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August 9, 2009Back when big band jazz was a dance music, there were a few national acts, and there were many large ensembles who sought local dollars by playing their ways through their regions. These latter groups were the territory bands, groups (of varying quality) who may not have passed through jazz capitols like New York or Chicago, but who entertained audiences nightly and developed unique rapport in the process.
The Millennial Territory Orchestra may be of an age of instant global communication — and one in which big bands are a deliberate anachronism — but it was formed under the same spirit of partygoing.
In writing music for Robert Altman films, slide trumpeter Steven Bernstein studied scores of scores performed by territory bands, and devised ways to play that old material and modern-era pop hits in a contemporary jazz style. At this year's Newport festivities, the New York-based group journeys northeast to Rhode Island to stake its claim to supra-regional supremacy.
Set List
"St. Louis Blues"
"Boy In The Boat"
"Makes No Difference"
"Darling Nikki"
"All You Need Is Love"
"MTO Theme"
WGBH Boston serves the wide-ranging interests of its on-air and online music audience with a menu of classical, jazz, blues, folk, and documentary features.
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