Strike up the big band

Claudia Figueroa

The sound took Newport Beach by storm in the 1930s, when legendary

bandleaders like Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Count Basie and the Dorsey

brothers introduced the world to a new musical era--as well as unique

dance trends.

As tastes changed over the years, however, the music died down. But the

big-band era will return to Newport-Mesa on Sunday, when radio station

KLAC-AM (570) kicks off the summer with a benefit dance.

KLAC’s morning personalities Charlie Tuna, Fran Tunno and Bill Nesbitt

will host the four-hour event at the Doubletree Hotel in Costa Mesa. Doc

Anello and his Orchestra will play swing and big-band music from the

1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s.

The event started 14 years ago, said KLAC’s Kent Bagdasar. This is the

third year the Glendale station has held the event at the Doubletree

Hotel.

“Believe it or not, there are a lot of listeners in this area who view it

as a novelty--dressing up and playing the part,” he said. “It’s not often

that you can dance to the sound of a live big band.”

Bagdasar said the event drew more than 1,600 people last year.

“I think it’s going to be an ongoing dance event because more people

continue to come back each time,” he said.

Although admission is free, organizers are asking everyone to bring a new

children’s book, which will be donated to the Children’s Hospital of

Orange County.

For the occasion, the hotel has special plans for its newly remodeled

ballroom, which, Bagdasar said, features one of the biggest dance floors

in Orange County.

The ballroom will be decorated with balloons and paper streamers to match

the room’s gold and green decor. And the orchestra will be dressed in

black-and-white tuxedos.

And, of course, there’s the music.

Anello will perform with a nine-piece orchestra, which features pianist

Fred Carroll, drummer Richard Watson, bass player Larry Walters, Jack

Poster and Brian Bettger on trumpets, Dave Woodley on trombone, lead alto

saxophonist Kirsten Edkins, Jason Freese on tenor saxophone and Jim Hahn

on baritone saxophone.

The veteran bandleader will also accompany vocalist Luretta McCray.

Anello played in the 1950s and ‘60s with Eartha Kit and teen idols Bobby

Rydell, Johnny Ray and Frankie Avalon. He continues to record swing

music--last year, he released “Jumpin Jive,” which features a 15-piece

orchestra, on Orange County’s Cexton Records.

He said he will perform several standards such as “La Vie En Rose,” “In

the Mood,” “Little Brown Jug” and “April in Paris.”

For Anello, performing these standards is a way to preserve musical and

American history. But just as tastes are ever-changing, Anello said swing

music constantly reinvents itself.

“It’s wonderful music that has been around for over 60 years now,” he

said. “It has seen many rebirths, especially with the recent recordings

by the Brian Setzer Orchestra and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

Anello said he keeps an eye on musical trends and incorporates them in

his performances.

“We play many swing tunes from the swing era, but I guess you can say we

updated them,” he said. “We dressed them up into more contemporary

arrangements using the same instruments, but giving it a more

contemporary rhythmic feel.”

One of those songs is a Russ Columbo tune called “Prisoner of Love,”

which was originally recorded as a ballad. Anello said he changed the

tempo and made it a swing number.

“The song is very sweet and on the beat for musicians, but now it has a

whole different flavor,” he said, letting out a chuckle.

“But some songs are meant to remain in their original structure, the way

they were when they were first performed,” Anello said, citing the

powerhouse swing classic “Sing Sing Sing,” which is on Sunday’s playlist.

Anello also has a deep appreciation for Newport Beach’s musical history.

Long before Sugar Ray and Dick Dale, Newport Beach was a mecca for swing.

“The Balboa Pavilion is where Stan Kenton and Glenn Miller endorsed

big-band music in front of hundreds of people every night,” he said. “And

that’s where the Balboa Hop originated. Back then, people all over the

country knew how to do the Balboa Hop.”

The pavilion also became the site of dance marathons, where couples

performed routines with high kicks and over-the-shoulder lifts.

That’s the kind of atmosphere Anello is hoping for this weekend.

“It’s music that so many people grew up with,” Bagdasar said. “It’s got

melody and some people go nuts when they hear it.”

FYI

WHAT: Big Band Bash featuring Doc Anello

WHEN: 7 to 11 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: Double Tree Hotel, 3050 Bristol St., Costa Mesa

HOW MUCH: Admission is free, but a new book donation for the Children’s

Hospital of Orange County is recommended.