Stardust Big Band

One of the most popular big bands in Chicago during the 1980's and 90’s was the Déjà Vu Big Band. Now, several veterans of that group have come together once again to form the Stardust Big Band.

Led by award-winning composer-arranger Jon McGahan, the Stardust Big Band is dedicated to promoting and continuing the jazz traditions as practiced by Maynard Ferguson, Neal Hefti, Bill Holman, and Quincy Jones among others. This 13-piece ensemble combines inventive writing with vibrant solos by some of Chicago's finest big band practitioners.

The Stardust Big Band often appears as a 10-piece Jazz-Rock group, blending straight-ahead jazz with 1970’s Rock and Funk elements.

For smaller venues, we also offer a five-to-six-piece instrumental group, the Stardust Quintet/Sextet, bringing audiences the “cool” West Coast sounds of the 1950’s and beyond.

The Stardust Big Band  and The Stardust Sextet take their  musical influence from the classic jazz of the 1950’s and 1960’s, a time when martinis were in, class was where it was at, and bands like Count Basie, Woody Herman, Maynard Ferguson and Buddy Rich were taking the world by storm.

The Stardust Big Band has been the house band at The Heartland Café in Rogers Park, Cafe Touché in Edison Park, and Romano's in Park Ridge, and played to enthusiastic audiences at local venues such as The Abbey, Crimson Lounge, The Rock House-Glenview, Red Kiva, Wise Fool’s Pub, Reggie’s, World of Beer- Evanston, and Gallery Cabaret.

From a night of dancing to a casual club date to concerts and shows, the Stardust Big Band can perform a myriad of styles in the jazz idiom with the swing and excitement both casual and discerning jazz audiences expect and deserve.
For more information on the Stardust Big Band, along with a selection of audio and video samples, please visit us at:
http://www.reverbnation.com/stardustbigband
Or call (773) 564-0881
.