Big Bands Yesterday and Today–Rex Allen

Rex Allen is a San Francisco native and Big Band leader who took over the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, and led “A Salute To Glenn Miller” before 160,000 swing fans in 75 cities for Columbia Artists, as well as conducting other national and international tours. In his presentation, Rex will share that thrilling and grueling life on the road with us, and much more on the history of Big Bands and his mission.

Allen came of age at the height of rock and roll, but he pursued more unconventional music as a teenager in the 1960s—he was captivated by the sound of Swing. He took a serious interest in Dixieland Jazz popular from the 1920s through the1940s. In 1968, he joined the union with an eye on a professional career as a trombone player and band leader.

Through the years, he’s learned to “keep it fresh”—featuring his players as great soloists, and creating new arrangements of old tunes and even Swing-style charts on pop-tunes. A semi-retired Allen sums up his work in big bands: “To protect, preserve and promote the music of the great Swing Era.”

Rex has spoken to Il Cenacolo in the past, and his presentation, as before, promises not to disappoint!