Cape Ann Big Band

Formed in December 2010, director Carlos Menezes Jr. teamed up with friends and fellow musicians Paula Burns, Shawn Lowe, Mike Lentini, and Rick Geraghty to discuss the potentials of starting up a 17-piece big band. What was once a dream, quickly became reality when Menezes found the roster full in just a week’s time. Driven by the talents of Cape Ann musicians, the Cape Ann Big Band prides itself in performing to entertain and connect with it’s local community. For Menezes, one of the great joys of the ensemble is the generational diversity among its members. Music is a worldwide language that connects people with community and penetrates the soul of both listener and performer. This is the very experience that the band strives to deliver through its powerhouse performances. Although it is not a community band in the sense of membership, it strives to connect the community through open rehearsals and public performance. For Menezes and many of his peers, the experience of music performance is something that need not cease after high school or college. For a musician, the experience of music reflects a lifelong journey of learning. Beyond the aspect of performance, the band hopes to connect with local musicians of all ages and backgrounds to inspire, challenge, and educate. Inspired by the sounds of jazz, swing, New Orleans street bands, soul, and rock n’ roll, the band prides itself in a repertoire without horizon. This season’s repertoire will feature a number of vocal and instrumental standards from the “Golden era” of swing, pop tunes, and a number of show-tunes derived from popular films. As one quickly learns, the organization, success, and mobility of any ensemble is only made possible by the efforts of its participants. This is a group that truly operates as a family. CABB is a diverse 17-piece ensemble prepared to perform at any event; corporate, private, or public. Smaller combos are also available!