized by Mike under the auspices of
the city of Altamonte Springs Leisure Services Department, has made to the
community. They have provided a continuous stream of impressive jazz concerts
featuring international and national artists since 1978 which was the year that
Mike moved to this area from Rochester, New York. In addition to the nationally
known guests, Mike has also showcased the equally talented artists who live in
the Central Florida area. The result has been twenty-five years of wonderful
concerts.
The band is composed of top musicians many with a wide variety of
backgrounds. Some have played with name bands, some are music teachers, some are
professionals in fields other than music, and some are even students - but they
all have demonstrated their love for Big Band music by donating their time in
weekly rehearsals to this endeavor.
The personnel of the band has changed somewhat over the years as
many of the up and coming young musicians who were part of the group have moved
on as professional working musicians all over the country. Others have gone into
Military Service Bands and some on to college and are now teaching and
performing. Mike has even had some of the accomplished former band members
return as guest performers. He says "It's like bringing my children home."
Not all of the personnel have changed; some of the long time
members of the group are Bruce Johnson, Dave Sheffield, Will Rogers and Don
Lohr. Mike estimates that the pool of musicians that participated in the AJE
over the past twenty-five years would number about 100 or more.
The effort put forth by the band to bring this music to the
community is truly a labor of love; and in this department, Mike Arena is at the
forefront. He literally works on the management and details of this group every
day-not only writing and copying musical arrangements for the band but also
attending to all of the other details-such as rehearsing the band, contacting
artists to perform with the band, making arrangements for the artists travel and
lodging, scheduling rehearsals, concerts, and performance halls. Mike also
handles the details of transporting and setting up the band's library, sound
system, risers and music stands for rehearsals and their public performances. He
and his wife Kathy even do the catering to feed the band between dress
rehearsals and concerts. Mike Arena and the band members demonstrate total
commitment to the AJE.
Over the years, the AJE has presented an impressive list of
guests artists who have made an appearance with the band. Phil Woods, Urbie
Green, Bobby Shew, Bill Prince, Allen Vizzutti, Joe Romano, John Von Ohlen,
Betty O'hara, Calabria Foti, Bob McChesney, Don Lamond, Terry Lamond, Lisa Kelly
and J.B. Scott.
Mike has also tapped the local talent by using many of the
professional musicians who choose to live in Central Florida to be featured with
the group. They are Vic Bird, Dave Wolpe, Walt Stuart, Rich Walker, Dan Jordan,
Charlie Bertini, Mark Zauss, Barry Weinstein and Don Scaletta.
Besides the regular venue of concerts with featured guests,
one particular concert should be given special mention. In 1995, Mike augmented
the AJE with thirty-six symphonic musicians including strings, oboes and French
horns, to present a concert which had always been his dream - The Altamonte
Neophonic Orchestra. The selections they performed were still the Jazz and Swing
standards, but Mike spent about a year preparing the music for the larger
ensemble. It was a truly impressive evening hearing the vast array of orchestral
colors that Mike incorporated into the arrangements.
In the series of concerts by the AJE, Mike has also
highlighted works by composers and arrangers such as George Gershwin, Quincy
Jones, Henry Mancini, Duke Ellington, Pat Metheny and Walt Stuart for the
concert's theme. In addition, the AJE plays two or three dances each year and
the hall is always filled to capacity as the band performs a variety of
danceable music and Big Band classics. It is good to see so many young people at
these affairs since there has been such a revival in interest in swing music.
Ticket sales from dances and sales of CD's of the band's performances help to
supplement the concert ticket sales to pay the expenses of the guest artists.
For this memorable celebration there are two outstanding
guests to be featured in another great concert. Bobby Shew and Bill
Prince are both making return engagements with AJE which is a testament of
their own artistry and to the respect they have for Mike and the band members.
Thank you for supporting the AJE concerts and helping to make
this music available to the public. Your attendance is greatly appreciated.
Here’s wishing Mike Arena and the AJE all the best and continued success with
their future presentations of live concerts here in Central Florida.
Now, are you ready for the rest of the story?
When Mike moved here in 1978 - and this is a fact - he had
already completed twenty-five years of leading a Big Band in Rochester, NY.
The Mike Arena Big Band was started in 1953 and existed under his leadership
until 1978 when Mike moved to Central Florida. This concert was also a fifty
year salute to Mike's continuous leadership of Big Band and his contribution
of serving the community with live music.
To Mike Arena we all offer our heartiest congratulations and
sincere thanks.